The participants of the MDRM 2016/2017 Japan Attachment Program completed their 2-week program in Kanto (East Japan) and Kansai (West Japan) regions from 23 July – 5 August 2017. Visits in Kanto area included 筑波大学｜University of Tsukuba, International Center for Water Hazards and Risk Management (ICHARM), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and field work at Nikko Sabo Dam and Kinugawa River Basin. Visits in Kansai area included Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, 立命館大学／Ritsumeikan University, Osaka and Hyogo Prefecture Disaster Management Office, Disaster Research Institute (DRI), Hyogo Emergency Medical Center (HEMC) and field work at Yodo River Basin. The MDRM 2017/2018 full time students are also eligible to join the same attachment program in summer of 2018 to get hands-on field experience from Japan in disaster risk reduction. Photos of the trip can be found HERE

From 19-21 July 2017, DPPC conducted its first overseas outreach program in Hanoi, Vietnam to promote collaboration for possible joint trainings, research and projects with top universities/research institutes and DRM agencies in Vietnam. The DPPC member consisted of Dr. Aizul Nahar Harun, Senior Lecturer and DPPC research fellow and Dr. Shohei Matsuura, JICA Expert to DPPC.

Disaster Management Center (DMC) of Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development (MARD), 19 June

MARD is one of the key line agencies that are responsible for planning measures to natural disasters in Vietnam.

With understanding that both countries face the same DRM issues, which are more focused on water-related disasters (e.g. floods and coastal erosion), discussions with DMC ranged from cooperation for building capacities of their disaster managers in the MDRM program as well as joint training programs that could be implemented in Malaysia and Vietnam.

The meeting was joined by Mr Dang Quan Minh, Deputy Director, Mr Nguyen Huynh Quang, Head of CBDRM Division and other DMC officers.

Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment (HUNRE), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), 19 June

HUNRE, situated under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) and owning over 10,000 students and close to 400 faculty members, is a new institute established in 2010 (but with 60 years history as a college) that focuses on education and research in the field of environment, hydrology, water resource management and climate change.

The DPPC team was received by Professor Dr Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, President, Assoc. Prof Dr Pham Quy Nhan, Vice President, Dr. Nguyen Ba Dzung, Head of Science, Technology and International Relations and other heads of departments. Ideas were raised for (1) joint research and training programs in the field of environmental management and climate change and (2) student/faculty exchange. To materialize these, signing of MoU was suggested by President Thanh.

Thuy Loi University (TLU), 20 June

Thuy Loi University is one of the prominent education and research institute with stregth in water-related civil engineering and has produced many disaster experts currently active in government agencies and research institutes.

Greeted by Professor Dr Nguyen Canh That, Vice Rector and Professor Pham Hong Nga, Head of International Cooperation Department, suggestions on drafting a join research proposal on issues such as flood control and dam operation were raised. Both sides were also keen on student/staff exchange and joint JICA projects, partnering the Japanese universities.

Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment (IMHEN), Office of Climate Change, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), 20 June

IMHEN is a research institute under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) that owns about 300 staffs conducting research and offering PhD on climatology, hydrology and water resource management. IMHEN is also the key research institute in making climate change scenarios for Vietnam and suggesting adaptive measures for sustainable infrastructure, agriculture and marine development.

Received by Nguyen Dang Mau, Deputy Director of Office of Climate Change and his staffs, IMHEN expressed strong interest for staff exchange, especially for younger staff to build their technical capacity in climate adaptation research.

As part of MDRM’s “Disaster Education and Preparedness for Social Resilience” course, the students and faculty members conducted questionnaire survey and focused group discussion (FGD) to later draft the Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Plan for the community to take measures to future possible disasters.

The final program of the roadshow was the visit to Disaster Management Institute (DMI) of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) Kedah. DMI being close to the field and having strength in the social science aspect of DRM could become a strong collaborator for DPPC for implementing on the ground research activities in the future.

DPPC would like to send its heartfelt thanks to all the partners who have warmly received the team and look forward to establishing a long-term relationship.

Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Kuala Lumpur with the support of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and National Disaster Management Agency Malaysia (NaDMA) the Prime Minister’s Department hosted the UTM Disaster Risk Reduction Forum (UTM DRR Forum 2016) on the 20 October 2016 at Seminar Hall, Menara Razak, UTM Kuala Lumpur.

This forum aims at bringing together stakeholders, prominent figures, leading academic scientists, and researchers to discuss and advance our understanding on disaster risk reduction towards building a disaster resilient community in Malaysia.

This event was organized as part of Master Disaster Risk Management (MDRM) program. The event kick off with welcoming remarks from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhamad Ali Bin Muhammad Yuzir followed by two series of talks. The first series was talk was given by Dr. Shohei Matsuura, JICA Expert for Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Centre (DPPC) entitled Japan’s DRM Administration and JICA’s International Cooperation. The second talk starts after tea break which introduces Tuan Mohd Ariff Baharom, Deputy Director General, Planning and Preparedness Sector, National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) Malaysia. Tuan Mohd Ariff shared his thought and vision on Disaster Risk Management in Malaysia. Prof. Dr. Masafumi Goto, the Director of Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Centre (DPPC) delivered his talk on priority and perspective of Disaster Risk Management and Preparedness & Prevention at MJIIT followed by a talk by Dr. Khamarrul Azahari Razak on integrating disaster research and practice.

Before the event finished, two of the MDRM students shared their thought and experience during the Kelantan flood disaster on 2014 and town watching program at the UTM Disaster Risk Reduction Day 2016 at Rantau Panjang, Kelantan. This forum finished at 1.00 p.m.