Vulnerability Reduction of Academic Spaces against Earthquake: Recommendations for Faculty of Accounting and Management, Shahid Beheshti University

Educational areas due to their high number of users, obsolescence and structural instabilities have a high vulnerability to earthquakes. Among educational centers universities because of the high number of users and also unique documents and studies such as the student’s thesis are more vulnerable when encountered hazards. In addition to structural instabilities, unstructured disorders and also lack of awareness of university professors, students and staffs about disaster situation and their functions add to the vulnerability of the environment. Hence, in this article, in order to investigate and provide strategies to reduce vulnerability against earthquakes, Faculty of Accounting and Management at Shahid Beheshti University has been chosen as a case of study. This study is descriptive-analytical survey. Research data were gathered from questionnaires of professors, students and staffs and interview with officials in Faculty of Accounting and Management at Shahid Beheshti University. For data analysis quantitative (descriptive and inferential statistics) and qualitative (using SWOT) method was used. Theoretical and practical trainings in form of maneuvering and training classes besides of using structural and nonstructural vulnerability reduction measures play an effective role. Also determine safety places and increase the strength and stability of elements and non-structural extensions play an effective role in reducing vulnerability of the Faculty. In addition to non-structural vulnerability reduction measures in an educational environment, the role of training in preparedness of people for disasters such as earthquake is very important and crucial.