Admission requirements
- Only students of the MSc Crisis and Security Management, enrolled in the specialisation ‘Governance of Crisis’, can take this course.
Description
Crisis management and crisis communication are intertwined phenomena. Knowing how to communicate increases the effectiveness of crisis management, as stakeholders regain trust and public confidence is restored. This course bridges theory and practice. We present recent theory and concepts, illustrated by best practices of crisis communication. The course focuses on the role of communicative responses during scandals and crises in order to minimise damage and impact in the long run. Case studies from The Netherlands and abroad will be used throughout the course. Students will get more insights into the use of crisis response strategies, the concept and value of meaning making and public leadership in times of crises, and the specific elements of social media as a tool for crisis communication. Students will acquire professional and political sensitivity to communication issues in crisis management, and draft a strategic advice on crisis communication. Their competency to look at risk and crisis communication strategically and empathetically based on practical and academic insights will benefit them in their future professional environment when communication is key in addressing crises and security issues.
Throughout the course, there will be a strong emphasis on challenging students to assess crisis communication dilemmas from the position of other stakeholders, such as media, victims or other organisations within the professional governmental network. Also, insights are provided in terms of risk communication, from natural hazards such as superstorms and floods, to man-made disasters such as toxic spills and accidents, and the threat of earthquakes following the extraction of natural gas in The Netherlands.
This course teaches students to set up, conduct and write a literature review. The purpose of the literature review is to gain comprehensive understanding of the current state of research on risk and crisis communication and on debates relevant to a selected topic with respect to crisis communication, and to present that knowledge in the form of a critical written account. By exploring and picking apart different conceptualisations and theories in the crisis research field when reviewing the academic literature, students will learn about the conditions, effects and challenges of crisis communication. The seminar will build on a mix of academic studies, case examples, empirical trends and media accounts. The seminar has an interactive set up and includes guest lectures from practice.
Course Objectives
After finalizing this course, students will be able to:
- Critically evaluate academic literature on crisis communication, from a conceptual, theoretical and methodological viewpoint and to present the results of this individual research project in the form of a written academic report (the literature review).
- Critically evaluate the effect of the social, political and administrative context and complexity on the perception of communication in crisis situations;
- Assess how leaders deal with communicative challenges and analyse how their modus operandi affects the outcome in terms of resilience, public confidence and trust;
- Present—together with fellow students—arguments and analyses regarding the content and impact of communication on reputation and crisis response in a format appropriate for a broader professional audience and as input to expert groups;
- Build, present and defend well-grounded arguments in oral communication through groups assignments, and engage in public debates about the issues related to crisis communication;
- Provide strategic analysis and advice to decision-makers on crisis communication, and craft basic strategic messages to target audiences;
- Differentiate between risk communication and crisis communication and the context in which both are applied;
- Self-evaluate and reflect after interactive in-class work and individual assignment.
Timetable
On the right side of programme front page of the E-guide you will find links to the website and timetables, uSis and Brightspace.
Mode of Instruction
A combination of interactive lectures and activating workgroups (two sessions per week). In the lectures, students will learn the key principles of research, and the relevant concepts and methodologies. In the workgroups, students will practise research design and methods by applying the concepts, testing theories, and analysing empirical material. The workgroups will, amongst others, consist of in-class assignments, team performances, peer review and exercises and feature several compulsory formative (non-graded) assignments that will help the student prepare for the summative (graded) assignments.
Attendance is mandatory. Students are only allowed to miss a maximum of two sessions if there are special, demonstrable personal circumstances. The Board of Examiners, in consultation with the study advisors, will decide on such an exceptional exemption of mandatory attendance.
Total study load: 280 hours
Contact hours = 42 hours
Self-study hours = 238
In this 10 ects course, 4 ects is specifically reserved for the assignment that is going to be part of the portfolio of students, including working on their interim reflection paper as preparation for the final reflection paper. Specific information on the portfolio assignment and the intended learning outcomes that are being acquired will be published in the syllabus of this course.
Assessment method
Students are not obliged to hand in an assignment at the first opportunity in order to make use of the re-sit opportunity. The re-sit assignment will test the same course objectives, but will be different in terms of topics, cases or substance.
Individual paper proposal
pass/fail
resit possible
Individual final paper (literature review)
70% of final grade
Grade cannot be compensated, a 5.50 is required to pass the course
Resit possible
Two group assignments (either presentation and a vlog)
30% of final grade
Course can be compensated in case of a fail (grade < 5.50)
Resit not possible
Additional, formative (non-graded) assignments are an obligatory part of the course.
Students will be permitted to resit the 70% individual final paper, if they have a calculated overall course grade lower than 5.50 or with permission of the Board of Examiners. The group assignments need to be compensated.
Reading list
A selection of books and articles, to be announced on Brightspace.
Registration
Register for every course and workgroup via uSis. Registration in uSis is possible from 16 December, 13.00h. Some courses and workgroups have a limited number of participants, so register on time (before the course starts). In uSis you can access your personal schedule and view your results.
Leiden University uses Brightspace as its online learning management system. Important information about the course is posted here.
After enrolment for the course in uSis you are also enrolled in the Brightspace environment of this course.
Contact
Dr. Wouter Jong, course coordinator w.jong@fgga.leidenuniv.nl
Dr. Andrea Bartolucci a.bartolucci@fgga.leidenuniv.nl