Singapore University of Social Sciences

Expedition Management and Leadership

Expedition Management and Leadership (BSE523)

Synopsis

BSE523 Expedition Management & Leadership delves into the role and nature of wilderness and expeditions in outdoor education that makes it effective as a medium for personal development and learning. It explores the issues, advantages and challenges of designing, managing and leading extended adventure journeys in often remote and exotic regions. The topics are technical (e.g. location and geography, technical skills, equipment, training & preparation, medical & health considerations), managerial (e.g. planning, budgeting, organising and directing and controlling resources, risk & crisis management) and pedagogical (e.g. philosophy, environment, programming principles). Leadership strategies for dealing with adversity and uncertainty, communication, and expedition behaviour are also examined in the course. Students will learn expedition programming, management and leadership based on the philosophy and contemporary practices of experts in the outdoor industry. With this skill set, students will be well positioned to justify, design, plan and execute expeditions both locally and internationally in a safe, enriching and responsible manner.

Level: 5
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: Every January

Topics

  • Role and nature of wilderness exploration and journeys
  • Philosophical perspectives of wilderness adventure expeditions
  • Goal of expedition and man’s innate desire for exploration
  • Value and outcomes of expeditions
  • Issues in wilderness journeys
  • Benefits and advantages of adventure journeys
  • Technical competencies for expedition management: Equipment, food, budget, funding, transportation, lodging, international logistics, training and health issues and operational ‘red-tape’
  • Managerial considerations in expedition management
  • Pedagogical aspects in expedition programming
  • Designing expeditions: Design principles, environment, risk management, team composition
  • Leadership in outdoor adventure activities
  • Leading expeditions: Dealing with adversity, uncertainty and crisis, expedition behaviour, co

Learning Outcome

  • Formulate personal narratives of wilderness exploration and adventure expedition.
  • Examine the philosophy, value and efficacy of wilderness adventure expeditions in human social development vis-à-vis other forms of outdoor learning in the world today.
  • Analyse factors influencing the planning and execution of adventure expedition
  • Justify physical, psychological, and emotional preparation for adventure expedition.
  • Examine the dynamics of leadership, communication, and expedition behaviour.
  • Evaluate the physical, environmental and human issues and problems in relation to organising, managing and leading extended wilderness adventure journeys.
  • Assess risks in adventure expeditions.
  • Formulate strategies to minimize risks in adventure expedition.
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