Postgraduate student numbers show steady growth in Ghana

Elena Swanepoel (College of Graduate Studies) with Shaibu Abiru, who completed a PhD in Management Studies in 2023. He will be graduating in autumn 2024.

Unisa is increasing its footprint in West Africa with student numbers in the region having grown to some 290 postgraduate students by the end of 2023. The majority of these students are enrolled for doctoral studies.

To address challenges of current students and recruit more postgraduate students for 2024, a Unisa marketing team hosted information sessions for postgraduate students in the capital of Ghana, Accra, on 8 and 9 December 2023. The team consisted of staff members from the Directorate of Institutional Advancement, the College of Graduate Studies and the College of Economic and Management Sciences.

This follows an identified need and a successful recruitment drive to Ghana in 2023. “It is important to visit Unisa’s students in Africa to build our relationships in these countries and to ensure the continued growth of student numbers – especially for postgraduate studies – in countries where the numbers show strong growth”, Ellen Mofokeng, Manager: Marketing, commented.

A total of 52 prospective postgraduate students visited the information sessions. More than 148 students from Ghana already applied to register for master’s or doctoral studies with Unisa in 2024.

The Unisa recruitment team: back, Hanli Wolhuter, Elena Swanepoel and Penny Ngcobo (College of Graduate Studies), and front, Ellen Mofokeng (Department of Institutional Advancement) and Ilze Crous (College of Economic and Management Sciences)

The high number of postgraduate students in Ghana is a clear indication that this is an important market for Unisa. The country’s economy is growing, and English is the official language in a region dominated by French-speaking countries. This is in line with the University’s 2021 – 2025 strategic plan to increase its international footprint in Africa.

The event was advertised on popular radio stations and SMS messages to current students. Many of the visitors indicated that they heard about the information sessions through word of mouth as families and friends encouraged them to investigate the opportunities available as they had positive experiences studying at Unisa.

During the information sessions the team assisted the visitors with queries about postgraduate study opportunities, funding, registration, myLife email account, and challenges experienced with supervisors. They were also assisted to join the very active WhatsApp group for registered postgraduate students in the region.

Unisa has 183 alumni in Ghana.

* By Hanli Wolhuter, College of Graduate Studies, and Ilze Crous, College of Economic and Management Sciences