Doctor of Philosophy, UPEACE Headquarters

• Abhinav Kumar Mishra, India, “AI for Peace: Legal Framework for Regulation of Robotics for Peace”
• Ana Elena Castillo, Costa Rica, “Hate Speech in the Context of Social Engineering Processes and Its Limitations Regarding Freedom of Expression as a Human Right”
• Andrés Arturo Morales, Costa Rica, “Peacebuilding Through Non-formal Education: Study of the Practices, Activities and Programmes of the World Scout Movement”
• Andrew Colin Mackay, United Kingdom, “Cross-Border Illicit Financial Flows: The Role of Professional Non-financial Bodies as Enablers of Transnational Organized Crime”
• A-Young Moon, South Korea, “Post Colonial Critical Pedagogy and Militarism – A Reading of Michael Apple’s Can Education Change Society”
• Baktygoul Koubanytch, Kyrgyzstan, “International Protection of Internally Displaced Persons: A Case Study of Iraq”
• Beena Peter, India, “Violence in the Migratory Process: Study of the Undocumented Migrants That Travel From South and Central America, and Mexico to United States”
• Candido Modesto Bardalez, Belize, “Creative Strategies to Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Belize: School – Community Partnerships”
• Cornelis Adelbertus Wiebering, The Netherlands, “Resilient Online Dialogue for Peace”
• Clara Helene Ramin, Germany, “River Rights as an Innovative Tool for Community Health and Environmental Peacebuilding in Latin America?”
• Emmanuella Mbongeh Langsi, Cameroon, “An Assessment of the Contributions, Impact and Challenges of Inter-Religious Dialogue in Central African Republic Peacebuilding Efforts”
• Italo Ribeiro Alves, Brazil, “The Application of the Cartagena Declaration and Other Potential Pathways to Protect Climate Change Forcibly Displaced Individuals in Brazil”
• Jarvas Benedict Zungumbia, South Sudan, “Good Governance and Political Architecture for Newly Established States: The Republic of South Sudan as an Illustration”
• Jehyeok Jee, South Korea, “Human Security in Yeonpyeong Island”
• Jill Huinder, United States, “An Analysis of Economic-Inclusion Policies and Programs to Reduce Vulnerability of Marginalized Communities in the Global South to Modern Slavery / Human Trafficking”
• Justin David Voorhees, United States, “Widening Access to Quality Higher Education for Migrants and Refugees in Emergency Contexts Through Effective Digital Learning Strategies”
• Kalden Munas, Sri Lanka, “Transformative Capacities of Education for Peacebuilding in Sri Lanka”
• Ketevan Nozadze, United States, “Measuring Environmental, Social and Economic Transformation in New Era of Sustainable Tourism”
• Kellie Quinn, United States, “Entrepreneurship and Refugees”
• Keolebogile Lebogang Maruapula, Botswana, “The Role of Women in Cultural Heritage & Sustainable Development: Gaps & Challenges & Lessons From Bayeyi Women of Botswana”
• Lani Mireya Anaya Jiménez, Mexico, “No Peace Without Us: Mainstreaming the Youth, Peace, and Security in Latin America”
• Lisa Maria Peterson, United States, “Formalized, Evidence-Based Programming for the Localisation Agenda”
• Mary Little, United States, “Assessing Community Tourism Structures and Resilience in the Face of COVID-19”
• Megan Capp, United States, “Protection of Children Whose Parents Are in Conflict With the Law”
• Michele Giovanardi, Italy, “Mapping Uses and Regulation of Technology for Peace”
• Michelle Dina Helman, United States, “Innovation in Peace and Health: Data Justice, Experiential Learning, and Evaluation”
• Michelle Renee Lillie, United States, “Impact of Climate Change on Migration Drivers to the US / Mexico Border”
• Mikiko Sawanishi, Japan, “UN Trust Funds: An Innovative Solution or an Impediment to the UN’s Core Principles of Equality, Collective Action, and Sustainability?”
• Mohammad Amin Rashedi, Iran, “Mathematical Philosophy in Peace”
• Natasha Luckhardt, Canada, “The Silence Massacre (Chronic Kidney Disease Amongst Sugar Cane Workers in Nicaragua and El Salvador)”
• Oscar Eduardo Acuña Blanco, Costa Rica, “The Case for Nuclear Technologies: Communicating International Policy on Sustainable Development”
• Paola Fonseca, Costa Rica, Social Impact Investment (SII) in Costa Rica: SII as a Way of Channelling New Resources Towards Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda for Costa Rica
• Peetah Bastien, Canada, “Making Medicine: Understanding Blackfoot Epistemology Through Panpsychism/Quantum Theory”
• Philomena Talatu Zamani, Nigeria, “Peace and Reconciliation Strategy in Kaduna State”
• Pushpi Ganganie Weerakoon, Sri Lanka, “Protection for Migrants: Reparation for the Families of Diseased and Disappeared Migrants in Transition Through Non-jurisdictional Routes in Central Mediterranean Region”
• Raphael Asuliwonnu, Malawi, “The Role of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Promoting Peacebuilding”
• Safiya Garba, Nigeria, ”Violence and Peacebuilding in Women’s Voices – Narratives and Peacebuilding Strategies Through Participatory Arts in Rural Kaduna State, Nigeria”
• Saidou Elhadji Hamani, Niger/Canada, “Role of International Organizations in Promoting Peace and Sustainable Development in Conflict-Affected Countries in Africa: Case of Central African Republic”
• Salome Ntububa Mulangala, Democratic Republic of Congo, “Preventing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo”
• Shahram Dehbozorgi, Iran, “Monitoring and Evaluation in Peace Education: Development and Validation of a Comprehensive Package to Assess Peace Training”
• Sifan Jian, China, “Most Needed Impact Investing Programs Amongst the Left-Behind-Women Communities in Rural Areas in Western China”
• Srishti Singh, India, “Analysing Labour Standards within the realm of Human Rights and International Trade”
• Srruthi Lekha Raaja Elango, India, “Politics and Administration of International Organisations – Impact on Development and Human Rights”
• Tiyamike Mkanthama, Malawi, “Social Action, Empowerment and Self-Determined Development: A Case Study of the Bahá’í Approach to Social and Economic Development Within the Talamanca Bribri Territory”
• Tomoko Ohtsuki, Japan, “The Relations Between Crisis and Promotion of Human Rights and Social Inclusion”
• Valerio Divitiis, Italy, “Sports and Prevention of Violent Extremism”
• Yigu Liu, China, “Localization and Internationalization of the Development of China’s Hainan Free-Trade Port Legal System and Explore the Effects of Chinese and Global Business Implications Under the Development”
• Yumiko Shinya, Japan, “Designing ‘Innovative Microfinance for Peacebuilding’ in Post-conflict Countries: A Case Study Analysis for its Feasibility and Aid Effectiveness”-

Doctor of Peace and Conflict Studies, UPEACE Headquarters

Listed by graduation order:

• Mihir Kanade (India). Dissertation title: “The Multilateral Trading System and Human Rights: A Governance Space Theory on Linkages”
• Lucio Sarandrea (Italy). Dissertation title: “Improving Rule of Law Assistance Projects in Transitional Countries. Towards a New Model of International Assistance Based on Practitioners’ Experiences”
• Wyclife Ong’eta Mose (Kenya). Dissertation title: “Violent Conflict and Development in West Pokot County, Kenya”
• Dramame Ouattara (Cote d’Ivoire). Dissertation title: “Electoral Systems Engineering and Political Reconciliation in Africa: Lessons from South Africa and Cote d’Ivoire”
• Mariateresa Garrido V. (Venezuela). Dissertation title: “The Right to Freedom of Expression in the Digital Era. Limitations v. Protection in the Case of Venezuelan Citizen Journalists”
• Carl Lawson (United States). Dissertation title: “Peace Is Not the Word to Play – An Examination of Hip-Hop as a Peace Movement and Instrument for Peace & Social Justice”
• Jana Lozanoska (Macedonia). Dissertation title: “Hannah Arendt’s Political Theory: As Rethinking of Human Rights with Human Dignity as Their Basis”
• Kabiito Bendicto (Uganda). Dissertation title: “Culture, Resources, and the Gun in the Violent-Conflict Causation: Understanding the Karamoja Conflict”
• Dinoo Mathew (India). Dissertation title: “Inclusive Peace, Gender Equity, and Political Parties: Formation of Peace in Kerala (1950 – 2010)”
• Britney Villhauer (United States). Dissertation title: “Critical Indigenous Approaches to the Decolonization of Environmental Management through REDD+ in the Bribri Territory of KéköLdi, Costa Rica: Creating Positive Peace”
• Natacha John (United Kingdom). Dissertation title: “The Humanitarian Witness: Introducing the Human Rights-Based Needs Assessment Through the Lens of the Syrian Crisis (2011-2014)”
• Jan Breitling (Germany). Dissertation title: “The Political Ecology of Forest Cover Change: Costa Rica’s Forest Transition Revisited”
• Mumbua Simon (Kenya). Dissertation title: “The Confluence of Ideas in Catholic Social Teaching Tenets and Theory/Practice of Peace Education in the Catholic University of East Africa, Kenya: Signs, Prospects and Implications”
• Fereschta Sahrai (Germany). Dissertation title: “Just Inclusive Peace Processes?! Transcending Top-down and Bottom-up Approaches for Sustainable Peace in Afghanistan”
• Nichole Faith Mc Veigh (United States). Dissertation topic: “Building Peace through Communication in an English as an Additional Language Classroom: Action Research through an Intersectional Lens at a Higher Education Institution”
• Pratyush Sharma, (India).  Dissertation topic: “Theorizing South-South Cooperation through the Normative Lens of Right to Development: A case study of India’s South-South Cooperation”
• Stacy Estrada (USA). Dissertation topic: “Community Leadership and Self-Perception: Testimonios From First-Generation Latinas in the Eastern Coachella Valley”
• Fichanfie DJ Nkwain Ngamfon (Cameroon). Dissertation topic: “Analyzing Mediation as an Alternative Dispute Resolution Method in the Bakassi Conflict”
• Felipe Zalamea (Colombia) Dissertation topic: “Access to Finance for Community-based Tourism Enterprises in Costa Rica”

Academic Calendar

Students enrolled in the doctoral Doctoral Degree Programme in Peace and Conflict Studies will start in July 2025 with the mandatory Doctoral Seminar (July – December 2025). This is a course specially designed to provide students with a broad understanding of peace and conflict studies and will grant them the required skills to prepare their doctoral proposal.

From January – March 2026 students can take the Writing Seminar to help them prepare their Doctoral Proposal, which should be presented during the first third of the programme (1.5 years for Part-Time students and 1 year for Full-Time students).

After approving their doctoral proposals, doctoral students devote their time to preparing their doctoral dissertation and have the possibility to join courses and other academic activities conducted at UPEACE.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I propose a supervisor who is not a UPEACE Resident Faculty member?
   Yes, simply mention the name of the potential supervisor in your Statement of Purpose.

2. When should I apply for a scholarship?
   When applying to the programme, you should indicate your interest in the scholarship in your Statement of Purpose, so the Doctoral Committee can review it along with your application.

3. Is there any difference between the application deadlines? Do I gain any benefit from any of them?
   The application deadline does not affect the start date of the programme. The main difference lies in when you will receive the admission letter and the time available for you to enrol. If you apply by September, you can expect to receive the admission letter by January. If you apply by March, you can expect to receive the admission letter by June. If you intend to apply for scholarships offered by other institutions, we encourage you to apply by the September deadline.

4. Can I arrange a payment plan?
   Yes, after enrolling in the programme, we can arrange a special payment plan.

5. Can I submit a recommendation letter from a UPEACE Resident Faculty member?
   Yes, you may.

6. I do not have an English Certificate, but I have studied in English. Can I submit my diploma instead?
   Yes, for the application, you may submit your diploma along with a letter certifying that the programme was conducted in English.

7. I do not have an English Certificate, but my working language is English. What document can I submit?
   For the application, you may submit a letter from your employer confirming that English is the working language.

8. Should I be in Costa Rica for the Doctoral Seminar?
   No, the Doctoral Seminar is offered in an online format.

9. What mandatory courses must I take?
   The Doctoral Seminar is mandatory at the beginning of your research.

10. What are the programme milestones?
    The first milestone of your research is the approval of the Candidacy Examination, which is the first evaluation. This comprises a written and oral examination. Upon approval, you will be granted the status of Doctoral Candidate. The second phase of your research begins immediately after the candidacy examination is approved. During this phase, you will collect and analyse the data required for your research and write your dissertation. Your dissertation will be reviewed by an evaluation committee, and its approval will constitute the second and final milestone of the programme.

11. After being admitted to the programme, can I visit UPEACE and enrol in M.A. courses?
    Yes, you are encouraged to visit UPEACE and participate in academic activities offered on our main campus in Costa Rica.