Conference on the SETOFF Project and New Opportunities for Collaboration and Contribution in Crisis Management

10/02/2024 - 10:02

 

The SETOFF project conference titled "Future Directions for Creating Training and Innovations for Risk Management in Local Communities" was held on September 30, 2024, in Skopje. The event attracted a significant number of participants from various sectors of central and local government, as well as experts in the field of risk and crisis management. The theme of the conference focused on the importance of early risk response and the application of innovative tools to strengthen community capacities in crisis management.

The conference was opened by the Dean of the Military Academy, Prof. Dr. Mitko Bogdanoski, who emphasized the importance of this project for more effective crisis and emergency situation management. Following this, Ms. Monika Kachurova presented the intellectual outcomes of the project, highlighting the significance of the created training programs and the e-platform as a key tool for the education of civil servants from central and local government.

Mr. Ilias Apostolopoulos, a member of the Sustainable City Network from Greece, presented how local authorities contributed to the development of training materials, emphasizing the importance of partnerships between local communities and educational institutions. Then, Dr. Lazar Gjurov, a professor at the Military Academy, engaged the participants with his lecture on coping with stress and making decisions under pressure in crisis situations, prompting an interactive discussion on this important topic.

Ms. Valentina Atanasovska, head of the International Cooperation Department at the Directorate for Protection and Rescue, presented on protection and rescue systems, sharing best practices and lessons learned from real incidents and crises. Her presentation was enriched with field experiences and opened a discussion among participants, who took the opportunity to exchange views and ideas for improving rescue procedures.

The afternoon session continued with a presentation of the e-platform by Dr. Dimitar Bogatinov, who highlighted the development process of the platform and its applicability in training professionals. Subsequently, moderators Dr. Ljupcho Shosholovski and Ms. Monika Kachurova conducted a practical civil protection exercise, where participants applied their acquired knowledge based on a simulated scenario.

The conference concluded with a sense of achievement, as participants not only gained new knowledge but also strengthened their risk management capabilities within their respective institutions.