| Universiti Putra Malaysia

UPM researchers develop Risk and Crisis Communication Module for HEIs

By: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Izani Mohd Zain

 

SERDANG - Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) researchers have successfully developed a Risk and Crisis Communication Module for higher education institutions (HEIs), including public universities, private higher education institutions, polytechnics and community colleges.

The module will be launched online tomorrow by the Higher Education Minister, YB. Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad, together with the webinar "Risk and Crisis Communication to Protect Public Health and Institutional Resilience".

This novel module was developed based on the research findings from a research grant entitled “Risk Communication for Public Health”, funded by the Malaysia One Health University Network (MyOHUN) COVID-19 Supplementary Fund. It is also a research project supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the One Health Workforce Next Generation (OHW-NG) project.

According to UPM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Mohd Roslan Sulaiman, this module is in line with the current needs as the re-opening of the campus will be done next month. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way HEIs think, and there is a need to have a reset in administration and management.

The management aspects such as risk communication and crisis communication need to be addressed by the HEIs as best as possible so that the resilience of an institution can be maintained.

He added that this module also supports the concept of the Tower of Knowledge held by the university to encourage the transfer of knowledge and expertise.

“Started as a research study, it is now packaged as a module that can be used for the public benefit and interest. This is an excellent contribution of researchers for our common good,” he further explained.

This module guides the institutions, especially HEIs, on best practices and strategies that include risk assessment, governance and structure, training and skills upgrading, crisis communication plans, communication needs throughout the preparation, response and recovery stages and application of key principles for effective risk communication.

The development of this module was facilitated by a group of UPM researchers led by Prof. Dr. Azmawani Abd. Rahman and other members, namely Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Izani Mohd Zain, Prof. Ir. Dr. Ts. Mohamed Thariq Hameed Sultan and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Rafee Baharudin. - UPM

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