Following its launch in July, the new UCPM Training Programme kicked off in September with the Union Mechanism Introduction course (UMI), the residential part of which took place from 10 to 14 September in Volterra, Italy.
UMI is the introductory course to the UCPM Training Programme where participants explore their potential to develop as UCPM deployable professionals in different roles and functions, enhancing their understanding of the international disaster environment.
22 Participants from 17 different countries attended the first UMI course. They learned, inter alia, about the UCPM operations in preparation and response to disasters, the roles played by the different actors involved in deployment, the tools used, the roles and functions of modules and other capacities’ key staff, as well as of the European Union Civil Protection Team (EUCPT) and Technical Assistance Support Teams (TAST). They were also initiated on how to best apply the social and personal competencies expected in an international disaster response context. As with the majority of UCPM courses, the UMI uses blended training methodology, thus encompassing self-paced e-learning, webinars, in-person training, and post-course activities. It has a total duration of six and a half days.
“As UMI Course Director, I really feel the responsibility to train, at our best, the people coming to the courses. Considering the emergencies that are now all over the world (…), this really is of enormous responsibility for us.”
After a long revision process with the cooperation of a variety of stakeholders, the new UCPM Training Programme is now oriented toward the ever-changing needs in disaster response and the growing scope of the UCPM. It will prepare different target groups for their specific role in the UCPM by providing them with tailored training courses in line with their function. To this end, the programme is structured along four main training areas. The last edition of the newsletter included an overview of the new UCPM Training Programme as a whole. This article takes a closer look at the ‘deployable’ pathway.
The so-called ‘deployable’ pathway is initialised by the UMI course, and targets experts and response capacity personnel who are to be deployed on UCPM missions, such as EUCPT experts, technical experts, Technical Assistance and Support Teams, and key personnel from modules and other response capacities. This pathway is composed of 12 UCPM courses, including four EC-UN joint courses that provide experts with specialised training.
The ‘deployable’ track is centred around the European Civil Protection Pool, which participants will join upon successful completion of the UCPM courses and the certification process through EU MODEX exercises. Since 2004, more than 15 000 training opportunities have been offered, in which over 6 200 experts strengthened their capacities to respond to disasters globally under the UCPM umbrella.
Would you like to take part in international missions under the UCPM?
Consult the training catalogue on the Knowledge Network Platform for more information and course descriptions, and contact your National Training Coordinator.
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