FGD: Doctoral Program in Disaster Science for Future Resilience

Focus Group Discussion: Doctoral Program in Disaster Science for Future Resilience

Background

Indonesia is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the Southeast Asia Region. It is because Indonesia is located in the Ring of Fire. Recent research showed that the level of disaster risk increases with the growth in population and the development of major cities globally, with casualties reaching 1.35 million and losses of USD 300 billion per year. After the 2004 earthquake and tsunami, other natural disasters continued to occur.

The eruption of Anak Krakatau followed by the tsunami, earthquake-liquefaction-tsunami in Palu, and even the Lombok earthquake indicate Indonesia’s level of disaster risk. Almost all disasters threaten Indonesia, such as geological hazards (earthquakes and tsunamis), coastal hazards, and hydrometeorological hazards and pandemics. Even the Covid-19 pandemic is still not fully understood, so an in-depth study is needed.

Risk reduction efforts are critical to reducing the number of casualties, financial losses, and loss of community livelihoods. The latest study shows that the degree of disaster risk of a country is proportional to the level of studies and research because, with the study, a country becomes more focused on disaster management efforts. Disaster management efforts need to involve all relevant stakeholders, from the government, community or society, and universities, as stated in Law 24/2007 on Disaster Management and the global framework of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) 2015-2030.

Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK), a severely affected university by the 2004 earthquake and tsunami, took a role in disaster management. USK has taken several actions, such as establishing TDMRC, applying disaster science content in the curriculum of USK, opening the Master Program of Disaster Science, and continuously conducting research collaborating with national and international institutions. In order to strengthen the research, we propose to establish Doctoral Programs in Disaster Sciences.

Aims

To present the planning of establishing Doctoral Program of Disaster Science in Universitas Syiah Kuala
To obtain input from National and International stakeholders
To obtain some perspective from similar programs in other universities
To discuss disaster-related research topics for future Ph.D. students