TEEX, Coventry University collaborate on innovative training environments

TEEX and Coventry University in Coventry, U.K., have joined forces to develop a new training initiative in emergency rescue and disaster management. Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) Division Director Bob McKee and Professor Madeline Atkins, Vice Chancellor of Coventry University, signed a Memorandum of Understanding last week in Coventry.

TEEX is partnering with Coventry University’s Serious Games Institute and Centre for Disaster Management in developing online and simulation training in the fields of search and rescue and emergency management. Goals include developing degree programs between the institutions and possibly creating a new center for disaster management training, according to a press release from Coventry University. In addition, both organizations are seeking methods to make training more flexible and plan to collaborate on new avenues for learning and opportunities for exchange programs.

“This partnership will help us to develop a consortium of higher education establishments that support rescue response and disaster management processes across the world. The main objective is to save lives.The joint working (relationship) will help us to cement a sustainable relationship with U.S. higher education institutions and enhance our research into best practices of emergency training and serious games development,” according to Professor Sara de Freitas, Director of Research at Coventry University’s Serious Games Institute.

“This is a good fit because of Coventry University’s innovative teaching and learning research and TEEX’s response capabilities, curriculum expertise and ability to develop real-world applications,” said US&R Associate Division Director Tom Sturtevant. “We look forward to working together to find new, innovative and effective methods for training responders.”