CAST · COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF SECURITY-CENTERED TRAINING CURRICULA FOR FIRST RESPONDERS ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN THE EU

Security-centered training course curricula on disaster management for first responders (FR)* in EU member states will be comparatively assessed with a specially developed matrix-based software: (1) for all EU member states (2) as derived from international best practices in the US, Russia, and Israel as countries with extensive experience in this field. The comparative assessment will cover: (a) Didactic areas (electronic and hardcopy teaching materials used, computer modelling, field exercises); (b) Subject areas (terror threats to FR; risk assessment and -management; catastrophic terrorism; weapons of mass destruction, -mass killing, -mass disturbance; synchronization of response staff; (c) comparative evaluation of training course curricula by virtual reality safety training with biofeedback. Representatives of FR organisations and SME’s in security technology will be involved throughout the assessment. This new integrative approach reflects the necessity of the integretive operation of end-users and representatives of the research and development community to enhance European joint security capabilities.The results of the assessment will be used to: (1) Establish an EU- security curricula database; (2) Identify potentially existing gaps in the EU training curricula; (3) Recommend an Action Plan for eliminating training deficiencies; (4) Develop a standardized security-centered training curriculum for first responders on disaster management; (5) Enhance the implementation of technology-based security programs into FR organisations