The paper examines the dilemma of doctoral degree completion in Nigeria. The paper describes the controversies surrounding the delay in the completion time of doctoral degree programs in Nigeria. It discussed federal and state policies, regular strikes, university management decisions, host departments and faculties decisions, admission policies, corruption, supervision, student attitude, and perception as factors bedeviling doctoral degree completion in Nigeria. The paper therefore recommends measures that tend to speed up the completion time of doctoral degree programs in Nigeria.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Federal and State Policies
3. University Management Decision
4. Admission Policies
5. Supervision
6. Corruption
7. Faculties and Departments Decisions
8. Regular Strike Actions
9. Students Attitudes and Perception
10. Suggestions
11. Conclusion
Research Objectives & Core Themes
The primary objective of this paper is to examine the multifaceted dilemmas hindering the timely completion of doctoral degree programs in Nigeria, identifying critical socioeconomic, political, and institutional barriers while proposing strategic remedial measures.
- The impact of federal and state government policies on doctoral education.
- Consequences of incessant industrial strike actions on academic timelines.
- Institutional challenges including management decisions, admission policies, and faculty-specific regulations.
- The role of corruption, supervision quality, and student motivation in degree delays.
Excerpt from the Book
Regular Strike Actions
Academic staff unions have been advanced as one of the forces that determine the functionality of university education (Brenna, Chan, & Chou, 2010). Incessant industrial strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) appears to be responsible for the delay in doctoral degree completion in Nigerian public universities. Reports have shown that between 1999 to 2022, ASUU has embarked on industrial strikes 16 times (Ogundepo 2022). The union agitations were the release of revitalization funds, earned allowance, and the removal of the university academic staff from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) to ensure transparency and accountability in the payment of salaries and allowances of academic staff.
Furthermore, the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO, 2018) reported that about 76,338 Nigerians are studying abroad due to incessant industrial strike action embarked upon by the academic staff union of Nigeria universities which has led to continued delays in the completion time of doctoral degree program in Nigeria. In addition, data from the Central Bank of Nigeria revealed that between January and May 2022, the amount of money remitted for foreign education was $378,77m. A market intelligence resource for International Education and Students Travel Industry, (ICEF) reported that nearly 100,000 Nigerian students were enrolled in universities abroad in 2020 due to incessant strikes of academic unions. This incessant strike actions by the academic union of Nigerian universities appear to be responsible for the delay in the completion time of doctoral degree programs in Nigerian universities.
Chapter Summary
Introduction: Provides a contextual overview of higher education in Nigeria and introduces the research problem regarding the prolonged completion times of doctoral programs.
Federal and State Policies: Analyzes how national and regional involvement in policy-making, including recruitment and resource provision, impacts doctoral studies.
University Management Decision: Discusses how administrative decisions such as fee hikes and admission levies directly affect student retention and progress.
Admission Policies: Examines varying academic requirements and GPA standards across institutions and their effect on degree path trajectories.
Supervision: Highlights the critical role of faculty oversight and the challenges caused by inadequate administrative direction and lecturer-student dynamics.
Corruption: Addresses the unethical practices and financial demands placed upon students that hinder academic progress.
Faculties and Departments Decisions: Explores the conflict between faculty-level regulations and central university guidelines that lead to dissertation delays.
Regular Strike Actions: Details the negative consequences of prolonged industrial disputes on the stability of the academic calendar.
Students Attitudes and Perception: Investigates the psychological and motivational factors of students in relation to their doctoral journey.
Suggestions: Proposes a series of strategic improvements for management, infrastructure, and pedagogical support to accelerate completion.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the core findings and reaffirms the need for structural policy reforms in Nigerian doctoral education.
Keywords
Doctoral degree, higher education, Nigeria, academic strikes, ASUU, university management, postgraduate study, policy, corruption, supervision, student attitude, education reform, dissertation, completion time, faculty governance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the systematic causes and controversies surrounding the recurring delays in the completion of doctoral programs within Nigerian universities.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
The work covers federal and state policy, institutional management, corruption, industrial strikes, supervision quality, and student perceptions of the doctoral process.
What is the main objective of the study?
The objective is to identify the factors bedeviling doctoral completion and to provide actionable recommendations to speed up the degree completion process.
Which methodology is applied in this research?
The paper utilizes a qualitative analysis of current educational policies, administrative challenges, and institutional literature regarding the Nigerian university system.
What does the main body cover?
The main body examines critical variables such as government funding impact, strike actions by academic unions, corruption in supervision, and faculty-specific regulatory bottlenecks.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include doctoral degree completion, Nigeria, postgraduate education, academic strikes, supervision, and university policy.
How do industrial strike actions specifically affect doctoral students?
Regular strikes result in a disrupted academic calendar, forcing students to extend their residency periods and, in many cases, prompting a significant migration of students to foreign universities.
What role does corruption play in the identified delays?
Corruption manifests through unprofessional conduct where supervisors may demand money for services or exercise favoritism, creating financial and bureaucratic hurdles for students.
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- Okpeku Timothy (Autor:in), Julius Omonzuanvbo Ihonvbere (Autor:in), 2022, Wow at Last: The Dilemma of Doctoral Degree Completion in Nigeria, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1442598
