Prestigious award for St Andrews Terrorism Centre

Thursday 8 March 2018

hcstpv-mainbodyThe Handa Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence (HCSTPV) at the University of St Andrews has been recognised with a prestigious award.

HCSTPV, which forms part of the University’s School of International Relations, received the top prize in the Counter Terrorism Education Project Category as part of the inaugural Counter Terror Awards organised by Public Sector Information (PSI) Media.

Gillian Brunton, HCSTPV Administrative Manager and Course Coordinator for the MLitt in Terrorism and Political Violence, was at the Security and Counter Terror Expo at Olympia in London to collect the prize this week (6 March) from former Defence Secretary and St Andrews alumni, Sir Michael Fallon.

Eligible for the prize were organisations and partnerships which have developed and implemented measures to help combat the threat of radicalisation in educational or religious institutions.

HCSTPV overcame tough competition from rivals such as the Africa Security Forum (UK) and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue to take the prize.

Gillian Brunton said: “HCSTPV at the University of St Andrews are honoured to have won the first ever Counter Terror Award for our Counter Terrorism courses. The fact that the award is based on nominations from individuals and organisations in the field of counter terrorism is testament to the quality of our staff and teaching.”

HCSTPV offers three courses: the MLitt in Terrorism and Political Violence, started in 2006 as the University’s flagship distance MLitt; an on-site version of the MLitt for full-time postgraduate students based in St Andrews; and an online Certificate in Terrorism Studies run in conjunction with KNect365 Learning.

The Centre is dedicated to the study of the causes, dynamics, characteristics and consequences of terrorism and related forms of political violence. In doing so, it is committed to rigorous, evidence-based, scholarly analysis that is policy-relevant but independent.

The courses are aimed at enhancing the skill and knowledge base critical to countering the phenomenon of terrorism and political violence as well as helping experienced professionals sharpen their skills with the latest information and thinking about terrorist organisations and their modus operandi.


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