Following signed MoU and MoA between NCKU and UTM MJIIT-Disaster Preparedness & Prevention Center (DPPC), nine representatives from various Malaysian Governmental agencies participate in the first series of the International Short Course on Disaster Risk Management 2017 at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Tainan, Taiwan scheduled from 29 October – 11 November 2017. The short course is intended for experts of various background involved in disaster risk management related areas. NCKU shared their experiences in dealing with disaster for example, data integration for the use of disaster prevention, forecasting and early warning, mitigation works and plans that have been implemented in Taiwan through a series of lectures, discussions, exercises, presentations and field trip. The first team consisted of representatives from Humid Tropics Center Kuala Lumpur, Department of Mineral & Geoscience Malaysia, Malaysian Meteorological Department, Public Works Department of Malaysia, Ministry of Works, Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Indah Water Consortium Sdn Bhd, Water Supply Division, Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water and Universiti Sains Malaysia.

On 25 October 2017, DPPC members visit the office of Defense Geospatial Division, Ministry of Defense Malaysia at the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia from 9.30 a.m. until 11.00 a.m. Delegations from DPPC are Prof. Masafumi Goto, the Director of DPPC; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Yuzir, Deputy Director of DPPC; Prof. Aminaton Marto and Dr. Sumiaty Ambran. Representatives from the geospatial divisions are Kol. Hj. Zakaria Abdul Rahman, the Deputy Director of Defense Geospatial Division; Lt. Kol. Sr Abidin Hj. Daud, Director of Geospatial Development Section; Lt. Kol. Norazlin Pamuji, Director of Geospatial Services Section; Mej. Faizal Fitri Mansor and Faizah Bakri, Senior Deputy Director.

During this visit, Prof. Goto introduce DPPC to the representatives and the function and expertise of DPPC in terms of disaster risk management. Prof. Goto also did some promotion of MDRM to the representatives. This visit was held to get in details information about the division function and purpose, which is to prepare a comprehensive and integrated defense geospatial services for defense and security purposes. This visit also aims to collaborate with the division in terms of research and exchanges of data/information for shared use. With this courtesy visit, we hope that the Defense Geospatial Division could provides relevant data such as topographical maps, cadastral maps, thematic maps and underground utility maps for disaster risk planning and management purpose.

Another year of MDRM has started at MJIIT with students from various DRM backgrounds. Lecture of the first module, “Integrated Disaster Risk Management,” was initiated again this year by Professor Emeritus Dr Kuniyoshi Takeuchi.

MDRM lectures are conducted by a team of prominent Japanese professors from top Japanese universities and research institutes together with renowned Malaysian experts. Aimed to train DRM practitioners wishing to advance their knowledge and skills in their respective works in DRM, the program covers various topics in DRM from policy and technical issues.