Course IV „Humanitarian Logistics“ investigates the special requirements of logistics in disasters like earthquakes. Additionally, appropriate methods for decision support are presented and discussed. Cooperation and coordination form a core concern for decision makers in disaster management. A substantial part of the course will deal with a continuous case study, in which the skills gathered in courses 1-3 can and should be applied.

Lecture 1:
Introduction to humanitarian logistics and phases of humanitarian logistics

Lecture 2: 
Introduction to disaster preparedness and case session 1

Lecture 3:
Coordination
Information management
Knowledge management

Lecture 4:
Introduction to disaster response

Lecture 5:
Case session 2 (disaster response)

Lecture 6:
Case session 3 (recovery)

Lecture 7:

Complex disasters

Lecture 8:

Case session 4 ( slow-onset disaster)

After successfully completing this course, students should be able to

understand the characteristics and special demands of disaster relief logistics

know the main stakeholders and their role in disaster relief 

critically assess the applicability of logistics concepts from the for-profit sector

know the importance of information management and ways to facilitate its implementation 

Lectures 

Active case study participation and  written summaries of case study sessions (3x)

In-class Case Study with short quiz

Group Work finishing case study assignments

Case study summaries: 30 %  (3x 10%)

In-class Case Study quiz 10 %

Exam 60 %

• Excellent (1): 87.5% - 100.0%
• Good (2): 75.0% - <87.5%
• Satisfactory (3): 62.5% - <75.0%
• Sufficient (4): 50.0% - <62.5%
• Fail (5): <50.0%

Lectures start punctually. In case of in-classassignments, be aware that they are most likely to take place at the beginningof a lecture. If students are absent during the in-class assignments no make-upassignments are granted.

If a student misses the final exam, he or she can repeatthe exam only if he or she provides sufficient proof of the necessity of theabsence (illness, accident…). If the student misses a performance assessmentworth less than 50% of the grade (e.g. a mid-term quiz), opportunities to repeatthe assessment can be provided optionally by the lecturers and in any caserequire sufficient proof for the necessity of the absence as well. See further:https://www.wu.ac.at/en/students/my-degree-program/student-guide-bachelors-programs/courses-and-exams/courses-with-continuous-assessment-pi/

Attendance in the first lecture ismandatory for the participation in the course. If an absence cannot be avoidedinform the lecturers at cburkart@wu.ac.at before class and provide some form of proof for the absence (e.g. medicalconfirmation) in the next session. In total, a minimum requirement forattendance of 80% is required to pass the course. If the attendance falls below80% for students receiving partial credit, students are graded with 5(Nicht genügend). See further: https://www.wu.ac.at/fileadmin/wu/h/students/Pruefungsorganisation/Gesetzesgrundlagen/Pruefungsordnung_03.12.2014.pdf

Cooperation with other students on homework assignments isencouraged. However, the final write-up must be done individually. ‘Duplicate’homework write-ups are unacceptable and will receive a score of zero. (Anyhomework that is late will receive a score of zero.)

The final exam has to be passed with at least 50% of maximum points(passing the final exam is mandatory for positive evaluation of this course)