2.2 Philosophy of the Programme

The global aspiration in education advances learning in all its shapes and forms towards power to influence people’s choices to create more just, peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable societies. Kenya continues to reform the education and security sectors to respond to emerging issues and ensure the country realizes its aspiration of “a nation of peace and stability”. Garissa University bears a profound responsibility to provide knowledge, skills and values needed for a peaceful and stable society. The University accomplishes this responsibility by focusing on transformative education, cutting-edge instruction and impactful research that prepares graduates with practical knowledge and skills about the forces, processes and practices that engender and contribute to peace, security and conflict. These graduates are equipped to engage in contemporary security enhancement, conflict resolution, peacekeeping and peacebuilding in the national and global contexts through research.

Goal of the Programme

The programme will train research scholars through rigorous academic, interdisplinary and cross cultural approaches to analyze, manage, prevent and resolve social conflicts through innovative peace, security and conflict research in local and international contexts. Graduates will be able to empirically generate and disseminate knowledge by examining the root causes, consequences and solutions to conflicts, social injustice and insecurity within communities.

2.5 Expected Learning Outcomes of the Programme

By the end of the programme the learner should be able to:  

1. Generate a comprehensive literature review to identify research gaps, theories and methodologies to guide a study.
2. Design and conduct a research study and disseminate the findings
3. Build professional network and collaborative relationships with actors in peace, security and conflict management sectors.
4. Develop sustainable peace and development solutions to sites that experience conflict and insecurity. 
5. Integrate theory and practice to solve conflict and security issues.

Admission requirements for the Programme

University postgraduate academic regulations shall apply. To qualify for admission to the PhD in Peace, Security and Conflict Management, candidates shall be: –

1. A holder of a Master degree of Garissa University or equivalent from a recognized University.
2. Applicant must show the ability to undertake academic research by having written a thesis/dissertation/project the at Masters level. 
3. Acceptance by the department of a concept paper of at most 1000 words stating the applicant’s purpose and goals of research study. 
4. Proof of English proficiency is required for students from non-English speaking countries. 

There shall be no credit transfer for Ph.D. in Peace, Security and Conflict Management.