Water Supply & Sanitation in Emergencies
A blended learning course: 4 weeks online and 9 consecutive days in Copenhagen
Early identification of technically sound and sustainable water and sanitary interventions is crucial when it comes to saving lives and preventing diseases in almost any disaster situation.
Experience gathered during recent disaster operations demonstrates the urgent need for highly skilled professionals with specialised expertise in water supply and sanitation, as the lack of interdisciplinary personnel has proved to be a barrier to efficient and effective response.
The University of Copenhagen offers an intensive course on water supply and sanitation in emergencies for professionals working with - or aiming to work with - disasters and relief operations.
The course is designed in such a way that each participant attains the knowledge and skills necessary for prompt action in recovery situations, especially in developing countries.
On completion of the course, participants will be able to access and prioritize water supply and sanitation in emergencies with foresight, and make appropriate decisions to prevent disease outbreak.
Let course leader Peter Kjær Mackie Jensen and the fly take you through the content of the course in this introductory video:
Deadline for applications: 1 January 2021
Start your online application now
School of Global Health, University of Copenhagen
Copenhagen Center for Disaster Research, University of Copenhagen
The course takes place in Copenhagen, Denmark
Course leader: Associate Professor Peter Kjær Jensen
All questions about course content and admission: mdma@sund.ku.dk
This is an optional advanced course in the Master of Disaster Management programme. This course can also be taken as a stand-alone course. Information about fees and admission requirements below.
The number of participants is limited to 40. The course may be cancelled if there are less than 12 participants.
Remarks:
Course book: Engineering in Emergencies - A Practical Guide for Relief Workers by Jan Davis & Robert Lambert.
Course duration:
Course dates: 8 February to 5 March & 10 to 23 April 2021
4 weeks online from 8 February to 5 March 2021
9 consecutive days (incl. weekends) on-campus from 10 to 18 April 2021
Online 48-hour Written Assignment (Exam) 21 to 23 April 2021
Prerequisites:
The applicants must live up to the Master of Disaster Management admission criteria.
ECTS credits and language:
The course is 5 ECTS and in English.
By the end of the course participants will have a comprehensive theoretical and practical knowledge of water and sanitation in the different phases of emergencies, including disease prevention and preparedness.
On completion of the course, the student should be able to:
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Knowledge
Demonstrate knowledge on Water and sanitation issues in different settings and accepted approaches/guidelines to deal with them; -
Skills
Analyze and apply this knowledge to assess and prioritize the water and sanitation needs for a population in emergency situations in a variety of practical settings, adjusting to time and resources available; -
Competences
Design and develop appropriate water and sanitation strategies for taking appropriate measures to avoid disease outbreak situations in emergency situations
Content:
The course will be divided into 5 main clusters:
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Anthropological assessment approaches in emergency situations
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Health and disease transmission in emergency settings
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Technical and theoretical aspects of water and sanitation
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Practical aspects of water and sanitation
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Case study and exam where the participants will apply knowledge and skills acquired during the course
Methods:
This course is a blended learning course.
The first four weeks consist of part-time online learning, which can be undertaken from anywhere in the world as long as you have a computer with an internet connection. Moderated online discussions, online tests and short-recorded lectures are central parts of the online learning experience.
The last 9 days of the course take place in Copenhagen, and will include a combination of lectures, group work, practical exercises, self/-group study, case studies, presentations and discussions in plenary. The main emphasis will be on participatory approaches and active learning. The practical exercises include latrine construction, water purification and other hands-on tasks that will combine theory and practice.
Individual written assignment. Grading according to the Danish 7-scale.
Fees:
Reduced fee: DKK 12,500 (approx. EUR 1,666)
For students from EU/EEA or Switzerland.
Normal fee: DKK 18,000 (approx. EUR 2,400)
For all other students.
For approximate exchange rates between DKK (Danish Krone) and other currencies please contact your bank or use fx X-rates.com to calculate your currency. All fees are subject to regulation.
Scholarships:
We do not offer any scholarships, nor can we assist in finding funding, but on our page about scholarships we have collected some information that might be useful.
How to apply
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Application deadline is 1 April 2021
Apply now for the full programme for academic year 2021/2022:
Master's programme application deadlines
- Non-EU/EEA citizens - 1 April 2021
- EU/EEA citizens - 1 May 2021
Start your online application here!
Apply now for 2020/2021 short courses and blended learning courses:
Short courses / Blended learning courses:
Application deadlines can be found in each course description.
Start your online application here!
Upcoming Courses
Disaster Risk Management: From Theory to Practice
6 - 24 September 2021
Preparedness and Response to Humanitarian Crises
4 October - 5 November 2021
Disaster Recovery Planning and Development
22 November - 10 December 2021
Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Methods
Cancelled in spring 2021. The course will be offered again in 2022 Spring Semester.
Water Supply and Sanitation in Emergencies
4 weeks online + 9 straight days on-campus (Online: 8 February - 5 March 2021 / On-campus: 10 - 18 April 2021)
Geo Information in Disaster Situations
8 - 26 March 2021
Health in Emergencies and Refugee Health
4 weeks online + 2 weeks campus (Online: 26 April - 21 May 2021 / On-campus: 24 May - 4 June 2021)
Shelter and Settlements in Disasters
4 weeks online + 2 weeks campus (Online: 10 May - 4 June 2021 / On-campus: 7 - 18 June 2021)