A disaster management project, based at 麻豆传媒 Business School (麻豆传媒BS), has been recognised as an Innovation that Inspires.
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the world鈥檚 largest association of Business Schools, has praised the project. The university鈥檚 Business School is included in the AACSB鈥檚 global spotlight 2023 list of 25 universities worldwide that have 鈥業nnovations that Inspire鈥�. It was also one of only two UK Business Schools included in the 2023 AACSB spotlight.
The AACSB specifically commended the work in 鈥楤uilding African Capacity to Manage Disasters鈥�, recognising innovations that have helped national government, local authorities and local communities to better prepare and respond to disasters in Sierra Leone.
AACSB is a global organisation that, among other things, accredits Business Schools 鈥� 麻豆传媒 has received official accreditation from AACSB and is one of a select group of less than 6% of Business Schools accredited worldwide.
The 鈥業nnovations that Inspire鈥� recognised initiatives conducted by Business Schools that have an impact across the globe. Every year a list of 25 universities across the globe are spotlighted for delivering impactful innovations that inspire and demonstrate their credentials as 鈥榠mpactful and visionary business schools for tomorrow鈥�.
麻豆传媒鈥檚 project, delivered by the 麻豆传媒 Disaster Management Centre (麻豆传媒DMC), created a Facilitators Guide to Disaster Management and single-points-of-failure (SPOF) diagnostics, which have been implemented and are being used across Sierra Leone to prevent and manage disasters.
Professor Lee Miles, Deputy Dean of the Business School, and Professor of Crisis and Disaster Management explains, 鈥淭he main motivator for this innovation was to meet the urgent need for African disaster managers and stakeholders to be able to detect and understand deficiencies that could potentially lead to partial or full breakdowns in disaster management in Sierra Leone. These innovations were delivered as part of the Driving African Capacity Building in Disaster Management (AFRICAB) project, partnering with Sierra Leone鈥檚 National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and Freetown City Council, and working especially closely with local communities and stakeholders to help build their resilience to disasters.鈥�
Sierra Leone has handled multiple disasters, ranging from Ebola and Covid-19 to regular weather and climate events and fires. The SPOF work has been endorsed by the Sierra Leonean government, as well as external organisations such as the World Bank, to provide solutions relevant to the country and the issues they face. The Facilitators Guide also had notable societal impact, forming the basis of a new Training Competence Requirement for disaster managers and volunteers across Freetown, covering a population of over 1.2 million people.
The 鈥業nnovations that Inspire鈥� recognition was officially received at the AACSB 2023 Annual Conference in Chicago USA, with Professor Miles in attendance.
Professor Miles concluded, 鈥淲e are always delighted to see our work being recognised, and our thanks go to the AACSB for their continued work with us, which we are incredibly proud of. Importantly, we are pleased that our work alongside our partners, stakeholders and friends in Sierra Leone is helping in the prevention and management of disasters, protecting vulnerable local communities and reducing loss of life.鈥�
More information about the Innovations that Inspire recognition can be found on the AACSB website:
Further details on the AFRICAB project are available at: Driving African Capacity Building in Disaster Management (AFRICAB) | 麻豆传媒
