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 broad 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, digital vulnerability and the role of societal institutions in building a safe and secure society. 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.

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.

The course is elective and recommended for the master's programs MIHMS and MHMS. It is also a K-course for students in social sciences and various technology studies.

Learning outcome

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

• understand frameworks for risk management in society
• reflect on critical questions related to risk and vulnerability in society
• explain various measures and approaches for society's ability to maintain critical societal functions
• relate societal security approaches at local, regional, and national levels
• explain learning mechanisms after incidents
• explain principles for organizing societal safety and preparedness

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

• understand different types of crises, risks, and vulnerabilities
• classify and provide examples of various types of threats and hazards to critical societal functions and infrastructures
• explain risk perception and social mechanisms related to risk management
• assess risk and vulnerability related to threats and hazards to society
• analyze and plan preparedness
• recognize principles in mass media coverage of events and risk conditions

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

• know the principles of Norwegian and international regulations and standards relevant to systematic work on societal security

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.