DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE IN PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
REGULATIONS
AND SYLLABUS FOR THE DEDREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE (CCS)
1.0 INTRODUCTION
There
is a growing need to improve the general understanding of climate information
to better serve societal needs. Many countries are addressing the challenges of
climate services through the Global Framework for climate services (GFCS) driven
by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Kenya’s Constitution of (2010)
guarantees every Kenyan citizen the right to access information held by the state
(Chapter Four of the Constitution). The state covenants to publish and publicize
any important information affecting the nation.
In addition, Chapter Five stipulates that the state shall eliminate
processes and activities that are likely to endanger the environment. Climate Change poses a significant threat to
the society, environment and economy both at present and in the future.
Therefore, the provision of climate change information will have far reaching
implications on Kenya’s national development agenda.
Kenya Vision 2030, the
country’s development blueprint covering the period 2008 to 2030, aims to
transform Kenya into a newly industrializing, “middle-income" country
providing a high quality life to all its citizens by the year 2030”. The economic, social and political pillars of
Kenya Vision 2030 are anchored on Science, Technology
and Innovation (STI). Several
“flagship” projects have been identified and are being implemented. They are
expected to take the lead in generating rapid and widely-shared growth. For instance, Weather modification flagship
project is envisaged to act as a basis for rainfall enhancement and
consequently providing improved availability of the much needed fresh water for
rapid economic transformation. Another flagship project is the rehabilitation
of the five water towers (i.e. Mau Escarpment, Mt. Kenya, Aberdares Ranges,
Cherangani Hills and Mt. Elgon).
Climate
change has been recognized as a developmental issue which if not urgently addressed,
may impede the gains expected from some of the proposed flagship projects in
the Vision 2030. The Kenya National Climate Change Response Strategy (2009)
identified the need to train skilled personnel in Climate Change Science for
sustainable national development. One of the key components of this strategy is
capacity building including research.
The PhD programme seeks to contribute to the national and
global initiatives of responding to climate change effects through capacity
building in the four broad components of Climate Change Science: Monitoring;
Attribution; Mitigation; and Adaptation. This programme is unique in its
coverage and is designed to cover a wide range of knowledge and skills required
to address the challenges of regional and global climate change and sustainable
development.
It
also provides an in-depth study of the four key areas above and their interlinkages,
drawing upon the internationally recognized teaching, research and consultancy
expertise of the multi-disciplinary team of lecturers drawn from many
disciplines from within the university, plus visiting lecturers from
industry.
The
PhD programme in Climate Change is designed to provide students with advanced
theoretical and practical knowledge in Climate Change Science. The programme is
designed to meet the needs of those graduates seeking careers in the fields such
as Climate Change Science; Modeling; Climate Risk Management and research in Climate
Change science. The objectives of the programme shall be to impart students
with:
(i)
Advanced knowledge in climate change science and develop competences
in the applications of climate change science
(ii)
Skills to conduct advanced research in climate change issues and disseminate
research findings.
2.0
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
2.1 The Common Regulations for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
(PhD) in the University of Nairobi and in the School of
Physical Sciences shall apply.
2.2
The following shall be
eligible for admission:
2.2.1
A holder of a Master’s Degree
in Climate Change, or its equivalent from the University of Nairobi or any
other institution recognized by Senate.
3.0
CREDIT TRANSFER AND
EXEMPTIONS
3.1 A candidate may be exempted from some courses and credit
transferred from an approved institution subject to the following conditions:
(i)
Request for exemption shall be made in writing, on admission to the Director,
Board of Postgraduate Studies (BPS), University of Nairobi and must be
accompanied by officially endorsed supporting documents, including the syllabi
for the relevant course(s) done at the same level.
(ii) The University of Nairobi
reserves the right to administer an appropriate test, through respective
departments in order to determine whether the exemption should be granted.
(iii) Application for exemption shall
be considered only after the payment of an exemption fee, as may be prescribed.
(iv) The courses on which such
exemptions are sought shall not exceed one third of the total number of units
registered.
4.0 COURSE STRUCTURE AND DURATION
4.1
The programme shall last for a
minimum period of eighteen (18) months and a maximum of five (5) years.
4.2 The programme shall be offered by course
work, examinations and thesis.
4.3 The course work shall be conducted through
lectures, discussion groups, practicals, seminars and assignments
4.4 Continuous assessment shall comprise
tests, assignments, practicals, field work and term papers.
4.5 The candidate shall be required to take at
least six (6) taught course units except where exemption has been permitted.
4.6 The candidate shall be required to take 4
core course units and at least 2 electives
4.7 The taught courses shall be covered in a minimum
of one semester and a maximum of three (3) semesters each of fifteen (15)
weeks.
4.8 Candidates shall be required to take at
least two (2) course units in each semester.
4.9 A candidate shall be required to write a
thesis equivalent to 8 units. The thesis must target a specific area of
application of climate change science
4.10 The
School may require the candidate to attend such a course or courses as may be
considered appropriate.
5.0 MODE OF
DELIVERY
The program will be offered under two
modes; Face to Face and through Open and Distance learning for students who cannot
attend regular University program.
5.1
Face to Face:
5.1.1 The
course shall run for a minimum of six semesters and a maximum of twelve semesters of fifteen weeks each.
5. 1.2 The
course shall consist of six taught course units, and a Thesis, which shall
constitute sixteen (16) units. A student will have taken twenty two (22) units
in total.
5.1.3
The course shall consist of
course work, examination and a thesis
5.1 .4
The students shall be required
to take a minimum of two (2) units and a maximum of six (6)
Course units in a semester
5. 1.5
Each course unit shall be taught
for sixty hours (60) consisting of lectures and tutorials
5.1.6
The thesis shall be equivalent to sixteen course units, and shall be
undertaken after the course work.
5.2
Open, Distance and e-Learning:
This delivery mode will use various
media, including print and electronic, and independent study.
5.2.1 The
main medium of instruction shall be well-designed printed self instructional
study modules. With the inclusion of interactive devices and self-tests, these
modules will provide students with great learning opportunities.
5.2.2
The modules will be supported by technology mediated learning materials which include audio compact discs and
e-learning materials available on e-platforms such as Module.
5.2.3 There
will be limited face-to- face sessions conducted on campus or other identified
study centers in the regions. These
sessions will be used by lecturers to introduce and provide overviews of the
courses at the beginning of the semesters and at mid-semester, to provide
clarifications on issues raised by the learners. The end of semester sessions
will be used for revisions before examinations.
5.2.4 Students
will be supported through the University of Nairobi regional study centers
where access to information through computers will be provided.
5.2.5 After
registration, students will be given orientation on distance learning. Specifically, orientation in studying at a
distance will provide students with study skills, reading skills, time
management techniques, handling of assignments and general guidance and counseling.
6.0 COURSE OUTLINE
|
Core
Courses |
||
|
CODE |
TITLE |
HRS |
|
SCC 801 |
Climate Change Monitoring and Attribution |
60 |
|
SCC 802 |
Socio-Economics
and Governance issues in Climate Change |
60 |
|
SCC803 |
Philosophy of Climate Change |
60 |
|
SCC 804 |
Advanced Research Methods and Techniques |
60 |
|
Electives |
||
|
SCC 805 |
Integrated Modelling and Assessment of Climate
Change on Ecosystems and Biosystems |
60 |
|
SCC 806 |
Integrated
Climate Modeling and Climate Projections |
60 |
|
SCC 807 |
Environmental
Monitoring and Observational Techniques |
60 |
|
SCC 808 |
Climate Change Response Strategies |
60 |
|
SCC 809 |
Climate Change
and Energy Resources Technologies |
60 |
|
SCC 810 |
Climate Change, Urbanization, Land Use and Development |
60 |
|
SCC 811 |
Climate Change,
Agriculture and Food Systems |
60 |
|
SCC 812 |
Climate Change and
Water Resources |
60 |
|
THESIS |
||
|
SCC 820 |
PhD. Thesis |
960 |
7.0 EXAMINATION
REGULATIONS
The common regulations governing examinations for PhD
degree in the University of Nairobi, shall apply.
7.1 Written
examinations
7.1.1 A candidate shall not be allowed to sit any
examination unless he or she has attended at least two thirds of the total
lecture hours.
7.1.2 Each unit shall be examined by a three hour
written examination at the end of the semester during which the course is offered.
7.1.3 The end of semester examination shall
constitute 60% of the total marks in each course unit while the continuous
assessment shall constitute 40%. Continuous assessment shall comprise of
assignments, tests, term papers and practical where applicable.
7.1.4 The Pass
mark for each course unit shall be 50% and the grading shall be as follows:
Class Mark (%) Remark
A 70-100 PASS
B 60-69 PASS
C 50-59 PASS
D Below 50 FAIL
7.1.5 The
candidate shall be allowed to proceed to do research after passing all course
units.
7.1.6 A candidate who fails in up to three units
may be allowed to sit for supplementary examinations in the failed unit(s).
7.1.7 The
maximum score for a supplementary examination shall be 50%.
7.1.8 A candidate who fails in more than three units
shall be discontinued.
7.1.9 A candidate who fails in the supplementary
examination or has failed to complete the prescribed courses within the
prescribed time, shall be discontinued.
7.2 Examination of the Thesis
7.2.1 Regulations governing the examination of thesis
List of required documents
- KCSE/O-level certificate
- Certified copies of undergraduate degree certificate and transcripts
- KNEC C plain applicants to attach certified copy of diploma from KNEC in addition to i and ii.
- Certified copies of masters degree certificate and transcripts