The seeming fall in the number of applicants to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education is not a threat to the institution’s graduate programme.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, gave the assurance at a media briefing to give account of his stewardship in the past one year, on Thursday.
Professor Onuchucku clarified that the quality of the degree awarded was more important than the population of students in the programme.
He insisted that his administration is built on training high-quality and competent graduates that could compete with their counterparts anywhere in the world.
“Number is secondary, quality is paramount”, he said.
The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that he introduced interviews for the prospective Ph.D candidates and restructured the admission procedure, examination, and supervision of theses as part of the measures to ensure that only qualified applicants are admitted.
He asserted that such would guarantee that quality learning was not sacrificed on the altar of numbers, adding that he would like to be remembered for that after his tenure at the university.
“So long as I remain the VC, I must follow the rules to maintain standard and that is what I will like to be remembered for.”
Onuchuku further revealed that his leadership would focus on the “Triple Helix” approach where the university and the private sector with the support of the government would come out with quality findings to tackle problems in the university’s immediate environment and the Niger Delta region.
The idea of a university, he said, was anchored on the discovery of things through research, and hinted at the formation of the university research team. He explained that publishing by lecturers should not be to get promoted alone, but for the advancement of society.
