Cadre training for safety professionals
The 12th Master of Science course "Security and Safety Management" will soon start at Danube University Krems. "The course also appeals to Swiss students, as there is no comparable master's program in this country," says Markus Spinnler in an interview.
Markus Spinnler is a member of the scientific advisory board of the course at Danube University Krems and lectures on safety planning and safety systems. He answers some questions about the course in the interview.
Who is the MSc Security and Safety Management course aimed at?
Danube University Krems is a continuing education university with almost 8300 students from 85 countries. It is aimed at professionals who have already gained experience in a specialized field. In recent years, security managers and officers from a wide range of companies and organizations, security service managers, security planners, specialist planners, risk managers or facility managers have expanded and deepened their specialist knowledge here. Of the approximately 230 graduates to date, around eight percent were women, and the average age was 40.
Why is the course in Austria also interesting for Switzerland?
There is no comparable training here in Switzerland. That's why the course was also structured to address the entire German-speaking region. So far, there have been twelve graduates from Switzerland. They came from well-known companies in the public transport sector, the chemical industry, insurance companies, the postal service, hospitals, the IT sector, engineering companies or the federal government.
What benefits does this course offer them?
The greatest benefit is certainly the integral approach of linking different disciplines of security. The course provides a high level of management competence in corporate and organizational security and enables a holistic and interdisciplinary integration of the various aspects of security. Graduates gain comprehensive competencies for filling responsible positions in the security industry. Many graduates have been able to fill new management positions after completing the training. Furthermore, this training creates an international network in the security sector, from which the students can benefit in the long term.
How is the course structured?
The course lasts 24 months. In the first year and a half, students attend nine modules, each lasting one week. The aim of these modules is to impart specialist knowledge in security management in a professional, practical and scientific form. The lectures focus on security strategic management and legal basics, communication management and social competence, management concepts for security, risk management, crime and IT security, emergency and crisis management, safety management, fire protection management, security systems, and holistic risk and security processes. Individual lectures are combined with online learning modules and, of course, time is needed for independent learning. Students have almost six months to prepare their master's thesis. Subsequently, the master's thesis must be defended and an oral subject examination must be taken.
What are the requirements?
A university degree or a general university entrance qualification with at least four years of professional experience in the security business is a prerequisite. Students without a general university entrance qualification are also admitted if they have at least eight years of relevant professional experience in the security business. For admission to the course, all interested parties go through an application procedure with the course management.
Information Switzerland: Markus Spinnler, Security Experts Ltd., Schindellegi
Course Instructor: Mag. Dr. Ingeborg Zeller, Danube University Krems, Center for Infrastructural Security, A-3500 Krems
Overview of courses:
- 05.10.2020 Start of course: Security and Safety Management
- 22.11.2020 Start of course: Executive Management in Security Business
- 15.03.2021 Start of course: Fire Safety Management
