“EMERGENCY AID AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT” UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
Emergency Aid and Disaster Management is an interdisciplinary field intertwined with health, civil defense, first aid, physical education, communication technologies, and biology. In recent years, natural disasters occurring for various reasons in Türkiye and around the world have reached disaster proportions, causing significant damage. Therefore, initial response and disaster management, both before and after they occur, have become crucial. The establishment of an Emergency Aid and Disaster Management department will contribute to the development of globally developed technologies, systems, and management approaches in this field and their widespread adoption in our country.
Because Türkiye is located in a geographical region at risk from numerous natural disasters, particularly earthquakes, the need for a well-trained workforce capable of taking initiative in the event of a disaster is vital for society. The Emergency Aid and Disaster Management Department aims to provide preventative measures such as training, awareness-raising, and project development in advance of disasters such as earthquakes, floods, avalanches, and landslides. In the event of a disaster, it aims to train innovative, investigative, and entrepreneurial individuals equipped with the professional knowledge and skills to conduct and manage all types of loss reduction activities, especially coordination.
In the geography that includes Türkiye, in addition to natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides, man-made disasters are also frequently experienced due to reasons such as deficiencies in environmental regulations, indifference to the environment, and ignorance/carelessness. Emergency aid and disaster management practices are increasingly becoming standardized in developed countries around the world. Within the scope of international relations such as harmonization with the European Union, it is planned to implement the model of “covering all emergency aid services with a single number” in Türkiye. For this purpose, the primary objective has been adopted to meet the need for qualified Emergency Aid Specialists, Disaster Managers, Fire Department Specialists and managers through a 4-year undergraduate program providing training in Emergency Aid and Disaster Management. The Department of Emergency Aid and Disaster Management encompasses an intensive and practical training program covering the subjects of AAT (Ambulance and Emergency Care Technician), Search and Rescue, Emergency Aid, Firefighting, and Disaster Management. The mission of the department is; Our mission is to raise individuals who are equipped with knowledge, skills and equipment in the field of emergency aid and disaster, who are investigative, questioning, analytical, and have leadership qualities, who are committed to national and moral values, who have professional and ethical values, who radiate positive energy, and who will effectively fight against natural disasters in the generation in which our country is located.
Graduates of the Department of Emergency and Disaster Management will be able to work in positions such as “disaster relief specialist,” “disaster manager,” “fire department specialist,” and “emergency aid and disaster manager” in line with the competencies they have acquired, in provincial directorates affiliated with the Disaster and Emergency Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Prime Ministry, Disaster Management and Coordination Centers, fire departments, civil defense search and rescue units, disaster management-related fields in the private sector and non-governmental organizations, public institutions and organizations (hospitals, schools, etc.), relevant units of local governments, and disaster management-related organizations in international organizations.
Information about where graduates can be employed and the market demand for these graduates:
Graduates of the Emergency Aid and Disaster Management undergraduate program;
- Disaster and Emergency Presidency (AFAD),
- Disaster and Emergency Training Center (AFADEM),
- Provincial Disaster and Emergency Directorates
- In all relevant units and branch directorates within the General Directorate of Emergency Health Services of the Ministry of Health (especially within the Disaster and Emergency Management Department),
- Within Public and Private Hospitals,
- Disaster Coordination Center (AKOM) in Metropolitan Municipalities, Fire Departments, Ambulance Services
- In Fire Departments within Municipalities,
- In Command and Control Centers where the coordination and management of disasters and emergencies in public organizations take place (112 KKM, Fire Departments, SAKOM: Health Disaster Coordination Centers, etc.)
- In relevant units in the Private Sector (on issues such as Disaster and Emergency Planning, Personnel preparation and training, drills),
- In non-governmental organizations related to disasters and emergencies,
- In disaster and emergency aid units of international organizations (United Nations, World Health Organization, etc.)
- In all other disaster-related units of the Turkish Red Crescent, especially the Disaster Operation Center (AFOM),
- Graduates who receive Pedagogical Formation training can work as teachers in schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education.