Volunteering in Earthquake Disaster Programs: Engineering Students’ Perceptions and Motivations

A major devastating earthquake is predicted to shake Lebanon in the near future leading to extensive damage and national tragedy. To effectively mitigate the cataclysmic effects of such disaster, effective mitigation and response strategies relying on government resources, community engagement and volunteering programs are essential. The objective of this study is to assess the willingness of engineering college students to serve as volunteers in earthquake volunteer programs initiated and led by universities and to determine their motives behind such engagement. Lebanese senior and graduate engineering students (n = 332) were surveyed. The findings revealed a strong tendency of Lebanese engineering students to participate in such volunteer programs, and that learning and altruistic factors are the leading predictors behind participants’ motivation. This study emphasizes the role of universities and engineering community in earthquake risk mitigation and response operations in future earthquake disasters.