Department of Public Administration Holds Orientation for MPhil and PhD Students
The Department of Public Administration of the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) has organised an orientation session for its Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students to familiarise them with the academic expectations, institutional requirements and responsibilities associated with their respective programmes. The session, held on 5th November 2026 at the UGBS IT Laboratory, brought together MPhil and PhD candidates of the Department and was moderated by Dr. Zechariah Langnel.
In his address, the Head of Department, Prof. James Kwame Mensah, reminded students that pursuing an MPhil or PhD goes beyond obtaining an academic qualification, as it requires sustained commitment to research, academic writing, publications and participation in scholarly conferences. He explained that postgraduate research programmes, particularly at the doctoral level, demand considerable time and dedication and should be approached as full-time academic commitments rather than part-time engagements. Prof. Mensah announced that all departmental seminars would henceforth be held in person and that attendance and participation would be compulsory for all students. He stated that candidates would be required to participate in seminars from their first year through to graduation, adding that students who fail to meet the seminar requirements would have to seek the necessary exemption.
He further indicated that candidates must provide evidence of submission of a research paper for publication before graduation. According to him, the Department intends to ensure that students acquire adequate experiential training and practical academic exposure before completing their programmes. Prof. Mensah announced changes to the requirements for thesis extensions. He explained that students seeking extensions would be required to submit a comprehensive report from their supervisors, together with a convincing action plan outlining how they intend to complete their research within the additional period requested. He also announced that the re-admission option had been cancelled henceforth. He urged students to uphold the reputation of the Department and the School by conducting themselves responsibly and respecting the dignity of their supervisors. He added that the University have regulations governing postgraduate studies and all candidates are expected to observe. Prof. Mensah also spoke about the level of academic supervision provided at UGBS, noting that supervisors take time to read students’ research work in its entirety and pay attention to the details rather than merely skimming through manuscripts. He encouraged students to take advantage of available research seminars within and outside the school and actively participate in them to broaden their academic knowledge.
A cross- section of the Department of Public Administration Orientation.
A former Head of the Department, Prof. Emmanuel Kojo Sakyi, also engaged the students, reminding them that they had willingly applied to pursue their respective programmes and must therefore demonstrate the commitment required to complete them successfully. He noted that students had individual academic and professional aspirations and that the Department was prepared to support them in achieving those goals. However, he stressed that such support must be matched with determination, discipline and compliance with all institutional regulations and requirements. Prof. Sakyi identified seminars, presentations and research activities at each academic year as three major institutional requirements for postgraduate students. He encouraged candidates to remain active in departmental seminars, make time for presentations and participate in other academic engagements. He also urged them to take advantage of opportunities for teaching experience, explaining that exposure to teaching would help them understand the dynamics of the Public Administration field and develop relevant academic and professional skills.
Prof. Kwame Asamoah, also of the Department of Public Administration, advised students to approach their programmes with seriousness and give their research work the attention it required. He cautioned that repeated requests for extensions might not be beneficial to their academic progress and encouraged them to make steady progress rather than allow their work to accumulate. He further encouraged the students to support faculty members in teaching activities to gain practical experience, noting that lecturers are available to guide and support them throughout their academic journey. He urged candidates to make themselves available for such training opportunities, attend lectures, participate actively in departmental activities and maintain the rigour required for academic excellence. Prof. Asamoah also stressed the need for students to be particular about academic publications and make efforts to publish their research before completing their programmes.
Dr. Thomas Buabeng, a faculty member of the Department, urged candidates to begin working seriously on their academic programmes from the first year rather than postpone important academic responsibilities until later stages. He advised them not to miss lectures and proposed that candidates who accumulated three lecture absences should not be permitted to sit for examinations. He further encouraged students to complete their coursework within the stipulated period and take experiential learning seriously as an essential part of their academic development. He assured the students that the Department was committed to treating candidates well and equipping them with the necessary knowledge, skills and academic support to succeed in their programmes.
Dr. Langnel, who moderated the session, also encouraged the students to develop a personal commitment to their research, describing their MPhil and PhD work as something they must nurture and take responsibility for throughout their academic journey. He advised them to understand their research topics thoroughly, dedicate sufficient time to their studies and ensure that their arguments and ideas were logically connected rather than presenting disjointed thoughts. He also encouraged them to read widely and develop interesting and well-structured research work that would sustain their supervisors’ interest and engagement. The orientation also provided an opportunity for students to interact with faculty members, ask questions and seek clarification on issues relating to their academic progression, research expectations and the requirements for completing their respective programmes.
Some attendees of the Department of Public Administration Orientation.