Three Faculty Earn PhD Scholarships in Boost to UL Academic Capacity

Fendall Campus, July 28, 2026 – Three University of Liberia faculty members have secured scholarships to pursue doctoral studies at a globally recognized university, marking another significant step in UL’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the academic qualifications and research capacity of its faculty by expanding the proportion of instructors holding terminal degrees.

The instructors Jankai Abdullah Sesay, Konah B. Ballah and Matthew Gonmah, all hailing from the Dr. Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities, arrived July 22, 2026, in India where they will be studying at the University of Delhi through fully funded scholarships awarded by the Embassy of India in Liberia.

“[This journey] is a testament to the power of perseverance, international cooperation and the transformative impact of education,” said Ballah, a political science lecturer who will be pursuing a PhD in political science. “I remain committed to using the knowledge and experience I gain to advance the mission of the University of Liberia and to help shape a brighter future for my country.”

The title of Ballah’s PhD research is “The Role of Children in Liberia’s Second Civil War: A Case Study of Armed Mobilization and State Authority, 1997–2003.” Gonmah, a lecturer in the Department of Social Work, will work on a PhD in social work; and Sesay, an instructor in the Department of History, is pursuing a PhD in history. They are recipients of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Scholarship.

Through UL’s Study Leave Program, the three faculty members have been granted leave from their academic responsibilities, enabling them to take advantage of the scholarship opportunities and undertake full-time doctoral studies.

The cohort joins a growing number of UL faculty members pursuing or completing advanced degrees abroad through scholarship programs and other opportunities.

UL President Layli Maparyan said the university’s 2026-2030 Strategic Plan names ‘Creating a Ph.D.-centric University’ as one of its leading academic goals.

“Having more PhDs is important because terminal degree holders cement the stature of the university, drive its research productivity, maximize the depth and breadth of the curriculum, and ultimately help us raise the international ranking of our university in line with national development goals,” she said.

The University has been pursuing faculty development through various avenues, including UL sponsorship, external scholarships, institutional partnerships and collaborations with universities and organizations at home and abroad.

There are currently more than 40 UL faculty members on Study Leave across the globe, and some instructors are studying at top-flight institutions.

“It adds prestige to our university when our PhD holders obtain their degrees from other institutions that are highly regarded globally,” Dr. Maparyan said. “The University of Delhi, where we are now sending three students for PhD study, is one of the best institutions India, Asia, and the world.”

Additionally, Liz Kamara, a lecturer in the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences, began her PhD last August in marine science and conservation at the prestigious Duke University in the U.S. Earlier this year, Luther Whian, Sr., a demography instructor, began his PhD in population studies at the University of Ghana, a leading university in Africa.

“It is not just our university that benefits, but these institutions also benefit by being able to proclaim that their graduates are serving as faculty all over the world,” Dr. Maparyan said.

Offered through the Embassy of India in Liberia, the ICCR India–Africa Maitri Scholarship Scheme is a Government of India-funded program that provides African students with scholarships to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral studies at Indian universities.

The newly arrived UL faculty members at the University of Delhi expressed much excitement and pride in receiving the scholarship.

“Receiving the ICCR Ph.D. Scholarship was one of the proudest moments of my academic life,” said Gonmah, whose PhD research is titled “Social Protection and Informal Care in Elderly Care: Policy Gaps, Family Support Systems, and Implications for Social Work in Liberia.”

Gonmah said he “felt deeply honored, grateful, and humbled that my hard work and dedication had been recognized. More importantly, I saw the scholarship not simply as a personal achievement but as an opportunity to represent the University of Liberia and my country on an international academic platform.”

Members of the cohort also expressed deep gratitude to the Indian Embassy, UL, Dr. Maparyan, their respective departments and the University of Liberia Faculty Association.

“This success story is a testament to the power of teamwork, institutional collaboration and visionary leadership,” said Sesay, whose PhD research is titled “The Rebirth of Independence in Africa: Liberia as a Case Study 1945-2000.”

Sesay added: “To the entire University of Liberia community, I wish to assure you that this scholarship is not merely an opportunity for individual academic advancement but an investment in the future of our institution and our nation.”

He said upon completion of their doctoral studies, he and fellow scholars will “return to Liberia equipped with advanced knowledge, enhanced research competencies, innovative teaching methodologies, and broader international academic exposure. We remain committed to applying these skills toward improving higher education, strengthening historical scholarship, mentoring future generations of scholars, and contributing to national development.”

UL has recently created several new graduate programs, including PhD’s in gender studies and in international affairs, and Dr. Maparyan said, “PhD holders are required to lend legitimacy to those programs.”

She added: “Graduates of our programs will benefit from having worked with PhD holders, and they will achieve the respect they deserve, especially internationally, if our academic departments and programs are PhD.-centric.”

With more faculty members slated to leave Liberia this year for Study Leave opportunities, the President said the university is on the right path.

 “It’s a great feeling knowing that we are on our way to becoming a PhD-centric university,” she said. “This burst of momentum lets me know that good things are on the horizon.”