Crisis, Risk and Disaster Management

About this minor

We will also be looking for possible solutions. Its multidisciplinary approach is what makes this minor unique: you learn to combine elements of the social sciences and engineering concepts to analyze and evaluate contemporary crises, risks and disaster-related issues.

What will you learn?

TU Delft and Leiden University have set up a cooperation to provide a broad spectrum of knowledge to students. Leiden University primarily contributes with knowledge in disaster studies, focusing on climate change and disaster politics, as well as intersectional issues. TU Delft contributes in the areas of risk management, technology assessment, system analyses, as well as ethical aspects of security- and safety-related issues.

After completion of this Crisis, Risk & Disaster Management minor, you will be able to:

• Acquire multidisciplinary knowledge and skills to assess, analyze, and manage risks associated with complex socio-technical systems and global challenges.
• Understand the interconnectedness of risks and vulnerabilities across borders.
• Apply insights from theories from risk management, disaster studies and climate politics to real-world cases.
• Formulate policy advice on some of the most pressing issues in the world today concerning technology, climate change, and disaster.
• Develop proficiency in conducting risk assessments, safety management, forecasting potential cascading effects, and proposing evidence-informed strategies.
• Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams.

Structure of the minor

The minor consists of 6 courses of 5 ECTS each and takes place during the first semester (Sept – Dec). The semester is divided into two blocks of eight weeks each. In every block, three courses are taught. You can also register to only follow the three courses in block one, which count for a total of 15 ECTS.

Please be aware that the CRD minor needs to be completed in one academic year. It is not possible to retake courses that you have not passed during the following academic year.

Courses

You can also find an overview of the courses in the studyguide.

The CRD minor courses will take place at Campus The Hague and Delft University of Technology. 

Schedule

The online timetables show an overview of all your courses, locations, and starting and ending times per semester. Please note that the timetables can be subject to changes if required, so please check the timetables regularly.  For Leiden University, timetables can be found via https://rooster.universiteitleiden.nl/schedule. For TU Delft courses,  Timetables can be found via https://mytimetable.tudelft.nl/. In both timetables, click on 'add timetable' and 'programme of study' and search for the minor to see the courses.

Collaboration between Leiden University and TU Delft

The Minor in Crisis, Risk & Disaster Management is designed as a complementary collaboration between Leiden University and TU Delft, integrating expertise from governance, policy, and engineering disciplines. Leiden University contributes a strong focus on political, social, and disaster governance perspectives, providing students with insights into crisis response mechanisms, security policies, and climate change politics. TU Delft brings expertise in risk and safety management. Note that it is not required to have any previous background in social science or engineering. The minor is specifically set up to attract students in a multi-disciplinary environment.

This unique combination ensures that students receive a coherent and well-rounded education, equipping them with both the theoretical foundations and practical tools needed to navigate risk and disaster management challenges. The multidisciplinary nature of the program fosters a holistic understanding, bridging the gap between governance, technology, and policy to prepare students for real-world risk assessment and mitigation efforts.