Course content

A safe, secure and sustainable society is dependent on well-functioning critical infrastructures and societal functions. This requires good organization and management of different types of risk analyses, as well as emergency preparedness. The subject therefore integrates literature on technology, organization and management into a risk governance approach. The course has a main focus on societal safety and security. This includes aspects related to climate change and adaptation, reliable infrastructures, and the role of societal institutions in building a peaceful, safe and secure society with low social inequality. The competence gained from the course will thus be of high relevance for reaching the UN Sustainability Goals. The subject also includes methods and knowledge relevant for dealing with the risks of major industrial accidents and different forms of digital vulnerability.

Students are encouraged to use the perspectives from the course to consider risks that are related to their respective disciplines. The teaching utilizes practical examples from accidents and events illustrating threats to societal security and safety. A main subject is how risk can be governed at different societal levels. This includes the ability to assess and understand risks, as well as risk communication and decision-making dilemmas. Another subject is the way regulatory regimes and framework conditions affect risk governance.

Learning outcome

The subject's position and function in the study: The subject is recommended for the students at the master programs MIHMS and MHMS. It is a "K-subject" which means that it is an option for most students of social sciences and technology studies.

Knowledge: The goal of the subject is to provide students within all disciplines with basic concepts and a general understanding of challenges and opportunities related to societal security. After completing the course, the student will be able to:

• pose critical questions about risk and vulnerability, 
• explain different measures for and approaches to upholding critical societal functions,
• relate approaches to societal security on a local, regional and national level.
• explain learning mechanisms in the aftermath of major events,
• explain principles for organizing societal safety and emergency, 
• describe and argue for strengths and weaknesses with organizing societal safety.

Skills: After completing the course, the student will be able to:

• categorizee different types of risks, hazards and vulnerabilities,
• classify and give examples of different categories of threats and hazards to critical societal functions and infrastructures,
• assess and evaluate, 
• explain risk perception and social aspects of risk in relation to risk governance,
• evaluate risk tolerance by combining factual knowledge and values,
• analyze and plan for emergency preparedness,
• recognize principles in mass media coverage of events and risks.

Competence: After completing the course, the student will have the basic competence and concepts needed to engage in analysis and problem-solving related to risk governance. This includes the ability to:

• distinguish between and discuss different definitions and perspectives of risk,
• discuss risk issues related to several scientific disciplines, including ethics

Learning methods and activities

The teaching methods will partly be traditional lectures, partly introductions for questions, comments and discussions of specific cases and actual events. Real risk issues and incidents are applied in the teaching. The lectures are mainly for the theoretic introduction to the subject, but managers with experience from risk governance and emergency preparedness will be invited to hold more practice-based lectures. The exercises apply problem based learning principles. The mandatory term paper which count on the final mark of exam will be adapted to risk problems of special relevance for the students’ study profile.

Recommended previous knowledge

A bachelor level in technological subjects or social science.

Course materials

Collection of articles and reports given at the start of the semester.