Smart Emergency Management School inaugurated at USST

At the theme event of “Smart Emergency Management for Complex Systems” of the 2023 Yangtze River Delta International Emergency Disaster Reduction and Rescue Expo on the morning of May 9th, Zhao Laijun, Dean of Business School and Executive Dean of School of Smart Emergency Management, USST, said,“We are committed to focusing on the theoretical frontiers and practical challenges of emergency management to construct a comprehensive platform a smart emergency management industry-education-integration platform that integrates emergency management think tanks, scientific research centers, service centers, education bases, and international cooperation to offer Shanghai’s experience and Shanghai’s plan to the Yangtze River Delta emergency coordination and the construction of the national emergency management system with Chinese characteristics.

At the event, on behalf of both parties, Gui Yucai, Deputy Director of Shanghai Emergency Management Bureau (SEMB), and Gu Chunhua, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of USST, signed the Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement between Shanghai Emergency Management Bureau and University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, and unveiled the nameplate of the School of Smart Emergency Management (SSEM) of USST together. Both parties have agreed to carry out all-round and multi-level cooperation in SSEM’s construction, scientific studies, talent training, cooperation and exchange, to promote emergency management theory innovation, science and technology innovation  as well as institutional innovation .
In his speech, Gu mentioned that relying on its unique platform of system management, combining the advantages of multidisciplinary, i.e. science, engineering, economics and management, and strengthening the in-depth cooperation between tertiary institutions and emergency management departments,  USST and Shanghai Municipal Emergency Management Bureau jointly established the School of Smart Emergency Management, USST.
After its establishment, SSEM will adhere to the use of systematic-scientific methods to solve problems in emergency management, focus on the construction of the emergency management system, the construction of the resilient city, emergency coordination in the Yangtze River Delta, safety production, hazardous chemical safety management, fire rescue, emergency evacuation and material management, and other  challenges in management theoretical frontiers and practices, build a “smart” emergency management research with the major features of  artificial intelligence, big data, VR/AR technology, digital emergency, and emergency industry interconnection, create a comprehensive smart emergency management platform that integrates emergency management think tanks, research centers, service centers, education bases, and international cooperation, striving to develop itself into a high-level school with outstanding location advantages, talent training features, distinct disciplines, both software and hardware, and decision-making consultation for emergency management both in hardware and software.
Zhao Laijun introduced the establishment background, objectives, direction and operation mode of SSEM, saying that by relying on the advantageous disciplines of USST and in full cooperation with SEMB, the SSEM will be keen to create an influential and specialized discipline of emergency management in China by nurturing talents with cross-disciplinary backgrounds, practical experience and theories, carrying out high-level a smart emergency management research targeting the characteristics of megacities and building relevant labs of USST, so as to provide support for the modernization of Shanghai’s emergency management system and capacity.
In his speech, Gui also pointed out that it is of great significance in promoting the modernization of emergency management systems and capabilities in mega-city Shanghai and guaranteeing high-quality development with top-notch security through strengthening the cooperation and co-construction between emergency management departments and colleges/universities, giving full play of the advantages of the city’s colleges/universities in scientific and technological research, talent training and think tanks in emergency management. He asked that we should further raise our political standing and enhance our sense of responsibility to propel the emergency management cooperation between the government and the colleges/universities in Shanghai to a new level; we should further cooperate closely, strive for first-class, and boost the construction of emergency management disciplines in Shanghai to bear new fruits; furthermore, we should pay close attention to and accelerate the implementation of projects to drive strategic cooperation in emergency management to achieve new breakthroughs.