In May 2005, Manitoba’s Council on Post Secondary Education (COPSE) gave final approval to the University of Manitoba to offer a PhD program in Peace and Conflict Studies. The program will be offered by the Arthur V. Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice at St. Paul’s College, and it will be the first program of its kind to be offered by a Canadian university.
Dr. Robert Kerr, Vice-President (Academic) and Provost of the University of Manitoba has granted authorization to admit the first cohort of graduate students in January of 2006.
The approvals were the culmination of a two year planning process led by Dr. Sean Byrne, Executive Director of the Mauro Centre, which saw the development of the proposal, positive appraisals by external examiners, and approvals by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, the Senate of the University, and the Board of Governors of the University.
The Ph.D. program will be administered by a Peace and Conflict Studies Committee consisting of the Director and Associate Director of the Centre; the Rector of the College; the Deans of Arts, Education, Law, and Social Work; and representatives from faculty associates who will teach and supervise in the program.
Dr. Byrne is thrilled that all the approvals have been secured and authorization granted to begin. “Students of this program will develop the attributes needed to analyze conflict and to design procedures that will bring peace and justice to conflict ridden areas. Getting the approvals resulted from a great team effort, and the program is a great step forward for the Centre, the College, the University, and the causes of Peace and Justice.” he said.
