DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
Programmes Offered
School of Education and Social Sciences
Programme Overview
Introduction
Development is complex and multi-dimensional, hence the need to continually research for more effective strategies. To realize this, Africa must engage in research and development to come up with workable homegrown solutions to the problems it faces. All actors in development need to be involved at all levels for sustainable development to happen. This means that both the public and the Non-Governmental sectors need people who understand development. The countries therefore need a critical mass of development scholars and practitioners who possess broad based knowledge of the development arena.
Rationale
In this millennium, the world over is faced with a myriad of developmental problems that present tough management, research and policy challenges. These range from poverty, war and conflict, environmental degradation, economic and psychological crimes, globalization to terrorism. These challenges are mostly felt in the developing world where more than three quarters (3/4) of the population live. Africa, alone is home to 15% of the population of which 46.8% live below the international poverty (Todaro and Smith, 2011). Africa’s population is very young, and if the issue of poverty is not addressed this could be a time bomb, when this group matures. For example, 42.1% of the Kenyan population is below 14yrs, while 18.7% is between 15 and 24yrs. Of the world’s most disadvantaged countries, according to United Nation Development Program’s Human Development Index, over 50% are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, sustainable development and improvement of livelihoods in the continent that is characterized by intense poverty and conflict is a priority development agenda that requires trained manpower at all levels of intervention.
Universities have a key role in this new paradigm which will need them to be proactive within national innovation systems to generate relevant and timely interventions for improving livelihoods. Thus, this doctorate programme will contribute to the goal of improving the livelihoods of communities in Africa through sustainable development supported by focused research, graduate training and community or local based interventions.
Further, St. Paul’s University has been offering a master’s programme in Development Studies since 2010 and has graduated at least five cohorts. Our students come from various countries in Africa such as Angola, Malawi, Liberia, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Sudan and Uganda. We have also had students from Mexico, USA and Norway. The uniqueness of our University ensures that those students who seek to learn in a Christian University continue to study with us. Consequently, from the first graduation of this programme, there have been significant inquiries for the Doctoral programme for those who wish to proceed. This necessitated a market research to find out whether there is need for such a course. An exploration survey showed that none of the private Christian Universities were offering this course in Kenya and only two public universities do. There was also significant demand for the course. By developing this course, the University is therefore responding to this market need. In this millennium, the world over is faced with a myriad of developmental problems that present tough management, research and policy challenges. These range from poverty, war and conflict, environmental degradation, economic and psychological crimes, globalization to terrorism. These challenges are mostly felt in the developing world where more than three quarters (3/4) of the population live. Africa, alone is home to 15% of the population of which 46.8% live below the international poverty (Todaro and Smith, 2011). Africa’s population is very young, and if the issue of poverty is not addressed this could be a time bomb, when this group matures. For example, 42.1% of the Kenyan population is below 14yrs, while 18.7% is between 15 and 24yrs. Of the world’s most disadvantaged countries, according to United Nation Development Program’s Human Development Index, over 50% are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, sustainable development and improvement of livelihoods in the continent that is characterized by intense poverty and conflict is a priority development agenda that requires trained manpower at all levels of intervention. Universities have a key role in this new paradigm which will need them to be proactive within national innovation systems to generate relevant and timely interventions for improving livelihoods. Thus, this doctorate programme will contribute to the goal of improving the livelihoods of communities in Africa through sustainable development supported by focused research, graduate training and community or local based interventions. Further, St Paul’s University has been offering a master’s programme in Development Studies since 2010 and has graduated at least five cohorts. Our students come from various countries in Africa such as Angola, Malawi, Liberia, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Sudan and Uganda. We have also had students from Mexico, USA and Norway. The uniqueness of our University ensures that those students who seek to learn in a Christian University continue to study with us. Consequently, from the first graduation of this programme, there have been significant inquiries for the Doctoral programme for those who wish to proceed. This necessitated a market research to find out whether there is need for such a course. An exploration survey showed that none of the private Christian Universities were offering this course in Kenya and only two public universities do. There was also significant demand for the course. By developing this course, the University is therefore responding to this market need.
The University takes great exception in the quality of its programmes. To this end, it endeavors to grow its human resources as the programmes expand. With the commitment of the management to increase the number of Faculty with PhD qualification, the university has been able to attract and retain highly qualified personnel who are capable of quality delivery of this programme.
Universities have a key role in this new paradigm which will need them to be proactive within national innovation systems to generate relevant and timely interventions for improving livelihoods. Thus, this doctorate programme will contribute to the goal of improving the livelihoods of communities in Africa through sustainable development supported by focused research, graduate training and community or local based interventions.
Further, St. Paul’s University has been offering a master’s programme in Development Studies since 2010 and has graduated at least five cohorts. Our students come from various countries in Africa such as Angola, Malawi, Liberia, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Sudan and Uganda. We have also had students from Mexico, USA and Norway. The uniqueness of our University ensures that those students who seek to learn in a Christian University continue to study with us. Consequently, from the first graduation of this programme, there have been significant inquiries for the Doctoral programme for those who wish to proceed. This necessitated a market research to find out whether there is need for such a course. An exploration survey showed that none of the private Christian Universities were offering this course in Kenya and only two public universities do. There was also significant demand for the course. By developing this course, the University is therefore responding to this market need. In this millennium, the world over is faced with a myriad of developmental problems that present tough management, research and policy challenges. These range from poverty, war and conflict, environmental degradation, economic and psychological crimes, globalization to terrorism. These challenges are mostly felt in the developing world where more than three quarters (3/4) of the population live. Africa, alone is home to 15% of the population of which 46.8% live below the international poverty (Todaro and Smith, 2011). Africa’s population is very young, and if the issue of poverty is not addressed this could be a time bomb, when this group matures. For example, 42.1% of the Kenyan population is below 14yrs, while 18.7% is between 15 and 24yrs. Of the world’s most disadvantaged countries, according to United Nation Development Program’s Human Development Index, over 50% are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, sustainable development and improvement of livelihoods in the continent that is characterized by intense poverty and conflict is a priority development agenda that requires trained manpower at all levels of intervention. Universities have a key role in this new paradigm which will need them to be proactive within national innovation systems to generate relevant and timely interventions for improving livelihoods. Thus, this doctorate programme will contribute to the goal of improving the livelihoods of communities in Africa through sustainable development supported by focused research, graduate training and community or local based interventions. Further, St Paul’s University has been offering a master’s programme in Development Studies since 2010 and has graduated at least five cohorts. Our students come from various countries in Africa such as Angola, Malawi, Liberia, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Sudan and Uganda. We have also had students from Mexico, USA and Norway. The uniqueness of our University ensures that those students who seek to learn in a Christian University continue to study with us. Consequently, from the first graduation of this programme, there have been significant inquiries for the Doctoral programme for those who wish to proceed. This necessitated a market research to find out whether there is need for such a course. An exploration survey showed that none of the private Christian Universities were offering this course in Kenya and only two public universities do. There was also significant demand for the course. By developing this course, the University is therefore responding to this market need.
The University takes great exception in the quality of its programmes. To this end, it endeavors to grow its human resources as the programmes expand. With the commitment of the management to increase the number of Faculty with PhD qualification, the university has been able to attract and retain highly qualified personnel who are capable of quality delivery of this programme.
Expected Learning Outcomes
The graduates of this course are expected to:
- Articulate empirical and theoretical understanding of knowledge related to developmental approaches, issues, challenges and problems;
- Critically analyse the contemporary practices in development;
- Design and carry out research using both qualitative and qualitative research techniques;
- Formulate and implement institutional and national policies and programmes based on development knowledge;
- Apply the knowledge gained in their personal and professional lives.
Specializations
- Child, Youth and Development
- Conflict Management and Peace Building
- Disaster Management
- Human Resources Development
- Innovations, Practice and Institutions for Sustainability
- Poverty, Inequality and Development
- Transformational Leadership and Governance
Duration
3 years.
Structure
Admission Requirements
Career Paths
Intakes
Fees