Resilience of Higher Education Institutions to Security Risks – Analysis of the Current State and the Need for Cooperation

Educational institutions should inherently embody the values and directions that a society and state aspire to follow, while also playing an expert role in shaping not only educational policies but broader societal policies as well. However, as societies today face various challenges and threats, the educational system is not exempt from the negative phenomena shaping contemporary events and processes. Rapid global political shifts, conflicts, internal social violence, cyber threats, and other risks necessitate that the education system, through both formal and informal educational content, equips students, pupils, and even adults with the necessary knowledge to respond adequately to crises. A literature review on risk management in higher education yields limited results (Raanan, 2009), with most studies focusing on teaching risk management to students or practitioners, such as those by Menoni (2006) and Gabel (2008). To assess the preparedness of higher education institutions (HEIs) and their employees for various security risks, we conducted a study as part of the project activity  “Enhancing the Capacities of Higher Education Institutions for Various Security Risks”, under the Erasmus CBHE programme.