By K. Ericson Sayee
MONROVIA, Aug 20 (LINA) – As part of reform plans at the University of Liberia (UL), Dr. Layli Maparyan, President of the State-run University, has set a goal for all faculty members to obtain their PhDs aimed at strengthening academic standards and enhancing the quality of teaching and learning at the university.
For the University of Liberia (UL) to be among Africa’s top universities, according to Dr. Maparyan, faculty members should muster the courage to explore opportunities for PhD degrees.
She emphasized that if huge numbers of faculty members obtain terminal PhDs, the university will be among top universities on the continent of Africa and in the world.
Speaking on state radio in Monrovia on Monday, August 18, 2026, the UL President revealed that most of the faculty members have master degrees, but she intimated that master degrees are not enough because other universities’ faculty members on the continent of Africa have PhDs.
Dr. Maparyan noted that the University of Liberia can achieve a similar feat, maintaining that it is the reason why the UL administration has been making significant inroads to providing opportunities for some faculty members since her inception.
Referencing the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, Dr. Maparyan disclosed that when she, alongside some faculty members and students, traveled to Ghana earlier this year, upon the invitation of the Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, the students and some faculty members were shocked when they heard that about 100 percent of faculty at that university earned PhDs.
The UL President further revealed: “I want to see all of our faculty members have PhDs because that will boost the university. Our students were shocked when I took them to Ghana when they found out that the University of Cape Coast has a 100 percent faculty with PhDs”.
“I really want to increase my focus on people getting PhDs. A lot of faculty here have masters; they need to go and get their PhDs. We also need to hire those who already have their PhDs.” she expressed.
Maparyan averred that this is a strict plan and expressed her confidence that it will be achieved, as other faculty members are already pursuing their PhDs.
She noted that the university will explore significant opportunities in ensuring that almost all UL’s faculty members obtain their PhDs.