Inland Norway University and UBS strengthen their collaboration on crisis management

Inland Norway University and UBS strengthen their collaboration on crisis managementFrom 9 to 12 June 2026, the HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) programme at the Lorient University Institute of Technology (IUT) hosted a delegation from the ‘Centre for Preparedness and Crisis Management’ at Inland Norway University. UBS and INN are both members of the European EMERGE alliance. The aim of this visit was to identify and develop joint projects in education and research, whilst enabling students to benefit from the expertise of Norwegian crisis management specialists.

Lectures and discussions with students on the HSE course

Three lecturers and researchers from the Centre for Preparedness and Crisis Management at Inland Norway University (INN) presented their career paths and research to students on the HSE Bachelor’s degree programme, who are future professionals in risk prevention and management.

Brad Keating shared his operational experience as a disaster response mission leader in Haiti, Japan, the Philippines and Nepal.

Inger Lund-Kordahl presented her research on mass-casualty triage, conducted in simulated environments using immersive virtual reality.

Jonas Rennemo Vaag presented the cognitive processes involved in crisis management.

These presentations provided the students with practical insights into crisis management, on the eve of the ORSEC exercise they were due to undertake the following day.

Participation in a full-scale exercise

Two other INN staff members, Ørjan Lande Hansen, Director of the Centre for Preparedness and Crisis Management, and Geir Ove Venemyr, Head of the Bachelor’s degree programme in Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Management, took part in the ORSEC exercise organised by third-year students on the BUT HSE course.

This full-scale exercise simulated a fire in the IUT’s lecture theatre, caused by the battery of an electric scooter. The students were assessed on their ability to manage a crisis situation in real time, involving numerous casualties (NOVI).

The operation involved firefighters, representatives from the City of Lorient, the university’s prevention service, and several accredited civil protection organisations.

A common area of focus : ‘attack-intrusion’ scenarios in schools

The topic of training in crisis management has been identified as a common area of interest and one worthy of research.

An initial area of focus would be to compare the doctrines, preparedness measures and training methods implemented in France and Norway to deal with ‘attack-intrusion’ crisis situations that may arise in educational establishments (primary, secondary and higher education).

This collaboration paves the way for ambitious projects combining training, research and major societal challenges.