ABSTRACT
As the world is witnessing the devastating impacts of climate change, it has also observed rise in natural and manmade disasters at local, regional and global level. In response, education pertaining to disaster preparedness and management at higher educational institutions is a key to develop disaster resilient communities. Given the present anomaly, the paper seeks to analyze the best practices existing at global level in higher education institutions in general and in India in particular. Various efforts have been taken by Government of India to strengthen and accelerate the dissemination of disaster related knowledge and skills at higher education institutes to develop a culture of disaster management and preparedness. However, the paper attempts to analyze by way of comparative analysis the best practices prevalent across the globe to develop knowledge modules effective in practical application at the time of disaster, developing and demonstrating disaster management plans at local and regional level, exchange of skills; techniques; mock drills and capacity building programmes. Higher educational institutes will be instrumental in developing effective knowledge base by way of research in reviewing and revising disaster management policies and approaches through exchange of ideas and research at various stages of disaster in this urbanized and highly interconnected world. The paper also seeks to highlight and analyze the disaster reduction best practices in formal, non-formal, and informal educations sectors across the globe and how it can be beneficial and implemented in the higher education institutes of India for disaster reduction. At the end, the paper will shed light on various practices, changes required in policies & approaches, emergency plans that are required to make India more disaster resilient through the contribution of higher education.
