Coordinator
National and Kapodistrian University
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), a leading research university with over 183 years of history, is recognized for its educational and scientific excellence and is a member of the CIVIS European University Alliance. The Athens Medical School, established in 1837, serves thousands of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students. Within it, the MSc in Global Health – Disaster Medicine has, for more than a decade, been an interdisciplinary program of national and international recognition, focusing on global public health, humanitarian response, and environmental resilience.
The program, part of NKUA’s Centre of Excellence for Disasters and Crises, collaborates with institutions such as the University of Southern California and Médecins du Monde. It has played an active role in major emergencies, including the earthquakes in Cephalonia and Haiti, the migrant crisis in Greece, the Mandra floods, and the Mati wildfires, providing medical and psychological support. Through these activities, the MSc maintains a strong social and humanitarian profile, contributing significantly to public health protection and crisis response in Greece and abroad.
Partners
Pokhara University was established in 1997 and aspires to be a leader in the promotion of education through quality higher education, health and community service. It’s International Centre has been established with the responsibility to initiate and implement international cooperation and coordination in academic and research activities between Pokhara University and other esteemed/acclaimed educational/cultural institutions, companies and industries around the globe. Pokhara University participates in the RISK-E-SCAPE project with the faculty of Health Science, established in 2016.
Kathmandu University – Dhulikhel Hospital Kathmandu University Hospital
Dhulikhel Hospital–Kathmandu University Hospital (DHKUH), affiliated with Kathmandu University and serving as a teaching hospital for the Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences (KUSMS), has extensive experience in emergency preparedness and response. The hospital played a leading role in providing healthcare and relief during the 2015 earthquake and has developed strong collaborations with national and local health authorities. DHKUH and KUSMS have also been central to Nepal’s COVID-19 response, contributing to surveillance systems, capacity building, and community health initiatives. Their close partnerships with the Ministry of Health, the Nepal Health Training Centre, and the Nepal Public Health Society ensure broad stakeholder engagement and effective implementation of health interventions.
University of Dhaka (DU), established on July 1, 1921, is the oldest and most prestigious public research university in Bangladesh, located on a 600-acre campus in the Ramna area of Dhaka. DU has played a pivotal role not only in education and research, but also in Bangladesh’s political and cultural history—its student and faculty body being central to the Language Movement and the country’s path to independence. The Department of Development Studies at the University of Dhaka is a leading teaching and research institution in Bangladesh, dedicated to building human resources capable of addressing disaster and development challenges. Organized around four key dimensions—economy, politics, environment and natural resources, and culture and society—the Department takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding social change. It hosts a diverse team of experts in economics, public policy, anthropology, disaster management, and climate change adaptation, with most faculty holding advanced degrees from renowned international universities. With over a decade of experience in specialized training for government officials, civil society leaders, and NGOs, the Department is well-equipped to deliver high-level academic and professional programs. Its strong networks with government, health professionals, media, and academia further enhance its capacity to support interdisciplinary initiatives in disaster, development, and health governance.
Independent University, Bangladesh
Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) is one of the country’s oldest private universities, dedicated to advancing higher education and sustainable development through strong engagement between the university and the community. Renowned for its leadership in environmental education and research, IUB offers specialized undergraduate and postgraduate programs in environmental science and management, climate change and development, and natural resource management. Its School of Environmental Science and Management hosts a diverse faculty and large student body, focusing on climate change, disaster management, and sustainability.
IUB has successfully implemented several EU-funded projects on curriculum development, enhancing graduates’ competencies and aligning academic programs with evolving disaster management needs. The university is actively transitioning from traditional, professor-centric teaching to learner-centered, competency-based education, ensuring students gain practical skills relevant to future challenges. Through this project, IUB aims to further strengthen its courses and continue producing skilled graduates who contribute to climate policy, environmental governance, public health, and disaster management in Bangladesh and beyond.
The University of Salerno (UniSA) is a leading scientific and cultural institution in Southern Italy, combining local engagement with an international outlook. Guided by the principles of the Italian Constitution and the Magna Charta of European and non-European universities, UniSA emphasizes public service, secularism, pluralism, and independence from ideological, political, or economic influence. It fosters freedom of thought and association while promoting research, knowledge transfer, and student development.
UniSA offers a broad range of programs across disciplines including life and health sciences, hard sciences, humanities, law, economics, politics, and engineering. Programs are updated annually in the “Manifesto degli Studi” to align with economic trends and employment demands. Orientation and guidance are central to the University’s approach, helping students make informed choices about their studies and career paths.
The Department of Medicine integrates research, teaching, and healthcare to provide advanced professional training. It is affiliated with the AOU, one of Italy’s leading high-specialty health authorities, which includes four strategically located hospitals in the Salerno area. This integrated model (DAI) combines healthcare, teaching, and research, enhancing local health services and medical education.
The University Fernando Pessoa (UFP) in Porto, Portugal, is a public-interest university recognized in 1996, with faculties in Science and Technology, Human and Social Sciences, Health Sciences, and a Higher Education School of Health. It is associated with the Hospital-Escola, where students and faculty receive practical training. UFP has a strong social mission through programs like PASOP, a free community healthcare service, and PAA, an environment and health education initiative.
The Master in Humanitarian Action, Cooperation, and Development (MHACD), established in 2008, is fully accredited and focuses on disaster prevention, risk reduction, population empowerment, and humanitarian management. Offered online or on-campus, it collaborates with international NGOs and humanitarian networks and uses UFP’s research and media facilities for teaching and training. The program is linked to UFP’s MBA in Health Organizations, PhD programs, and the School-Hospital, enhancing practical experience and fostering international collaboration in disaster medicine and humanitarian action.
Associated Partners
TheGlobal Mental Health Lab (GMH Lab), at Teachers College, Columbia University, USA focuses on research and capacity-building in prevention and treatment of mental health conditions in under-resourced communities around the world. It has a strong track record of projects in many Asian countries including Nepal and Bangladesh designed for mental health and allied specialists, non-specialists, and students working with populations exposed to severe adversities mainly natural disasters and trauma https://www.tc.columbia.edu/gmhlab/
Médecins du Monde / Doctors of the World is an international Non – Governmental, independent, humanitarian organization, provides humanitarian aid, emergency and long-term medical care to the world’s most vulnerable people. MdM programs focus on 5 priority areas: Conflict and Crisis, Harm Reduction, Maternal and Child Health, and Migrant Populations, Effects of environmental crisis.
In Nepal and Bangladesh over the last years they have developed humanitarian aid programmes covering the axe pandemic-disasters- environment.