USK Joined Technical Training in Spain
Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) delegations participated in the technical training in Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain. The training session that was organized by the European partner university was successfully conducted from 9th to the 14th of May, 2022.
The participants included academics from three countries, Indonesia; Universitas Syiah Kuala and IPB University, Maldives; Maldives National University, and Sri Lanka; University of Peradeniya.
From Universitas Syiah Kuala, it was represented by Dr. Nizamuddin, Dr Nazli, Dr. Muzailin Affan, and Ardiansyah, BSEE., M.Sc.
The five-day training focused mainly on the utilization of geospatial technologies for coastal monitoring and analysis. The first day was started with a session on understanding the physical drivers of coastal risks followed by morphodynamical monitoring of coastal areas. The afternoon sessions were dedicated to technical sessions on the use of data sources, methods and analysis to map shoreline changes. The second day included practical training on monitoring coastal changes using satellite images and methods for 3D characterization of beaches and dunes. On the third day, the field visit was conducted to Albufera Natural Park and Technical Office to study the geomorphology and anthropic actions of Valencian coastal areas. Fourth day of the training covered practical sessions of using hyper spectral data to study coastal ecosystems including coral reef and submerged vegetation mapping. The last day of the training led by University of Nicosia, included presentations from Asian partner universities on the MOOCs developed by each university. This was followed by feedback from UNIC and other partners on how to improve the proposed courses.
Generally, the training is part of UN4DRR (University Network for Disaster Risk Reduction) project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Program of the European Union. The project aims to modernize the courses related to Disaster Risk Reduction and Management integrating GIS/RS applications as the significant part of the course content. The long-term effect will be to educate future experts for prevention and management of natural and human-induced disasters in the Indian Ocean Rim supporting national and EU policies. The project encourages the cooperation with national authorities, public and private sector offering joint DRRM initiatives and access to short courses for use of GIS/RS via online/offline mode. The project also motivates a more proactive cross-region dialogue in DRRM related educational program in the realization of capacity building and internationalization.
In addition, the broad goal of UN4DRR is strengthening functional capacity of universities in the provision of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management with special focuses, they are modernization of curricula with innovative teaching/learning methodologies in DRRM and GIS/Remote sensing techniques, outreaching the public/private groups through joint DRR initiatives and accessing to distance courses (online/offline), and establishment of formal links between national authorities responsible for DRRM and academic institutions.
