The University is committed to raise stakeholder awareness and understanding of natural hazards as well as improve stakeholder competencies to improve recognition of disaster risks and respond to them appropriately, responsibly, and consistently. This means incorporating IEC strategies into the academic curriculum, non-academic formation programs, fora, and training programs for various sectors. Competencies, which may include mapping, communication, first aid, and rescue, may be developed through training modules and drills.
Campus sustainability initiatives are an indirect way to reduce disaster risk because these initiatives contribute to the reduction of carbon and water footprints, as well as to the increase of urban biodiversity, both of which may have some impact on climate change, no matter how small.
The AIS and the various academic units work together to develop and implement training modules for faculty, staff and administrators who can be engaged in informing, educating, and forming students and other stakeholders towards being resilient, responsive, and responsible during disasters. Disaster Risk Awareness and Preparation modules include:
The science of natural disasters, such as extreme weather and earthquakes;
Mapping and recognizing disaster risks;
Drills: responses before, during and after events (including evacuation protocols and exit strategies);
Communication systems; and
First aid and rescue.
Various points in the academic curricula provide opportunities for deeper understanding of event-related science and a more thorough discussion of proper responses and responsibilities.
Common general protocols are made available to stakeholders, with hazard-specific guidelines, e.g., for earthquakes and extreme weather events as well as for anthropogenic or human-made hazards.