The Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) has established a joint initiative with Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, formerly known as Manipal University, to conduct PhD programme for the Army Officers. CLAWS has taken this initiative with a view to further enhance the professional military education (PME) of officers, as also to prepare a pool of officers for instructional duties in Army Institutions.
CLAWS and MAHE have jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to initiate PhD programme for Officers in broad subjects that include Geopolitics, National Security, Strategic Studies and International Relations. MAHE, Manipal, is one of the few universities in India that has a separate department of ‘Geopolitics and International Relations’. As mentioned on the MAHE website, The Department of Geopolitics and International Relations focuses research on almost all the geopolitical regions with a greater focus on East Asia and South Asia, Strategic Technologies for National Security with a Focus on Outer Space, Nuclear Strategy of Major Powers, Delivery systems of China and Pakistan, Global Security Challenges, Dimensions of National Security, India’s Foreign Policy Challenges, Cyber Warfare and Critical Infrastructure Security, Maritime Security, Indo-Pacific Security Architecture, Counter terrorism, Insurgency and asymmetric Conflict. In addition to above, certain additional subjects have also been proposed to MAHE for inclusion and consideration.
It has been realised that enrolment in the PhD programme is difficult for the Army Officers due to various reason such as not fulfilling the mandatory QR of publications, inability to join mandatory research methodology classes owing to distance factor and posting in an operational environment and finally selection of universities being the most noticeable one. Other hurdles that the Officer Candidates face is in terms of selection of universities. While seeking admissions in public universities is difficult given the work profile of serving officers, exorbitant fees incurred by private colleges is equally an irritant. Additionally, selecting a good private university is also a tedious task.
In that context, collaborating with MAHE takes care of both the aspects of nominal admission and registration fee (mentioned in the Draft Letter for All Commands) and the fact that Manipal University has a global and pan-India presence along with it offering courses in multiple disciplines, makes it a desirable and credible university for a PhD degree. However, it may be duly noted that CLAWS and MAHE being Institutes of repute, there will be no compromise/dilution in meeting the academic standards required for PhD programme.
Note: MI clearance may also be necessary before submission of the Thesis by the officer to MAHE, in conformity with the subject policy, if it is so felt during scrutiny at CLAWS.
CLAWS-MAHE PhD MoU
PhD Programme SP Dte Letter
PhD Research Proposal Format
PhD Admission Form (Updated)
