TEACHING

Prof. Dr. Vladimir M. Cvetković has over 18 years of continuous teaching and pedagogical experience in the fields of Disaster Risk Management, emergency management, risk assessment, crisis management, civil protection, and broader security studies. His teaching profile combines academic instruction with practice-oriented, scenario-based learning, drawing on extensive professional engagement in emergency protection and rescue, applied risk assessments, and inter-institutional cooperation.

Academic Teaching Appointments (University Level)

Faculty of Security Studies, University of Belgrade (since 2017)
Prof. Dr. Cvetković is employed at the Faculty of Security Studies, University of Belgrade, where he teaches and conducts research within the Department of Disaster Management and Environmental Security. He holds the position of Associate Professor, with a primary academic focus on risk management in emergency situations and integrated disaster risk reduction. His teaching includes undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral instruction, with an emphasis on building both conceptual and operational competencies for risk analysis, preparedness planning, response coordination, and recovery management.

Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria (Adjunct Professor – appointed June 4, 2025)
On June 4, 2025, Prof. Dr. Cvetković was appointed to the academic title of Adjunct Professor at the Technical University of Leoben (Montanuniversität Leoben), by decision of the University Senate. This appointment reflects his long-term international academic engagement and contributions in the field of risk and safety management, including teaching, mentoring, and collaborative research within the Safety and Disaster Management (SDM) master’s program. He is also a member of the Safety and Disaster Studies (SDS) working group at the university.

FH Campus Wien – University of Applied Sciences, Vienna (Lecturer)
Prof. Dr. Cvetković has been engaged as a lecturer at FH Campus Wien, where he teaches the course “Integriertes Sicherheitsmanagement” (ILV) within the Integrated Safety and Security Management (ISM) program. His teaching approach integrates theoretical instruction with workshop-based activities, fostering applied understanding of safety and security governance, risk management processes, and organizational preparedness.

Faculty of Organizational Sciences, University of Belgrade (Doctoral lecturer – Summer Semester 2024/2025)
In the summer semester of the 2024/2025 academic year, he was appointed as a lecturer at the Faculty of Organizational Sciences, University of Belgrade, teaching the doctoral-level course “Risk Management in E-Business” within the Software Engineering and E-Business study program. This engagement was established upon the formal request of the Faculty of Organizational Sciences and supported by the Academic Council of the Faculty of Security Studies, reflecting his interdisciplinary contribution at the interface of security, risk governance, and digital systems.

Advanced Professional Programs and Executive Education

National Defence School “Vojvoda Radomir Putnik” (VSBO) – Ministry of Defence & University of Defence (Lecturer, 2023–2024 and 2024/2025 cycles)
During 2023 and 2024, Prof. Dr. Cvetković was selected as a lecturer for the prestigious Advanced Security and Defence Studies (VSBO) program, implemented within the framework of the National Defence School “Vojvoda Radomir Putnik.” The program gathers senior officers of the Serbian Armed Forces, high-level officials from state institutions, members of the National Assembly, representatives of ministries, and participants from partner countries.
Within this program, his role included delivering lectures, conducting applied analyses, and facilitating learning aimed at strengthening competencies for addressing contemporary security challenges, crisis decision-making, and risk governance. The program’s intensive structure supports capacity development for strategic leadership in defence and security domains.

Teaching Portfolio (Core Courses)

Across different study levels, his teaching focuses on the theory and practice of disaster risk management and related domains. At the Faculty of Security Studies, he is engaged in courses such as:

  • Disaster Risk Management

  • Risk Management in Emergency Situations

  • Protection from Natural and Anthropogenic Disasters

  • Security Risks and Disasters

  • Methodology for Risk Assessment and the Development of Protection and Rescue Plans

  • Management of Protection and Rescue Activities

  • Prevention and Risk Reduction Systems for Natural and Other Disasters

  • Crisis Management in Natural and Industrial Disasters (Master level)

  • Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction (Doctoral level)

His course delivery is designed to equip students with the ability to understand hazards and vulnerabilities, evaluate risks, design preparedness measures, coordinate multi-actor response, and plan recovery processes—while critically reflecting on governance, policy, and institutional capacity.

Earlier University Teaching Experience (2010–2017)

University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies / Criminal and Police Academy (2010–2017)
Before joining the Faculty of Security Studies, Prof. Dr. Cvetković spent several years teaching at the Criminal and Police Academy (later University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies). He was initially engaged as a Teaching Associate and later as an Assistant/Assistant Professor, teaching subjects including:

  • Security in Emergency Situations

  • Risk Management in Emergency Situations

  • Prevention and Control of Fires, Explosions, and Accidents

  • Information Systems in Emergency Situations

  • Crisis Management

During this period, he participated in various special forms of teaching and training, including field-based instruction and structured practical exercises. His engagement included the implementation of training formats such as:

  • basic police training with first-year students (including handling and manipulation of firearms in the context of training standards),

  • police-security training for emergency situations with second-year students,

  • summer field training at the “Mitrovo Polje” training center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Goč), involving practical work with senior students.

He also performed institutional roles that reflect pedagogical leadership and academic service, including being elected Secretary of the Department of Security Sciences (2011–2014/2015 period stated in the text), participation in school policing-related activities, and serving on evaluation/self-assessment bodies. According to student survey results cited in the biography, his teaching performance was rated with an average score of 4.52 during his engagement at that institution.

Teaching Methodology and Pedagogical Approach

Prof. Dr. Cvetković’s teaching emphasizes a modern pedagogical model that combines:

  • structured theoretical frameworks,

  • critical reading and discussion of scientific literature,

  • applied case studies and scenario analysis,

  • simulation-based learning and planning exercises,

  • independent student research and project work.

His approach aims to develop students’ ability not only to understand disaster risk concepts, but also to apply them in real operational and policy contexts—particularly in multi-agency coordination, planning and evaluation, and evidence-based decision-making.

Mentoring and Supervision

Prof. Dr. Cvetković has extensive mentoring and supervision experience across academic levels. As noted in the biography, he has:

  • mentored more than 50 defended master’s theses,

  • served as mentor and committee member for over 150 defended undergraduate theses,

  • participated in doctoral-level supervision and committees (including roles as co-mentor and committee member in doctoral dissertation processes at different faculties).

The supervised topics span a broad range of disaster risk and security themes such as evacuation planning, preparedness and risk perception, climate-related hazards, disaster risk communication, critical infrastructure protection, comparative DRM systems, rescue dog operations, and the application of digital tools in emergency management.

Training, Workshops, and Capacity Building (Beyond Formal Courses)

In addition to university teaching, Prof. Dr. Cvetković has organized and delivered numerous trainings, workshops, and practical programs in the field of emergency preparedness and protection and rescue. The biography highlights his involvement in organizing and implementing training sessions that include lectures, applied exercises, and simulations, such as national workshops focused on civil society and youth engagement in disaster risk reduction, as well as field-based trainings and scenario-driven practical learning formats.

Teaching Materials and Educational Publications

For teaching purposes, Prof. Dr. Cvetković has authored and published educational resources including textbooks, practical manuals, and collections of regulations used in academic and professional training environments. This publishing activity supports structured learning and the practical application of concepts in risk assessment, emergency planning, and disaster response coordination.