Applicants should normally hold an Honours Degree in Disaster Management or equivalent from a recognised university.

                 OR

A relevant Bachelor’s degree in Social Science or any other discipline from a recognised university.
Relevant work experience in the field of disaster risk reduction or equivalent will be an added advantage.
Shortlisted applicants for admission may be interviewed as part of the selection process.

 

The Programme consisting of coursework shall normally be completed over a maximum period of 24 months on a block-release basis.

 

On a block release basis, delivery shall be allocated as follows:

 

	Year	Number of Modules
First Year	I	4  Modules
	II	4 Modules
Second Year	III	4 Modules
	IV	Dissertation (after passing Part 1, 11and II1 )
Total Number of Modules	12 Modules 1 Dissertation)

 

Module delivery shall be divided into two components:

 The taught component (Part I, II and III) comprising of 12 modules.

The research component, in Part IV, leading to a dissertation of approximately 20, 000 words excluding appendices.

 Assessment

 A student will be expected to sit for formal written examination at the end of each Stage of the Programme. However, oral examinations may be provided under special circumstances.

 For a student to be admitted to the examination, they must have satisfactorily completed all assignments for continuous assessments. In addition, they are expected to have attended a minimum of 80% of the lectures in each module.

 The taught component shall be examined by both coursework and a formal written examination. Coursework shall account for 40% of the overall assessment while the formal written examination shall account for 60% of the overall assessment.

 For the taught component, the pass mark shall be 50%. For the research component the pass mark shall be 50%, based on the aggregate of the viva voce defence and the dissertation marks. The viva voce defence is compulsory and shall constitute 20% of the final dissertation mark.

 The determination of the overall degree programme aggregate with a dissertation component shall be:

 

Taught component                75%             240 credits

Research component (Dissertation) 25%   80 credits 

 

A candidate shall not be allowed to proceed to the research component of the Programme before passing all modules in the taught component.

 A student who fails to participate in the oral examination (viva voce) shall be considered to have failed the module.

 Failure to Satisfy Examiners

A student who fails more than 50% of the modules taken in a particular part may, on the recommendations of the Senate, be granted permission to repeat the failed courses. Nevertheless, a repeat student may be exempted from re-attendance and re-examination in any modules in which he/she previously passed.

 A student who is not allowed to proceed to the subsequent Year of the Programme and has failed the same Year of the Programme twice will be required to withdraw from the Programme.

 A student who fails the Dissertation stage with a mark in the range of 40-49% shall be given the option to re-submit within three months from the date of publication of results. The Dissertation shall only attain a maximum of 50%.

 Classification of the Degree

 Students must satisfy the examiners in all the prescribed modules and in all requirements for the programmes in which they seek to be awarded the degree.

  A student who is withdrawn after failing Part II, the dissertation stage, but had passed the taught components may be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Disaster Management.

 The classification of the degree shall be as in the General Regulations.

 Body of Knowledge

 This degree programme seeks to equip disaster management candidates with skills of identifying, assessing and proffering mitigatory measures in disaster situation.  Candidates are expected to graduate into experts and practitioners in the field of disaster risk reduction through the application of scientific methods of assessing hazards, disasters, vulnerable situations and proffering possible solutions in contemporary society.

0utcomes

The overall expected outcome of this programme is to produce highly qualified and sort after graduates in Disaster management. Major outcomes include:

 Producing graduates equipped with expert skills of assessing and proffering mitigatory strategies to hazards and disasters; and the ability to manage disaster risk reduction initiatives

Producing graduates capable of disseminating educational programmes focussed on effects and impacts of natural and man-made hazards and disasters.
Grooming of researchers with expert skills that have a focus on disaster risk reduction research in contemporary society
Producing graduates capable of utilising Geographical Information Systems in determining climate change and other weather patterns

 Note: Refer to module synopsis for detail

The Programme consisting of coursework shall normally be completed over a maximum period of 24 months on a block-release basis.

 On a block release basis, delivery shall be allocated as follows:

 

	Year	Number of Modules
First Year	I	4  Modules
	II	4 Modules
Second Year	III	4 Modules
	IV	Dissertation (after passing Part 1, 11and II1 )
Total Number of Modules	12 Modules 1 Dissertation)

 

Module delivery shall be divided into two components:

 

The taught component (Part I, II and III) comprising of 12 modules.
The research component, in Part IV, leading to a dissertation of approximately 20, 000 words excluding appendices.

 Assessment

 A student will be expected to sit for formal written examination at the end of each Stage of the Programme. However, oral examinations may be provided under special circumstances.

 For a student to be admitted to the examination, they must have satisfactorily completed all assignments for continuous assessments. In addition, they are expected to have attended a minimum of 80% of the lectures in each module.

 The taught component shall be examined by both coursework and a formal written examination. Coursework shall account for 40% of the overall assessment while the formal written examination shall account for 60% of the overall assessment.

 For the taught component, the pass mark shall be 50%. For the research component the pass mark shall be 50%, based on the aggregate of the viva voce defence and the dissertation marks. The viva voce defence is compulsory and shall constitute 20% of the final dissertation mark.

 The determination of the overall degree programme aggregate with a dissertation component shall be:

 Taught component                75%             240 credits

Research component (Dissertation) 25%   80 credits 

 A candidate shall not be allowed to proceed to the research component of the Programme before passing all modules in the taught component.

A student who fails to participate in the oral examination (viva voce) shall be considered to have failed the module.

 Failure to Satisfy Examiners

 A student who fails more than 50% of the modules taken in a particular part may, on the recommendations of the Senate, be granted permission to repeat the failed courses. Nevertheless, a repeat student may be exempted from re-attendance and re-examination in any modules in which he/she previously passed.

 

A student who is not allowed to proceed to the subsequent Year of the Programme and has failed the same Year of the Programme twice will be required to withdraw from the Programme.

 

A student who fails the Dissertation stage with a mark in the range of 40-49% shall be given the option to re-submit within three months from the date of publication of results. The Dissertation shall only attain a maximum of 50%.

 

Classification of the Degree

 Students must satisfy the examiners in all the prescribed modules and in all requirements for the programmes in which they seek to be awarded the degree.

 A student who is withdrawn after failing Part II, the dissertation stage, but had passed the taught components may be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Disaster Management.

 The classification of the degree shall be as in the General Regulations.

 Body of Knowledge

 This degree programme seeks to equip disaster management candidates with skills of identifying, assessing and proffering mitigatory measures in disaster situation.  Candidates are expected to graduate into experts and practitioners in the field of disaster risk reduction through the application of scientific methods of assessing hazards, disasters, vulnerable situations and proffering possible solutions in contemporary society.

0utcomes

The overall expected outcome of this programme is to produce highly qualified and sort after graduates in Disaster management. Major outcomes include:

 Producing graduates equipped with expert skills of assessing and proffering mitigatory strategies to hazards and disasters; and the ability to manage disaster risk reduction initiatives

Producing graduates capable of disseminating educational programmes focussed on effects and impacts of natural and man-made hazards and disasters.
Grooming of researchers with expert skills that have a focus on disaster risk reduction research in contemporary society
Producing graduates capable of utilising Geographical Information Systems in determining climate change and other weather patterns

 

Note: Refer to module synopsis for detail

MDM 5101 Hazards, Disasters and the Zimbabwe Emergency Management System   [20 credits]

This module provides an introduction to the phenomenon of hazards, disasters and the Zimbabwe Emergency Management system. The theories principles and practices underpinning disaster risk management will be explored. The module covers topics such as distinction between emergency and disaster, types of disasters and disaster management cycle, disaster policy and legislation. Major disasters locally and internationally and how these were dealt with and their overall impact on the populations involved will be discussed. The module seeks to equip candidates with skills of assessing and mitigation hazards and disasters.

 

MDM 5102 Disaster Vulnerability and Risk Management [20 credits]

This module introduces and explains the concept of vulnerability assessment as the foundation for effective hazard mitigation. The module explains various methodologies to carry out the process of hazard and vulnerability assessment. Various risk management concepts, tools, and techniques in the global context will be discussed. The module emphasizes discussion on the design and implementation of risk management practices.  It seeks to produce disaster and risk management specialists.

 

MDM 5103 Disaster Education [20 credits]

This module focuses on the need for, and how to disseminate disaster awareness using various methods. Critical to all this is the need for use of local symbols and negotiated meanings of terms for optimal understanding of key concepts being taught. It also looks at how children can also take part in disseminating DRR education through various means in schools, e.g. drama, poetry, sport, art, etc. This should foster a high level of hazard/disaster awareness that will motivate people to take action to protect lives, livelihoods and infrastructure from the impact of hazard events. The expected outcome of the module is to produce disaster education experts.

 

MDM 5104 Media Management and Disaster Risk Communication [20 credits]

Emergency management personnel inevitably face situations in which they are called upon to help individuals and communities understand physical hazards, risks and/or crises and appropriate responses. This module is designed to familiarize candidates with the array of scholarship in crisis and risk communication and to help candidates gain skill in devising risk communication strategies that are supported by research findings. Candidates shall examine challenges encountered by emergency, crisis and risk communicators, such as public information officers and first responders.

 

MDM 5201 Earth Sciences and Natural Disasters [20 credits]

This module focuses on the geological, hydrological and atmospheric processes that impact the human environment in catastrophic ways. The natural disasters section will focus on how normal earth processes can concentrate energy that can have devastating blows to humans and their structures. Topics covered include, energy cycles, plate tectonics, and focused studies on hazards such as: earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, wildfires, flooding, landslides, climate change and mass extinctions. Disaster mitigation and preparedness and prediction and forecasting will also be covered.

 

MDM 5202 Technological Disasters [20 credits]

This module introduces candidates to the scope and variety of technological (man-made) hazards that face today’s society. The module covers concepts and mechanics of technological hazard threat and risk analysis, and the issues of readiness, response, and recovery from technological hazard event. The role of population’s growth, demographics, and geography in exacerbating technological hazards will also be discussed.

 

MDM 5203 Business Continuity Management [20 credits]

The module provides an understanding of the nature of business and the value of BCM to organisations. The module offers insights into how organisations manage disaster risk and operate business continuity strategies in order to operate effectively and efficiently in an increasingly competitive and disastrous environment. Topics that will be studied include; Business Impact Analysis, Organisational Culture & Organisational Learning, Models of crisis generation, Drivers for BCM, BCM Exercise and BS25999.  Candidates shalll have the opportunity to produce working plans that provide preventive measures to minimize the impact of disaster and provide an organized response and ensure business continuity during recovery.

 

MDM 5204 Research Methods [20 credits]

This module covers aspects on how to undertake research, with particular emphasis on hazard/disaster issues. It includes an analysis of the application of key research tools and methods in attempting to seek practical answers/explanations to disaster problems. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are covered. This should guide candidates in preparing them for their dissertations. The learning outcomes of this module are to groom researchers with skills who have a focus on disaster risk reduction in the contemporary society.

 

MDM 5301 Geographical Information Systems for Disaster Risk Management[20 credits]

This module covers the principles and applications of geographic information systems (GIS). The module explores how geographic reality is modelled in a GIS and what kinds of data are already defined, collected and available. Principles covered include those underlying the capturing, editing, manipulating, searching, analysing and integrating spatial data along with the presentation and understanding of spatial data for decision support.  The module seeks to produce graduates capable of utilising GIS in determining climate and other weather patterns.

 

MDM 5302 Emergency Planning, Exercise Design and Evaluation [20 credits]

This module provides an introduction to the multiple facets of emergency planning and the fundamentals of emergency exercise design, development and implementation. The fundamentals of planning as they apply to the four phases of emergency management and how these phases overlap, interrelate, and complement each other, as well as other disciplines, will be discussed.  Candidates shall be given a plan, what it should contain, who should participate in its construction and implementation, and discover the fundamental importance of the emergency operations plan as a basis for effective emergency preparedness. Furthermore, the module focuses on different types of emergency exercises, how they are used, and how they are conducted. It provides candidates with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and conduct disaster exercises that test a community’s emergency response plan and capabilities.

 

MDM 5303 Public Health Issues in Disaster Management [20 credits]

This module examines the role and capability of public health and health care systems. It addresses the expectations of public health in disaster preparedness and response to all types of disasters. The module examines the growing threat and potential public health consequences of disasters. The module covers theory and practice of various public health issues in emergency preparedness and considers the implications for policy makers.

 

MDM 5304 Disaster Risk and Emergency Management Regulation [80 credits]

This module aims to present and analyse, in a comparative and international perspective, the role of Zimbabwe’s legislation and institutions in the context of disaster risk prevention, mitigation, response and recovery. Topics to be covered include: identification of the main institutional actors; the impact of law on catastrophic risk management in Zimbabwe and across the world; international principles, standards, directives and guidelines developed in the recent years; legal and policy implications of disaster risk financing for governments; public-private initiatives to cover the cost of extreme risks and catastrophe insurance schemes implemented in different jurisdictions.

 

MDM 5400 Dissertation [20 credits]

The dissertation shall, on its own, constitute the final part of the programme researched and written over at least six months. In preparation for this research study, candidates are required to present a proposal for approval. Each candidate is  required to submit a dissertation of approximately 20 000 words on a topic relating to his/her area of disaster management interest and approved in writing by the dissertation supervisor. Two typed copies of the dissertation shall be submitted to the Institute. A candidate is required to participate in the final oral examination (viva voce) normally held after the submission of the dissertation. The oral defence contributes 20% towards the final dissertation mark. The format for the dissertation shall be as provided for the thesis of MPhil and PhD in the General Regulation.  The expected outcomes of this dissertation are equipping candidates with skills to conduct field and applied research and dissemination of research findings.