TITLE:
Institutional Commitment and the Role of Higher Education in Peacebuilding in Sierra Leone
AUTHORS:
John Juana, Saidu Challay, Samuel Joseph Bebeley, Prince Tongor Mabey, Joseph James Mbavai
KEYWORDS:
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Peace Education, Peacebuilding, National Cohesion, Mixed-Methods Research, Post-War Sierra Leone
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.14 No.9,
September
15,
2026
ABSTRACT: This study examined the role of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in promoting peace education and peacebuilding in post-war Sierra Leone. A descriptive survey research design employing a mixed-methods approach was adopted. Quantitative data was collected from 43 participants across five higher education institutions using structured questionnaires, while qualitative data was collected from 30 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and 16 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (ρ), while qualitative data were analysed thematically through triangulation. The findings revealed that 92.7% of respondents confirmed the availability of peace education programmes, while 59.5% reported the existence of dedicated peace academic units. However, only 36.6% indicated that their institutions had substantial and recurring funding, identifying financial sustainability as the major institutional challenge. Institutional commitment indicators showed strong positive relationships, with the highest correlation observed between mission statements referencing peace and strategic plans including peace objectives (ρ = 0.705, p p