Be well prepared to handle crisis situations

The module “Strategic Management and Communication in Crisis and Resilience Contexts” at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg will commence in the summer semester of 2026. An information session on Friday, 24 April 2026, at 2.15 pm, at the Cottbus main campus, Teaching Building 10, Zwischernbau VI, Room 7, or online, will provide an insight into the module’s content, structure and organisational details. No registration is required.

Technology, strategy and communication in perfect harmony

Whether it’s flooding, power cuts, major disasters or long-term structural change: modern crises demand coordinated action, smart decisions under time pressure and the sensible use of digital technologies. This is where the interdisciplinary course comes in: participants are trained to analyse complex situations and make sound decisions. The combination of strategic management, crisis communication and technological know-how is aimed at anyone who currently holds or will hold a position of responsibility in crisis and emergency response organisations: students from all disciplines, public sector employees, volunteers in technical aid organisations and local decision-makers.

Learning for real-life operational situations 

The module runs throughout the semester and combines the teaching of fundamentals, exercises and practical project work in a mix of self-study and face-to-face sessions. The course analyses real-life decision-making and organisational situations and addresses them using various digital and technical tools. These include GIS-based situational overviews for emergency response and disaster management scenarios, drones for data collection, and AI-supported methods for analysing situational developments. In addition, digital communication and documentation platforms as well as prototypical solutions from CAD and 3D printing are utilised. The project work is based on specific real-world challenges: ranging from digital situational awareness solutions and technical prototypes to strategic communication concepts.

Modern crisis and resilience planning for greater safety and protection

The demands on civil protection infrastructure, technical emergency services and local crisis planning are increasing. This module provides the appropriate strategic and organisational skills to meet these demands. Completion is documented by a certificate with credits and a practice-oriented qualification that is compatible with roles in public authorities, civil protection, the Federal Agency for Technical Relief and local government. Volunteers and public sector Staff Members gain structured access to methods and tools that have an immediate impact on their daily work.