The Community Development & Justice Centre (CDC) promotes a long-term integrated approach to transformation of communities, cities, and nations. The phrases “community development,” “community transformation,” and “nation building” have become commonplace in many parts of the world today. Yet true change at the community, city, regional or national level begins with personal change, including changes in ways of thinking. Changed individuals and communities become agents of transformation at broader levels, making sustainable development a desirable vision that becomes a present reality. Transformation ultimately takes place as a result of changes of the heart and mind when confronted with truth, evidence of the transforming power of the Gospel.
The Community Development School, workshops, seminars, resources, and consulting offered by the CDC are designed to facilitate personal and community-wide transformation in every sphere of society. To that end, the DEV:
- Offers instruction concerning biblical worldview and development principles and practice at both the undergraduate and graduate levels through seminars, workshops, outreaches, internships, and the Community Development Schools;
- Integrates multiple disciplines, encouraging coordination of people, programmes, and resources within YWAM/UofN and other organizations and communities in pursuit of common objectives;
- Acts as a catalyst for discovering God’s view and intentions for lasting change in individuals and communities as revealed through His Word, using conversations, group discussions, and other forms of training and interaction;
- Consults with students about opportunities for service and further training in areas of community development and transformation.
The University of the Nations also offers an Associate of Arts in Community Development and a Bachelor of Arts in Community Development through the College of Humanities and International Studies. Please see those pages for the degree details. To connect with an academic advisor for these degrees, please contact: [email protected]
Course | Credits | Type | Number |
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The UofN uses two types of credits, FLW (full learning weeks) and LCU (learning component units).
FLW credits are used with traditional residential courses and one of these credits requires a minimum of 50 hours of documented learning activities; these include our normal lectures, small groups, one-on-ones, etc.; and some of these activities are nonformal, in addition to the classroom activities and study assignments.
LCU credits are used for part-time programs like evening courses, intensive seminars, distance learning and other non-residential courses. Each LCU credit requires 25 hours of focused learning activities which can be spread over a period of time.
Centre Director

Contact Details
International office address
Community Development & Justice Centre
University of the Nations
75-5851 Kuakini Hwy #114
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 USA
International Committee
- Giacomo Coghi (San Jose, Costa Rica)
- Gioconda Coghi Rice (Panama)
- Christine Colby (Kailua-Kona, HI, USA)
- Sang Hong Kim (Middle East)
- Samuel Kisolo (Uganda)
- David Noblet (Perth, Australia)
- Arnold Rottier (Lakeside, MT, USA)
- Ana Santos (Spain)
- Andreas East ()