The EUMA Summer School on “Disaster Risk Management 2.0: Current and Future Challenges”, hosted by the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa from 22 to 26 September 2025, marked the conclusion of the educational activities of the EUMA Project.
Over five intensive days, participants from more than ten countries – including practitioners from national civil protection agencies, humanitarian organisations, and researchers – engaged in lectures, interactive sessions, and field exercises exploring current and emerging challenges in disaster risk management.
The Summer School opened with an inspiring keynote by Prof. David Alexander (University College London) on the past, present, and future of disaster risk reduction. Subsequent lectures covered diverse themes such as the international and EU legal and institutional frameworks for disaster management, cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection, Natech events, and geopolitical and security issues in crisis response. Several interactive sessions were also dedicated to exploring EU and national risk assessment methodologies.
The second part of the programme featured a deployment simulation exercise organised by members of the Italian National Fire and Rescue Service (Corpo Nazionale dei Vigili del Fuoco) at the Italian Red Cross premises in Pisa. Participants simulated the deployment of an international team under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, coordinating assistance following a cyclone emergency in a third country. The week concluded with a field visit to the 46th Air Brigade of the Italian Air Force, where participants learned about logistics, material preparation, and air operations for international disaster relief missions.
Jointly organised by Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Dublin City University, Institut Mines-Télécom, and the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences, the Summer School brought together lecturers and representatives from all EUMA partner institutions, consolidating the project’s educational and collaborative achievements.
The Summer School also served as a valuable opportunity to test the educational content and teaching methodologies that will underpin the forthcoming European Master’s in Disaster Risk Management.
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