Program Overview

Postgraduate Program in Advisor for Hazardous Substances

The program is organized in collaboration with Campus Vesta, a training center for professional safety training.

Program Structure

The program takes place in:

• The lecture rooms of the University of Antwerp (most lessons from modules 1 and 2)
• The rooms of Campus Vesta (most lessons from modules 3, 4, and 5)

The lessons are usually organized on Fridays, unless instructors or visit locations require otherwise. The lessons run from January 2026 to June 2027 and take place at the University of Antwerp, Campus Vesta, and relevant practice locations.

The program is spread over 1.5 academic years to allow more time to process the subject matter.

Objectives

The program has a number of pedagogical objectives, which relate to:

• Providing a scientific basis that allows for the assessment of the danger of active chemical substances, radioactive substances, and biological agents in various situations
• Teaching a safe approach to different types of incidents with the aforementioned agents during transport and storage, taking into account the relevant aspects of applicable regulations
• Acquiring advisory skills and communication techniques useful in crisis situations

After completing this program, advisors should be able to provide advice quickly and in a structured manner to the management involved, such as fire chiefs and policy officials and/or company management, in the event of large fires and incidents with hazardous substances.

Although the primary task of the Advisor for Hazardous Substances is to act efficiently in the event of incidents, they become an important point of contact for advice for those who need information about the safe storage, handling, transportation, etc. of hazardous products.

Instructors

The module coordinators are:

• Vera Meynen
• Koen Desmet
• Tom Tytgat and Filip Lemičre
• Frederik Vercruysse and Vera Meynen

Many other specialists from Belgium and the Netherlands, from the academic world, the field, and/or the business community, are involved in the course.

Evaluation and Certificate

An evaluation moment is planned at the end of each module. These partial evaluations, together with the final evaluation, form the basis for the award of the certificate of the postgraduate program in Advisor for Hazardous Substances. Passing modules 1-4 is necessary to participate in the exam for module 5. To obtain the certificate, all modules must be successfully completed.

During the final evaluation, the candidate is confronted with a complete, detailed description of an incident. The candidate's response is evaluated in terms of:

• Verification and assessment of the danger
• Processing of information and consultation of available data sources
• Communication and formulated advice to authorities/management