Postgraduate Diploma in Migration Studies

 

Analysis by IGAD reveals distinct patterns of migration flows that are now the focus of the development of migration architecture in IGAD member states. The countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan, currently hosts 4.6 million IDPs and 1.8 million refugees, while also producing 1.9 million refugees. 50% of these 8 million people from IGAD migrate within the region, while the 46% migrate to developed countries, and 4% migrate to Middle East. It is for this purpose that this program was developed to train migration personnel and other stake holders on issues of migration governance and management with the IGAD member states

 

Philosophy of the Programme

Contemporary research and data suggest that migration is likely to continue to be important in the future because of; continuing strong pressures for global integration, capitalism’s demand for certain types of labour, and people’s desire to migrate in order to improve their life-chances. However, these developments present both opportunities and challenges which necessitate proper management of the migration systems at all levels of society. The programme is anchored on and informed by the Vision and Mission of the University of Nairobi and seeks to provide the students with quality education in migration studies and equip them with knowledge and skills on how to manage the complexities of migration and how to carry out research to provide much needed evidence for informed decision making.

 

Rationale

The act of migration - voluntary or forced, documented or undocumented, within or beyond borders - constitutes today an increasingly complex process, determined by often inter-related historical, geographical, economic, sociological and political factors. Migration is a part of the process of transformation of social structures and institutions, and of the entire global political economy. Migration is not only affected by broad dynamics of national and global social change, but also part and parcel of that change. Migration shapes and re-shapes societies, making them more diverse and complex as a result, the issue of migration has been high on the global policy agenda in recent years.

 

There is no institution of higher learning in the Eastern part of Africa (IGAD countries) that offers basic training in migration beyond the first degree and therefore the programme was designed in partnership with Kenya Institute of migration Studies among other stakeholders who work within the sector such as the migration governance, higher learning institutions and other government agencies within and out of the region to develop a global and regional curriculum

Objectives are to:

a) Build the capacity of state and non-state actors within the Eastern Africa region to be able to manage migration in order to harness the potential of regular migration for sustainable development;

b) Expose the learners to broad inter-disciplinary perspective of the complexity of migration in different contexts;

c) Provide a comprehensive understanding of the causes, consequences and dynamics of different types of contemporary migration.

 

Mode of delivery

The program will be offered on the following modes

a) Face-to-Face Mode

This will be offered through didactic lectures, case studies, tutorials, seminars, class discussions and presentations, and fieldwork.

b) Open Distance and e-Learning Mode

This will be offered using a multi-media approach that includes self-instructional print and electronic study materials. This will include interactive study materials and both synchronous and asynchronous modes of learning. Online teaching and learning shall be offered through the Learning Management Systems (LMS) of the University of Nairobi.

c)Blended Learning Mode

This will combine both face-to-face and online learning approaches.

 

Schedule of intakes

The programmes will be admitting applicants once per year during September intake as per the faculty of Arts and Social Sciences guidelines

Detailed application information is provided in the university of Nairobi website.

 

Contact Information

The Chairman, Geography Population & Environmental Studies

P.O. BOX 30197 – 00100 Nairobi, Kenya

Tel: +254-020-4918222

E-mail: geopopes@uonbi.ac.ke