Junior academics in leadership, Peace, Security and society have a major opening to drink deep and critically at the University of London’s King’s College where a Masters programme in Security, Leadership and Society is on offer, beginning in September 2018. But that is provided they can beat an April 8th, 2018 deadline to, first of all, obtain admission to the MSc programme mentioned above and following which they can then apply for the Fellowship. The Fellowship covers all other costs except cost of processing travel documents and accommodation in London while a student there, if admitted into the programme. The accommodation bit is bound to make this a bit tough especially for those who have not lived in London before but it is not insurmountable and may not be a reason for not applying at this point. Applications to both the Masters programme and the Fellowship have already been invited or advertised.
The entire opening is divided into the typical 12 month structured Masters programme during which the student is at King’s College, London and then followed by a 6 month attachment at the Africa Leadership Centre/University of Nairobi during which the student conducts an independent research, all of these within the logic of the Nairobi based Africa Leadership Centre run by King’s College and the University of Nairobi since 2010. The centre is obviously an intervention in the crisis of conflict management in Africa through leadership and with a strong emphasis on mentoring.
To qualify for the Fellowship, an applicant must have applied independently to King’s College for admission into the Masters programme. While that is a purely routine exercise through an Online application process, the applicant must send in a letter of application capturing relevant experience and qualification; a supporting statement of 1000 words justifying why he or she deserves to be there; a letter of recommendation from two referees; recent CV, a writing sample of no more than 2000 words and a 1000 word proposal on a list of research issues already listed by the university.
The application for the Fellowship which is another kettle of fish requires applicants to be a citizen of an African country; to be a junior faculty member in as diverse departments as Political Science, Law, International Relations, Development Studies, History, Peace, Security, Conflict Studies; to have valid travel documents (which should not be a problem once admission is on hand); the academic capacity to research security, leadership and society; fluency in English Language and a healthy profile in capacity for independent thinking, integrity, pursuit of excellence and respect for all forms of diversity.
According to the application advertisement, expectant or nursing mothers are not barred but the fluidity of the programme would mean that they have to defer the admission if they get it. Those who get the opportunity would be expected to return to their country or base in Africa. There is a medical examination dimension to it all at some point. In all, those who have experienced it before say that the process may look bewildering but it is as simple as ABC and those who are well located should not hesitate to apply.
