Introductory note from the Dean, Dr. Jane Kinuthia
The Graduate School facilitates and coordinates Postgraduate Studies to enhance the quality of all the Postgraduate programmes offered at the University. The School ensures quality control in all stages of postgraduate studies through streamlining and benchmarking relevant policies as well as establishing research timelines and rhythms starting from concepts to the final submission of Theses and Dissertations.

An important element of quality control is the establishment of a network of highly qualified Dissertation and Theses supervisors and external examiners recruited from like-minded institutions in both Universities and industry. The School has adopted the Integrated Online Graduate Monitoring System (i-OGMS) as an online platform that allows for real-time interaction between supervisors and students. Through the system, it monitors interactions between students and supervisors and is, therefore, able to provide the necessary support as well as remedial measures that may be necessary.

The School works closely with the Centre for Research, Innovations, and Publications to build the capacity of postgraduate students through the organization of research seminars and training workshops. These collaborative efforts have extended to providing opportunities for students to disseminate research results through the University’s annual Research Conferences. The Graduate School also works closely with Heads of Departments to institutionalize postgraduate seminars at the departmental level.

It also works closely with the other three Schools towards the realization of the common vision of making PAC University a world-class University through the production of high-quality theses and dissertations as well as highly competent graduates that are responsive to market needs and national development agenda. It will continue raising the bar of Postgraduate Scholarship and Academic Excellence as envisioned in the University’s mission.

Dr. Ruth Kamunyu is the acting Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and a Senior lecturer in the Psychology Department. She holds a PhD (Gender Issues in Counselling) from Kenyatta University, a Master’s in Education Degree (Guidance and Counselling), and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, both from Kenyatta University. She also has a Higher Diploma in Psychological Counselling from University College Cork (UCC) in Ireland.

Dr Kamunyu is an educationist, having taught for 20 years in various secondary schools in Kenya. She has 14 years of university teaching experience. She was a full-time lecturer at the Presbyterian University of East Africa (PUEA) and an adjunct lecturer at many other universities before she joined PAC University. She has participated in reviewing the M.Ed. and B.Ed. curriculums at PUEA, as well as the BA Psychology, Masters, and PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy curriculums at PAC University. She has also participated in developing the Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and BA in Criminology and Security Studies curriculums at PAC University. She is currently involved in the drafting of a PhD in Counseling Psychology curriculum. Dr Kamunyu is involved in the supervision of Masters and PhD students and has successfully supervised nine Master’s students and four PhD students to completion. She has participated in organizing several public lectures and short courses at PAC University.

Dr. Kamunyu has a great interest in research and has served as a Deputy Director of Research and Research Coordinator of the Psychology Department. She is a member and Secretary of PAC University’s Ethical Review Committee. She has published fifteen papers in peer-reviewed journals and is working on her next paper. She has attended and presented papers at national and international conferences. She has a great interest in gender issues in counselling and gender-related matters and has a passion for working with families. She is a registered counsellor with the Kenya Counsellors and Psychologists Association (KCPA) and the Kenya Guidance, Counseling, and Psychological Association (KGCPA). She has an interest in online teaching and learning and is a member of the Distance, Open E-Learning Practitioners’ Association (DOLPAC). She has written an article (Psychological Counselling in Africa) in the Revised African Bible commentary. She is currently carrying out a study on psychological counselling from an African perspective.

Dr. Kamunyu has been involved in community outreach programs, especially offering psychosocial support to widows. She has served as a Church Deaconess for 12 years and in various other capacities at the PCEA church. She is a Member of the Board of Management in a local secondary school. She is also involved in mentoring primary, secondary, college and university students.

She has facilitated seminars and workshops for teachers and counsellors in various counties.