NATIONAL FIREFIGHTERS CORPS AND SANT’ANNA SCHOOL SIGN MoU FOR TECHNICAL TRAINING, RESEARCH AND POLICY ANALYSIS
Sant’Anna School has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Firefighters Corps in Pisa to provide technical training and continuing education for fire officers and professionals who are currently in leadership role. The courses will focus on government structure, departmental budget planning, advanced management and occupational safety and health which apply to emergency service situations. Under the agreement, Sant’Anna School will provide specific training to officers in the transition into a management position including human resource practices, decision-making skills, strategic thinking, and incident management skills.
According to this agreement signed by Pierdomenico Perata, rector of Sant’Anna School, Gioacchino Giomi, head of the National Firefighters Corps, Andrea de Guttry, director of the Sant’Anna School Dirpolis (Law, Politics, Development) Institute, Roberto Barontini, professor of corporate finance at Sant’Anna School, Emilio Occhiuzzi, director of General Directorate for Training, and Ugo d’Anna, commander – Pisa Fire Service, a cooperation would be established to fully coordinate development strategies and policies, work out plans and measures for regional cooperation and research projects.
Under the scientific supervision of Roberto Barontini, 12 engineers from the the National Firefighters Corps attended the training course “Processi decisionali e Leadership”. Over the last two decades, the fire service has struggled with the training need for disaster management. There is now an increasing interest in structured and advanced management education of first responders and emergency managers. Sant’Anna School has developed academic programs that meet the leadership demands (strategic thinking, team development skills, community and government relations) at all ranks.
“The importance of Sant’Anna School in the scientific life of Pisa is well known and I am honored and happy that the National Firefighters Corps – said Pierdomenico Perata – chose our training program for its officers. Sant’Anna School is prepared to work with fire service leaders and HR professionals to motivate future managers. Through this cooperative effort, Sant’Anna School continues its commitment to helping city government agencies and public service corps. The importance of cooperation and coordination among the national organizations is relevant particularly in the field of the emergency response and emergency management to minimize losses and damages”.
“I am grateful to Sant’Anna School for its cooperation in providing relevant training for the emergency management personnel – said Giacchino Giomi. We have been fortunate to be taught by highly renowned academics and to enjoy an intellectually challenging environment. It is vital that fire officers and professionals in charge of complex emergency operations be trained in the competencies of emergency and disaster management. Emergency managers must possess skills of leadership, team building, and budget planning that Sant’Anna School offers to the highest standards. The Italian Law D lgs 1/2018 refers to measures for disaster preparedness and prevention and the National Firefighters Corps are required to improve governance for disaster risk management and rescue operations in civil protection activities. As disaster management is a multi-sectoral activity, the Firefighters Corps in Pisa reaffirm their commitment to cooperative research programs (implementation of practical cooperation to be carried out at Firefighters school in Rome Capannelle)”.
“I am grateful to have the National Firefighters Corps participate in the event within the framework of our agreement – said Roberto Barontini. Our continuous training and development program offers highest quality courses and our team of highly qualified trainers provide local authority officers with the opportunity to develop their management skills. We are happy to promote cooperation, expand our shared interests and undertake large-scale projects”.
“Sant’Anna School has been working alongside with the National Fire Corps for a long time – said Andrea de Guttry. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism includes firefighters for all EU Member States. In case of events involving an emergency situation, the Fire Brigades can be immediately activated as operational structure of the civil protection; among the disaster scenarios, there were simulations of non-conventional weapons effect”.
“I greatly appreciated the training program offered by Sant’Anna School – said Emilio Occhiuzzi. The Fire Department in Pisa is now exploring the possibility of using robots for emergency-response situations. A robot that one day could be used to tackle fires too dangerous for firefighters”.
Cover photo, from left to right: Gioacchino Giomi and Pierdomenico Perata.
