CSSM Student Profiles
The following are a selection of our current students on the UK based MSc in Security Sector Management. The students are members of Cohorts 1, 2 and 3, which began in 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively. The students are therefore at different stages of their MSc course. We asked them why they chose to take the MSc SSM, and how they feel it has been beneficial to them on a professional level.
- Markus Peltola
- Gordon Hughes
- Erwin van Veen
- Kurt Eyre
- Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun
- Thomas Cirillo Swaka
Markus Peltola
Bio
Markus Peltola has worked across both non-governmental organisations and government agencies. His work experience includes international small arms and light weapons policy, defence planning, political and security analysis, and defence R&D management. He holds BSc and MSc degrees in Social Sciences. He is currently working in defence sector.
Why did you choose to take the MSc in Security Sector Management?
I chose to pursue the MSc in Security Sector Management because it offered a rare combination of both an academically rigorous management approach and practical orientation, underpinned by sound expertise in security issues. It was also essential that the Executive part-time option enabled me to study while working full-time outside the UK.
How was it beneficial to your professional development?
Due to its modular structure and practical orientation, the course has benefited me professionally right from the beginning. I have been able to transfer the new skills almost directly into my everyday work, thus improving the outcome. I think the management skills that this course has taught me will be widely applicable, regardless of my future professional orientation within the security sector. The course has also enabled highly valuable discussions and debates with a wide diversity of experts from across different sectors, countries and continents.
Gordon Hughes
Bio
Gordon Hughes is currently the Chief Adviser for the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) and a senior associate at the Centre for Security Sector Management (CSSM). In 2008 he undertook a 6 month assignment as the UN's Senior Security Sector Adviser drawing up a "road map" to guide the UN's emerging approach to security sector development.
Gordon Hughes is a former UK Army Brigadier. He has commanded troops up to brigade level and served on operations in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Sierra Leone. He has recent experience working in Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Burundi, DR Congo, Timor-Leste, Uganda and Nepal.
Why did you choose to take the MSc in Security Sector Management?
Having assisted in the design of the MSc modules I wanted to get some first hand student experience with Cohort 1 of the delivery of the programme during the inaugural roll out. This experience was then used to refine the taught subject matter and also the balance between academic/theory content, practical experience and case studies.
How was it beneficial to your professional development?
The programme provides outstanding opportunities to extend professional and social networks with SSM/D/T policy makers, practitioners and international experts. I remain in contact with many of my colleagues from Cohort 1; they know how to enjoy a good party!
Erwin van Veen
Bio
Erwin van Veen works as a Security Sector Development advisor in the unit for Peacebuilding and Stabilisation at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He leads or supports the design and corporate management of Security Sector Development (SSD) programs in Lebanon, Bolivia and Burundi. He is also responsible for advancing the Dutch SSD agenda in the UN system and acted as co-chair of the OECD’s SSD taskteam (2007). He supports Dutch fragile states policy & tools development. He previously worked for Shell in the human resources area. He holds degrees in Public Administration (Twente), European Political Studies (College of Europe) and Security Sector Management (Cranfield).
Why did you choose to take the MSc in Security Sector Management?
Cranfield`s program is unique in the sense that it approaches the challenges of SSM from a variety of management disciplines, such as strategic planning, risk assessment and project management. This offers the combination of a conceptual approach and understanding that is underpinned by the skills required to translate approaches into reality.
How was it beneficial to your professional development?
Simply put, it has helped me to support the design and delivery of better SSM policies and programs, next to having learned more about a variety of management disciplines which will remain useful tools in the future.
Kurt Eyre
Bio
Kurt is Head of the International Academy Bramshill, part of the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) and Agency lead on the provision of leadership, development and operational police training and advisory assistance internationally on behalf of both the UK police service and UK government in Security Sector Reform. Key priorities include the development of international police training and educational partnerships that help improve professional standards of policing and police leadership through shared best practice, knowledge transfer and improved coordination of international police training and development projects. All as part of an increased role of UK policing in contributing to the wider global security agenda, aligned to UK government international priorities.
Previously Head of Operations and Programme Manager within the Academy, also worked closely with the UK police, military and government development departments to implement a variety of overseas policing capacity building projects since 2003.
Why did you choose to take the MSc in Security Sector Management?
In response to the increased training and development assistance demands being placed on the NPIA International Academy by both the UK government and international partners. As the Agency lead on international leadership and training development, the MSc offered a comprehensive and academically robust programme that would assist me in implementing the change required for the Academy to better contribute to the global security sector reform agenda.
How was it beneficial to your professional development?
As a unique benchmark in the academic arena for international security sector reform and management, it will provide invaluable credibility and legitimacy to the work I have responsibility for within the NPIA. Above all, it has helped raise my professional competencies and confidence in the areas of strategic management and planning and will provide an important springboard for my aspirations to complete the national police Senior Command Course (SCC) in 2011.
Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun
Bio
Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun joined the Bangldesh Civil Service (Police) cadre as an Assistant Superintendent in 2006. Presently, he is working at the Confidential Wing of Police HQ, Bangladesh, an apex organization to provide security directives to filed units. He started this one year Full time MSc in Security Sector Management under the auspices of a Chevening Scholarship, from the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Prior to joining Bangladesh Police, Mamun worked as a Lecturer in the Dept. of Economics of Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh, from which he obtained both an MSc and BSc (Hons) in Economics.
Why did you choose to take the MSc in Security Sector Management?
As I have professional responsibilities in policing, I was looking for specialized courses and providers that cater for the practitioner /professional audience. Shrivenham has a long established tradition of offering professional training in the military, policing and security sectors that combines academic rigour with utility, though perhaps tending more to the latter.
In addition, the MSc in Security Sector Management is the first course of its kind in the world and staffed by the leading academics and practitioners in this subject area.
How was it beneficial to your professional development?
Management of the security sector in an infant democracy, along with resource constraints, is a huge challenge. Thus, security sector reform is critical, not only for national security issues, but also for the wellbeing of the people and the development of the country.
The scope of studying this MSc in Security Sector Management is enormous for me. I want to contribute to the security sector reform of Bangladesh, paying special attention to Police Reform. Policing is my profession and a critical component of any SSR project/programme undertaken in a fragile, less-developed/developing country.
Thomas Cirillo Swaka
Bio
General Cirillo graduated from The Sudanese Military College as an infantry officer. After one year of service, Cirillo was transferred to the Air Defence Force. He was trained and awarded the Air Defence certificate, Air Defence Reconnaissance certificate (Air Defence Operations, division level), and the Command and Staff certificate. He also obtained two other certificates: the Conflict Resolution certificate (Port Elizabeth University, South Africa), and the Defence Management certificate (Cranfield University, Nairobi, Kenya).
He has held several positions; among others he commanded Air Defence and Infantry Units, from Company to Division level. After the signing of the Sudan Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005, Cirillo was appointed as commander of the newly formed third army, Joint Integrated Units (JIUs). At the moment, he is in charge of the (SPLA) Directorate of Administration in the General Headquarters.
Why did you choose to take the MSc in Security Sector Management?
I chose the MSc in Security Sector Management because it is relevant to my field and profession, and it will help me understand the concepts of security sector transformation and management.
How was it beneficial to your professional development?
It will help me to actively participate in reforming our Security Sector, in a manner that will promote and ensure good governance and the rule of law. The security sector has proved to be one of the most important factors in successful transformation, especially in post conflict countries.