VISUS Academy

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The VISUS Academy, developed by the UNESCO Chair on Intersectoral Safety for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience at the University of Udine, serves as a comprehensive training platform dedicated to the VISUS methodology. This methodology, known as Visual Inspections for defining Safety Upgrading Strategies, is designed to assess and enhance the safety of educational facilities worldwide.

VISUS Academy Objectives

The primary goal of the VISUS Academy is to build local capacities for the self-management of school safety assessments. It provides structured training programs for various stakeholders, including decision-makers, trainers, and surveyors, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the VISUS methodology and its practical application.

Its objectives include:

  • Building Local Capacity:
    Equip local stakeholders with the expertise to independently conduct safety assessments of educational facilities and implement the VISUS methodology.
  • Enhancing Decision-Making:
    Provide policymakers with the tools and training needed to interpret VISUS results and prioritize interventions for improving school safety.
  • Facilitating Knowledge Transfer:
    Develop a network of certified VISUS trainers and surveyors capable of disseminating the methodology globally and adapting it to local contexts.
  • Promoting Multi-Hazard Preparedness:
    Raise awareness and prepare communities to address various risks—geological, hydrometeorological, fire, and operational—impacting school infrastructures.
  • Ensuring Sustainability:
    Foster long-term self-sufficiency by enabling receiving countries to independently train new trainers and surveyors within their region.

Training Programs

The Academy offers a range of training modules tailored to different audiences:

  • Decision-Makers: Activities (usually web meetings) designed to explain how the VISUS outcomes can support policy and strategy development.
  • Trainers: Comprehensive courses aimed at developing experts who can further disseminate the VISUS methodology.
  • Surveyors: Practical training sessions for individuals responsible for conducting on-site assessments of educational facilities.

Training Approach

The VISUS Academy offers flexible training methods tailored to the needs of diverse stakeholders.

  • In-Person Training in Udine, Italy
    • Deep Training for Trainers: Comprehensive sessions for VISUS trainers to master the methodology and gain advanced insights into its application. This approach also prepares trainers to effectively facilitate knowledge transfer to surveyors, ensuring they can deploy the methodology more effectively in the local language and context.
  • Online Courses
    • For VISUS Trainers and Surveyors: Interactive courses designed to introduce the VISUS methodology, equipping participants with foundational knowledge and practical skills to conduct assessments or train others.
  • In-Country Training
    • Localized Capacity Building: Training programs conducted in receiving countries to prepare trainers and surveyors within their specific contexts. This ensures the methodology is adapted to local hazards, building designs, and cultural practices.
  • Additional Training Modules
    • Decision-Makers Training: Tailored modules for decision-makers to understand how to use VISUS outcomes for prioritizing school safety interventions and resource allocation effectively.

Contact and Further Information

The VISUS Academy is established as part of every VISUS project, and tailored to the specific needs and contexts of the project. Its formation and training activities are designed in collaboration with the main stakeholders, ensuring that the agreed modalities align with local requirements and project objectives. This flexible approach guarantees that each Academy effectively supports the successful implementation of the VISUS methodology, fostering safer educational environments worldwide.