Since the official launch of UCLan PROTECT in September 2017 this innovative and holistic approach to providing Emergency and Crisis Management continues to attract the attention of organisations world-wide. Particularly those that are directly or supportive of the High Hazard industries.
The focus of UCLan PROTECT has been to look at key strategic markets. These markets include the UK where there is a strong reputation of expertise and delivery also, the other markets for example include the Middle East, China and Asia.
The recent Intersec exhibition in Dubai in January was a particular successful event for the university. This enabled us to hold a number of key meetings with existing and new clients.
The recent editorial on UCLan PROTECT in this magazine that was published specially for the Intersec exhibition, captivated a considerable amount of attention to our current activities, particularly in the Gulf Region.
“Central to UCLan PROTECT’s strategy is developing its capability of consultancy and service to organisations, based on the identification of an organisation’s needs. We have from the outset made it a key principle of our service that our specialists experts firstly understand the culture of the organisation. This approach is one of partnership and collaboration, not simply as a service provider. Once this has been achieved then we can agree collectively and work collaboratively on the most appropriate development strategy.
Our presence in the Gulf Region and reputation continues to flourish no more so than with the advancement of our relationship with ENOC in Dubai. The University of Central Lancashire is delighted to have recently signed an MOU to support the continuing development of the new ENOC Fire Safety and Emergency Management training initiatives and programmes. We are very pleased and honoured to have this opportunity to work with such a highly esteemed and respected organisation.”
The diversity of our holistic approach enables us to support all the key areas typically associated with Emergency and Crisis Management. OilTanking Star Energy Terminal in Jebel Ali Dubai is an excellent example of this. Our specialist consultants have continued to support and develop the emergency arrangements at OilTanking Star Energy through a series of table top and live exercises. This approach serves to test the emergency response to the identified credible scenarios at the terminal. The adoption of a phased approach to training and exercising ensures that any areas identified for improvement can be implemented in a timely manner, allowing those with a requirement to respond to emergencies to become familiar and competent in the new procedures to be adopted.
The partnership between UCLan PROTECT and OilTanking Star Energy continues to flourish, and we are currently developing a memorandum of understanding with OilTanking Star Energy to further cement our joint intent and desire to collaborate further.
Furthermore, our specialist consultants have been invited to support and develop the mutual aid arrangements for responding to emergencies with other companies that are in close proximity to OilTanking Star Energy.
UCLAN have also recently collaborated with BAPCO to provide a successful bespoke training course aimed at improving emergency response. The event was attended by both front-line industrial firefighters and supporting Safety Staff and kick-starts an excellent initiative by the company to enhance its current arrangements for ensuring a quick and safe response to potential fire incidents on site.
As well as providing a two-day training course, UCLan provided a draft plan template and supporting guidance document which was then adapted to suit the culture of the company and is now integrated into BAPCO’s safety improvement programme.
The decision to provide a more holistic approach to Emergency and Crisis Management was as direct result of the research we carried out within the High Hazard Industries.
The need to offer support in a wider subject matter that included consultancy, short course provision, incident management and the higher educational provision has been welcomed by industries and organisations that include for example; Tata Steel (UK), OilTanking (UAE), Gulf Refinery Oil (UAE), EDF (UK), Valero (UK), BAPCO (Bahrain) and ENOC (UAE).
We are particularly excited about the availability of the MSc’s in September 2018. Both the MSC in High Hazard Industries and the MSc in Organisational Resilience is a direct result of consultation with a number of key organsiations to provide support in the future development of personnel who are currently practitioners or are seeking to develop a career in this area.
Our MSC in Emergency Management in High Hazard Industries is primarily geared towards professionals who have a responsibility for preparing and/or responding to emergencies which impact upon high hazard industries such as the nuclear, petrochemical, oil refinery, pipeline, ports and aviation industries. The course will also appeal to professionals in the public services (Police, Fire, Military, Health, Municipalities, Government Departments, Civil Defence, etc.) who have identified high hazard sites which may impact upon their area. It is designed to enhance your career prospects by the application of technical expertise to practical, business and managerial situations, and the understanding, implementation and response to rapidly evolving policies, interventions, market opportunities, and of course to disruptions and extraordinary incidents.
The MSc Emergency Management in High Hazard Industries course covers a range of compulsory and optional modules such as:
- Master’s Project
- Emergency Planning Skills
- Emergency Preparedness
- Command Control and Coordination
- Emergency Response
- Psychological Aspects of Emergencies
- Recovery from Emergencies and Disruptions
- Environmental Management Within Organisations
- Business Continuity Management
Our Master’s degree programme is primarily geared towards professionals in all of those organisations in the private sector (including financial institutions, leisure organisations, retail companies, Utility companies, Universities, and IT based companies) and in the public sector (Municipalities, Health organisations, schools, hospitals, central government departments), who are concerned with business continuity, infrastructure resilience, cyber security, organisational structures, Chief Executive Officer tenure, risk management, change management, reputation management and leadership.
It is designed to enhance your career prospects by the application of technical expertise to practical, business and managerial situations, and the understanding, implementation and response to rapidly evolving policies, interventions, market opportunities, and of course to disruptions and crises.
The MSc Organisational Resilience course covers a range of compulsory and optional modules such as:
- Master’s Project
- Concepts of Organisational Resilience
- Building a Resilient Workforce
- Resilient Leadership
- Psychological Aspects of Emergencies
- Trends in Cyber Crime
- Business Continuity Management
- Recovery from Emergencies and Disruptions
- Digital Forensic Technology
Both courses aim:
- To enhance student’s critical approach to theories, techniques and methods in application to emergency management and organisational resilience. This will provide an applied focus for postgraduate study with a strong professional and leadership orientation
- To provide students with a learning environment in which they will demonstrate their capacity for independent study, their ability to collaborate with others in team settings, and their capacity for critical thinking and reflection
- To equip students with the required research skills to successfully undertake an advanced piece of independent research at postgraduate level in the area of emergency management or organisational resilience
- To equip students with a variety of approaches regarding how to involve people in decision-making
- To enhance students’ employability and their ability to liaise effectively with specialists
- To provide students with the opportunity to develop their critical understanding of emergency management and organisational resilience and its constituent processes from both a theoretical and practical perspective.
UCLan-PROTECT
Now the University has also launched its UCLan-PROTECT range of emergency training courses and consultancy services, such as the examples given below.
Short Courses and Consultancy
Short courses are each five day’s in total and include:
- Risk Management
- Creating Emergency Plans and Arrangements
- Creating Emergency Tests and Exercises
- Creating Business Continuity Plans
- Responding to Emergencies
- Incident Management
You will be taught by industry experts in a learning style which blends academic lectures with short practical exercises and group work.
But that’s not all – UCLan can also act as a critical friend to your organisation and provide you with emergency management consultancy services such as:
- Desktop Review of Emergency Plans Whole Service Review of Organisational Resilience
- Desktop Review of Business Continuity Plans
- Exercise Creation and Facilitation
- Incident Management Training
UCLan are also developing a model to allow the range of our short courses to be awarded CPD points. Consideration is also being given to Accreditation of Prior Learning and Accreditation of Prior Experience, to take into account student’s prior levels of training and experience.
For more information, email mwknowles@uclan.ac.uk (Quoting GF10)
Top image: Supporting personal in the operation of portable firefighting equipment whilst testing the firefighting water main capability.
About the Author
Patrick Cunningham is Senior Emergency Management Consultant at the University of Central Lancashire. He is the former Chief Emergency Planning Officer of the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority and the former Chairman of the Emergency Planning Society.
