Abstract:

In the process of education and training of students in the field of crisis management, it is practically not possible to practice a standard response to the emerging crisis phenomena and to allow students to become acquainted with the real conditions of crisis solution. To practice the activities that are associated with solution of such a situation, it is possible for students to use a range of tools, e.g. a professional practice in the crisis management-oriented institutions, simulation exercises, case studies, project lessons, etc. The application of such teaching forms results mainly from the requirements of practice which often place emphasis on practical skills and the quickest adaptation of the graduate into the existing working conditions. In order to support education and training of students for the purpose of practice, except for the aforementioned tools, the information systems and software have been increasingly applied within the educational process at universities. Their usage increases not only the effectiveness of teaching, but also the practical preparedness of graduates. However, the number and availability of specific software products useful for the preparation of crisis managers in the Slovak Republic is limited. The article analyses and highlights cooperation with relevant institutions (mainly Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic) in the acquisition and application of information system for emergency planning and crisis preparedness (EPSIS) into the educational process in the study program of crisis management at the Faculty of Security Engineering, University of Žilina. The aim of the article is to bring into the light and analyse new possibilities, in our case practice-oriented cooperation between university and the state authorities (or other subjects) as one of the suitable approaches for the students to gain practical experience in the field of crisis management and for the state to raise experts (professionals). Equally important part of the article is the analysis of the simulation tools importance in educational process in the crisis management field study in changing environment. The first experiences from application of mentioned information system into the educational process into the course “crisis planning” are also examined. At the same time the requirements for such a form of teaching are analysed as well.

Keywords:

Education, training, crisis management, information system, practice.