International Rescue comes to Coventry University

A new way of training those working in disaster management is being forged by the partnership with Coventry University’s Serious Games Institute and Centre for Disaster Management and Texas A & M University (TEEX), the oldest public university in Texas.

The Vice Chancellor of Coventry University and the Director of TEEX will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) next week (7 December) to use their existing UK/US links to work on joint projects in relation to emergency rescue and disaster management. The work will include:

•    Developing and using serious games technology for teaching and learning purposes
•    Developing personal/professional degree programmes between both institutions
•    Establishing a centre to bring these together

The work will be supported by accredited University courses and international partnerships with other institutions.

Both Coventry University and Texas A&M University have an impressive track record in their respective fields and will build on the expertise already existing at both institutions.

Texas A&M ranks among the top 20 research universities in the US and is recognised worldwide for developing problem-solving research breakthroughs.

Coventry University’s Centre for Disaster Management is recognised internationally as a centre of excellence and with the University’s expertise in serious games technology at the Serious Games Institute, the combined resources will make training more flexible between the two universities and help to develop new research and teaching collaboration opportunities as well as student and staff exchange programmes.

Professor Sara de Freitas, Director of Research from Coventry University’s Serious Games Institute said:

“This partnership will help us to develop a consortium of higher education establishments that support rescue response and disaster management processes across the world. The main objective is to save lives, which is an important part of the ‘Save the World’ programme from the Serious Games Institute.

 “The joint working will help us to cement a sustainable relationship with US Higher Education Institutions and enhance our research into best practices of emergency training and serious games development.”

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For further information, contact Ali Bushnell, External Press and Media Relations Officer on +44 (0)24 7688 8245.