title: Education and training initiatives for crisis management in the European Union: a web-based analysis of available programs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Education and training are key elements of disaster management. Despite national and international educational programs in disaster management, there is no standardized curriculum available to guide the European Union (EU) member states. European- based Disaster Training Curriculum (DITAC), a multiple university-based project financially supported by the EU, is charged with developing a holistic and highly-structured curriculum and courses for responders and crisis managers at a strategic and tactical level. The purpose of this study is to qualitatively assess the prevailing preferences and characteristics of disaster management educational and training initiatives (ETIs) at a postgraduate level that currently exist in the EU countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  An Internet-based qualitative search was conducted in 2012 to identify and analyze the current training programs in disaster management. The course characteristics were evaluated for curriculum, teaching methods, modality of delivery, target groups, and funding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The literature search identified 140 ETIs, the majority (78%) located in United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Master level degrees were the primary certificates granted to graduates. Face-to-face education was the most common teaching method (84%). Approximately 80% of the training initiatives offered multi- and cross-disciplinary disaster management content. A competency-based approach to curriculum content was present in 61% of the programs. Emergency responders at the tactical level were the main target group. Almost all programs were self-funded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although ETIs currently exist, they are not broadly available in all 27 EU countries. Also, the curricula do not cover all key elements of disaster management in a standardized and competency-based structure. This study has identified the need to develop a standardized competency-based educational and training program for all European countries that will ensure the practice and policies that meet both the standards of care and the broader expectations for professionalization of the disaster and crisis workforce.
authors.affiliation: 1 CRIMEDIM-Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Pier Luigi
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Ingrassia
authors.affiliation: 1 CRIMEDIM-Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foletti
authors.affiliation: 1 CRIMEDIM-Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Ahmadreza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Djalali
authors.affiliation: 1 CRIMEDIM-Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Piercarlo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scarone
authors.affiliation: 1 CRIMEDIM-Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ragazzoni
authors.affiliation: 1 CRIMEDIM-Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco Della
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Corte
authors.affiliation: 2 Disaster Research Center (AFAM), Istanbul Aydin University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kubilay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaptan
authors.affiliation: 3 URGENTA-Clinical Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Olivera
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lupescu
authors.affiliation: 4 Hanover Associates, Teddington, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arculeo
authors.affiliation: 5 NHCS-National Health Career School of Management, Hennigsdorf/Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Gotz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: von Arnim
authors.affiliation: 5 NHCS-National Health Career School of Management, Hennigsdorf/Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Friedl
authors.affiliation: 6 Bonn International Center for Conversion, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashkenazi
authors.affiliation: 7 University Clinic Bonn, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Deike
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heselmann
authors.affiliation: 8 CROUMSA-Croatian Urgent Medicine and Surgery Association, Slavonski Brod, Croatia.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hreckovski
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khorram-Manesh
authors.affiliation: 9 Prehospital and Disaster Medicine Centre, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khorrram-Manesh
authors.affiliation: 10 SBC-General and Teaching Hospital Celje, Medical Faculty, Celjie, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Radko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Komadina
authors.affiliation: 11 German Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany.
authors.forename: Kostanze
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lechner
authors.affiliation: 12 Clinical Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Patru
authors.affiliation: 13 Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts USA.
authors.forename: Frederick M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Burkle
authors.affiliation: 7 University Clinic Bonn, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D054597:Disaster Medicine / Q000193:education*; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004190:Disasters; D004500:Education, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D005062:European Union; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods