Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual (L), UEW VC & Prof. Awaisu Imurana Braimah (r), Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, UEW, Winneba.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Professor Stephen John Mitchual, has raised concerns about funding constraints facing doctoral programmes in Ghanaian universities, saying the situation is making it difficult to secure sponsorship for PhD students.

He has consequently called on resource persons, thesis supervisors and examiners to provide the necessary academic support to doctoral students to help strengthen research and academic development.

Professor Mitchual made the remarks on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at the orientation ceremony for PhD students under the Inter-University Conference for Doctoral Studies (IUCDS) at the Université de Lomé in Togo.

“However, the prevailing conditions in our universities today with respect to funding make it difficult to get sponsorship for students on PhD programmes,” he said.

He urged participating students to intensify their efforts to develop their research skills, stressing the importance of making effective use of the academic support and research training available to them.

“I would like therefore to call on all PhD students participating in the orientation to redouble their efforts in developing their research skills bearing in mind that they will be taken through research process so that the vision of the founding members of the Doctoral School will be realized,” he added.

The Vice-Chancellor also appealed to invited resource persons, experts, thesis supervisors and examiners at the University of Lomé to guide the students through the research processes outlined in the orientation programme.

He said the collaboration among partner institutions was essential to addressing the shortage of well-trained academics in universities and improving the quality of teaching and research.

Professor Mitchual further advocated the establishment of a Research, Innovation and Staff Development Fund (RISDF) among partner institutions to support research activities, staff development and doctoral studies.

He cited UEW's Research, Innovation and Staff Development Fund as an example of an initiative designed to improve the university's research culture and create an enabling environment for groundbreaking research.

The speech was read on his behalf at the event by Prof. Awaisu Imurana Braimah, Dean, School of Graduate Studies, UEW.

The Inter-University Conference for Doctoral Studies brings together partner universities to promote collaborative research, staff development, doctoral training and the exchange of academic expertise.

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Lack of funding makes PhD sponsorship difficult in Ghanaian universities – UEW VC

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