GTEC warns universities against over-enrolling doctoral students

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has issued a stern warning to universities across the country regarding the admission of doctoral students beyond their institutional capacities. Speaking at a graduation ceremony on October 31, Director-General Professor Ahmed Abdulai Jinapor emphasized that over-enrollment poses a significant risk to the quality and integrity of doctoral education in Ghana. He cautioned that institutions must balance their intake with available resources to maintain high academic standards and protect the value of the degrees conferred.

The warning was delivered during the graduation ceremony of the African University of Communication and Business, where 350 students were awarded degrees. Professor Jinapor stressed that for doctoral programs to be effective, universities must ensure they provide adequate supervision, research facilities, and sustainable funding. He called for a shift in focus toward quality over quantity in doctoral admissions, arguing that specialized research education requires deep institutional support that cannot be compromised by sheer numbers.

In addition to enrollment concerns, the GTEC Director-General urged higher education institutions to adapt their teaching methodologies to a technology-driven economy. He noted the growing importance of online degrees, asserting that these programs must be designed to match traditional qualifications in both rigor and value. This alignment is part of a broader effort to ensure that Ghana’s tertiary education sector remains resilient and relevant in a globalized digital landscape, as reflected in the ceremony's theme, "Transforming Higher Education for a Resilient Nation: Leveraging Technology for Sustainable Development."

To protect students and the public, Professor Jinapor mentioned that GTEC is intensifying efforts to provide information on accredited institutions and programs. This initiative aims to guard against the proliferation of unrecognized academic offerings and ensure that students invest in legitimate credentials. The ceremony also featured remarks from the Overall Best Graduating Student, Barbara Kafui Abram, who encouraged her fellow graduates to remain resilient and pursue their professional ambitions despite the challenges of the current economic environment.