Dr Dickson Ajisafe

I earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in International Relations from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, specialising in European Studies. My field work was conducted in the United Kingdom, being hosted at The Senator George J. Mitchell Institue for Global Peace, Security and Justice and the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland.

My doctoral research investigated the challenges of Radicalization and Violent Islamist Extremism in Prisons in the United Kingdom. This research study proffers answers that impact on policy, practice, human development and scholarship in contemporary Europe and beyond in the world of international security and contributes to strengthening global peace, security and governance, considering the dimensions of threat transnational terrorism, radicalisation, violent extremism and radical Islamist ideology pose to the governance of peace and security in particular and social cohesion in general.

In the same vein, I obtained a Master of Arts degree in African and European Cultural Relations from the University of Pretoria, South Africa and had a year Master’s Studies in Politics and Public Administration at Konstanz University, Germany-where I completed my Master’s dissertation. My MA dissertation investigated the ‘Radicalisation of European Citizens and Islamic State Terrorism’.  In this study, I was interested to examine and understand why the Islamic State evolved and how the organisation was able to recruit its membership across Europe and build its network beyond the continent. The study also analysed the influence of the Islamic State’s ideologies on European citizens-an ideology orientation that consequently led and could further lead some or many radicalized Europeans to plan, participate in and perpetuate acts of terror within their jurisdictions and abroad. 

In 2022, my doctoral thesis earned me a Special International Research Award from the University of Pretoria, South Africa- this was in recognition of my contribution to scholarship; while the success story of my Erasmusplus Master study in Germany was published by the European Commission in 2017 ESAA Magazine.

By and large, I have participated in full-sponsored international seminars, conferences, workshops, professional programmes as well as study visits held in Switzerland, Germany, South Africa, England, Hungary, Scotland, Belgium, Italy, France, Isle of Man, Wales, Ratlin Island, Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, France, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Northern Ireland, Greece and Romania.

Plus and minus, l have won not less than 22 competitive awards, scholarships, fellowships and specialised training programmes from South Africa, Norway, the US, the UK, Belgium, Sweden, Germany and Russia. 

In my work as a researcher, author/co-author,mentor, lecturer, advisor and grant adviser, I have demonstrated profound skills in establishing productive collaborations between the world of academia and practitioners, fostering dialogues that propel more coherent policymaking and effective policy responses. Importantly, based on the insights, experiences, skills and networks I have developed over the years, I provide impactful mentorship, coaching, collaborative research support, advisory service and guidance to university researchers, students, individuals, community groups and organizations in Europe and Africa, based on invitations and consultations.