MSc Programme Short Listed for Postgraduate Award

Tuesday, April 8, 2014 - 00:00

The MSc in Humanitarian Logistics and Emergency Management has been shortlisted for the best new postgraduate programme in the upcoming GradIreland awards. The winners will be announced on April 30th. The MSc in Humanitarian Logistics and Emergency Management is the first in the world to combine the academic disciplines of humanitarian logistics and emergency management. The programme builds on the established strengths and reputation of Ireland and in particular Irish Aid, in delivering humanitarian assistance to those in need.
 
Recently students of the MSc in Humanitarian Logistics and Emergency Management participated on Exercise Viking 2014 in the Curragh from April 2nd to April 5th.  VIKING 14 is a Command Post Exercise/Computer Assisted Exercise in the “Spirit of Partnership for Peace” combining 6 different militaries, 13 different nationalities, 4 UN agencies and over 20 non-governmental originations. The Exercise is built on a fictitious scenario, BOGALAND, involving several countries in deep crisis in the need of Joint Combined Civilian and Military Peace Support. The MSc students performed the role of the UNWFP and were the Logistics Cluster Lead in the exercise. As part of the exercise students experienced joint and interagency coordination challenges, performed assessments of the logistical needs of the humanitarian community as well as being responsible for the movement of food in the exercise.
 
Two of the current MSc students Mr. Derek McGuinness and Mr. Ray Grange have been selected by Irish Aid to join the Rapid Response Corps. The Rapid Response Corps is a standby roster of highly skilled and experienced professionals available to deploy at short notice to humanitarian emergencies anywhere in the world.  When deployed, roster members fill specific skills gaps identified by four Irish Aid standby partner organisations: 
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),
the World Food Programme (WFP),
the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA);
the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).