Creating Open Access Digital Educational Material in Disaster Risk Management and Civil Protection

ongoing

Civil protection systems across Europe face increasing challenges due to the rising frequency and complexity of disasters. Factors such as climate change, demographic shifts, geopolitical tensions, and pandemics contribute to these evolving risks. In this context, public awareness and a skilled workforce are crucial for effective crisis anticipation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Providing accessible, high-quality educational materials to the public and practitioners is essential for strengthening disaster risk management and civil protection capacities. The EUMAplus project supports the EU Preparedness Strategy by developing freely accessible, science-based educational resources for a broad audience. This fosters a culture of preparedness and resilience, aligning with the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) goals. EUMAplus strengthens public understanding of disaster risk management and civil protection through open-access digital materials, including a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) and a podcast series. These resources will be available on widely used platforms, with courses recorded in English and select partner languages (German, Italian, Dutch, Hungarian), and subtitles in seven languages. As flexible work models evolve, a feasibility study will explore using AI avatars for multi-language educational videos. An open-access textbook will also be published to provide a strategy for developing digital resources in civil protection and disaster risk management. EUMAplus serves as an accessible introduction to disaster risk management for the public and provides a foundation for civil protection staff and those seeking further academic qualifications. The project supports the EU Disaster Resilience Goal 2 “Prepare,” enhancing risk awareness and preparedness across both formal and informal learning environments. Through cross-country collaboration, EUMAplus embodies the EU’s call for coordinated efforts in civil protection and disaster risk reduction.