The Coordination Course was successfully held at the national level for the first time in Malaysia!

This marks a significant step toward strengthening the capacity of ASEAN Member States to coordinate medical teams during emergencies, using a standardized and regionally developed training framework.

With the support of the Taskforce and Japan Advisory Committee, the ARCH Project has continued to develop standardized curricula to be implemented by each ASEAN Member State (AMS). One such curriculum—the Coordination Course (C-course)—was held for the first time in Malaysia, in conjunction with the upcoming 5th Regional Collaboration Drill, scheduled for September in 2023. The primary objective of this training course is to strengthen the country’s coordination capacity during emergencies, including the ability to effectively manage and receive both domestic and international EMTs. This marks a key milestone in advancing self-sustained disaster response capacity across the region.

The target participants of this training are personnel who would be assigned to health emergency coordination roles—such as within the Emergency Operations Center (EOC)—during disasters or other large-scale emergencies. In particular, the course is designed for those responsible for coordinating EMT support when external medical assistance is required.
This course is designed to build the capacity of individuals who would take on key roles in coordinating incoming international EMTs and supporting their operations when a large-scale disaster occurs and their country requires external assistances. To that end, participants are expected to gain a thorough understanding of both international and domestic deployment procedures and guidelines and can effectively apply these frameworks during emergency situations.

This course was first piloted during the Knowledge Co-Creation Program (KCCP) held in 2022 in Japan. Following several rounds of refinement, it has now been implemented in Malaysia in conjunction with the 5th Regional Collaboration Drill (RCD) as the first national-level rollout. For this in-country implementation, the course was divided into two components: pre-course online learning and in-person training. Participants first completed online modules covering general knowledge and key concepts. The in-person sessions then focused on strengthening coordination skills specific to the country's context, including its disaster management system, legal frameworks, and regulatory procedures. This blended approach aims to build both a foundational understanding and practical, country-specific capabilities for coordinating EMTs during large-scale emergencies.
Reference：KCCP 2022
https://www.jica.go.jp/oda/project/2004724/news/20230220.html

【Three Core Pillars of the Course Structure】

【Online Pre-Course Learning】
In preparation for the Malaysia-adapted implementation of this course and in alignment with the upcoming Regional Collaboration Drill (RCD) in September, a two-day online pre-course session was held on July 20–21 following close coordination and planning with Malaysian counterparts. This pre-course learning consisted of 13 modules delivered over 8 hours, covering foundational concepts essential for the in-person training. Instructors included experts from Thailand and the ARCH Project, with support from national advisory members.
The online component ensured that all participants entered the in-person course with a shared baseline understanding, allowing for deeper engagement during face-to-face sessions.

【Implementation of the Malaysia-Adapted In-country Coordination Course (C-Course)】
To align the 13 general foundational modules with the Malaysian context, the in-person course integrated the country’s disaster management laws, regulations, and protocols, including procedures for receiving domestic and international EMTs under ASEAN frameworks. The course also addressed the roles and coordination between the Ministry of Health, Malaysia National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), immigration authorities, and other relevant stakeholders in the setup of (Public Health) Emergency Operations Centers (PHEOC) or EMT Coordination Cells (EMTCC) during large-scale disasters.
The two-day in-person course was conducted on August 15–16 and included recap and support sessions to reinforce learning. With the support of national advisory members and course mentors, the session also served as a preparatory step for the upcoming Regional Collaboration Drill (RCD). Approximately 30 participants from key Malaysian agencies took part in the training. Many of them are expected to serve as facilitators or exercise controllers during the RCD, and this course provided an opportunity to practice applying these concepts and coordination mechanisms in a simulated emergency setting.

【Dry-run for the Regional Collaboration Drill (RCD)】

Following the implementation of the C-Course, a full rehearsal for the RCD was conducted, led by the Ministry of Health Malaysia. The rehearsal covered the entire schedule—from the opening ceremony to the field exercise including the Reception and Departure Center (RDC). Key stakeholders, including immigration officers and staff from the SMART Base, were present to verify operational procedures. Special attention was given to the immigration process at the RDC, with detailed coordination and alignment carried out between Malaysian authorities and mentors from previous RCD host countries to ensure consistency and readiness. Additionally, practical elements essential to EMTCC operations—such as data management tasks—were closely reviewed. Notably, participants who had joined the KCCP participants in 2022 played a leading role in on-site facilitation, confidently applying the knowledge they had gained during their training. Their active engagement in the rehearsal demonstrated the continuity and effectiveness of capacity-building efforts under the ARCH Project.