The diploma in Gender, Women and Development Studies at Egerton University is designed to address multidisciplinary issues in gender, with emphasis on women and development in the African perspective.
Women studies are related to all other disciplines, not only the social sciences but also natural and applied sciences. Gender studies and Women studies complement each other. Gender studies is an important aspect or component of feminist movement since feminists concerns are about ending gender inequalities, we cannot discuss such issues without referring to gender.
Analysis of women centred problems and questions could suffer if the agenda shifts exclusively to concentrate on issues shared with men. In the African context and in reference to Kenya, where poverty negates development, it important to adopt a multidisciplinary approach and look at both women studies and gender studies in relation to development.
The programme targets decision-makers in the formulation of gender sensitive policies and to apply gender knowledge and skills that are essential to all careers and in the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Education For All (EFA) goals. Knowledge on gender and development is relevant in social work, institutional management that promote social and gender equity, legal systems, community development among others. Gender has become the key element for economic sustainability and social justice.
The interdisciplinary nature of the diploma course will make it applicable for those in mid-career and wishing to up-grade or refresh existing skills, those intending to change career focus in the community, government, or private sectors, those with challenges in the workplace that would be helped by a serious consideration of the issues which women studies and gender studies address. The course will offer new career opportunities for the graduates. In Kenya, the government and Non-Governmental Organizations are in need of trained personnel in the field of gender and development. The knowledge and skills acquired in this course will give the graduates a competitive edge in the job market.