In pursuit of the African PhD: A critical survey of emergent policy issues in select sub-Saharan African nations, Ethiopia, Ghana and South Africa

Abstract

After decades of decline, African higher education is now arguably in a new era of revival. Withthe prevalence of knowledge economy discourse, national governments in Africa and theirdevelopment partners have increasingly aligned higher education with poverty reduction plansand strategies. Research capacity has become a critical development issue; and wideningparticipation to doctoral education is seen as an instrument for enhancing this capacity. Againstthis backdrop, this paper presents a review of emerging initiatives and policies that have somebearing on the PhD in select sub-Saharan African nations, namely Ethiopia, Ghana and SouthAfrica. The findings show a shared optimism about the economic value of higher education, andexplicate divergences and convergences in the framing of problems and policy responses relatedto doctoral education across the three nations. In the conclusion we reflect on challenges andpolicy omissions in the pursuit of the African PhD.