From bachelor’s degree to doctorate…see University courses upgraded by NUC
Photo credit: NUC logo
The upgrade of some medical-related courses from bachelor’s degree to doctorate status by the National Universities Commission (NUC) is a move that has raised a lot of critical attention.
This decision, which was announced on Wednesday, 22nd January, 2025, by the NUC’s acting Director of Public Affairs, Franca Chukwuonwo, has been met with lots of questioning and justification for the drastic change.
This change increased the number of years students studying some medical-related courses will spend in school. Instead of the 5-year requirement, it’s now a 6-year course study.
The commission stated that its reason for this move was inspired by the need to incorporate more clinical and practical sessions, broaden foundational course coverage, enhance clinical skills, comprehensively address all speciality areas, and meet world-class standards obtainable around the world.
PunchOnline reports that the commission’s spokesperson, Franca Chukwuonwo, said, “The National Universities Commission, cognisant of the need to keep abreast with global perspectives on programs and course delivery in the university education space, had carried out some nomenclature change and upgraded programs from Bachelors Degree to Doctor (Bachelors Degree with clinical sessions) status in Nigerian universities.
This quest to upgrade the status of some medical-related programs from bachelor’s degree to doctorate (bachelor’s degree with clinical sessions) was borne out of the desire to incorporate more clinical/practical sessions, provide sufficient coverage of foundation courses, improve clinical skills, and cover all speciality areas.
The trend seeks to also align with global best practices applicable in the training of professionals in these medical-related programs. Furthermore, the certificates obtained from the Nigerian university system can be on par with those obtained in similar programs from other countries. This will ensure the requisite harmonisation, mutuality, and global competitiveness of Nigerian graduates in terms of certificate evaluation, employability, and further studies in the relevant disciplines.”
The selected courses contained in NUC’s Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards or Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards are:
Pharmacy: Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D)
Physiotherapy: Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT)
Optometry: Doctor of Optometry (O.D.)
The commission further stated that it has not yet approved the Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science program in universities, and students are warned not to fall deceitful to any scam-making claims against the decision of the commission.
Other upgrades made by NUC in recent times
Over the years, the National Universities Commission (NUC) of Nigeria has implemented several strategic course upgrades to enhance the quality and relevance of university education in the country. These initiatives align with global best practices and aim to produce graduates who are competitive on an international scale.
Such initiatives as:
Implementation of the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS)
According to The Guardian, the NUC announced in August 2023 the commencement of the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) implementation, set to begin in September 2023. The CCMAS is designed to guide universities in developing curricula that incorporate necessary innovations in content and delivery, ensuring that graduates are well-equipped for the demands of the modern world. The framework allocates 70% of the curriculum content to a unified standard while allowing individual universities the flexibility to tailor the remaining 30% to their unique strengths and local contexts.
Approval of New Academic Programs in Universities
The NUC has also granted approvals for the introduction of new academic programs in various universities to cater to evolving educational needs in universities, like:
Vanguard reports that in September 2024, the NUC approved the commencement of nine new programs at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State. These programs include: Nursing Science, Public Health, Medical Laboratory Science, Cyber Security, Data Science, Software Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Information Systems, and Food Science and Technology.
Also, Abuja City Journal reported that the commission approved six new programs for Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH) in Okitipupa, Ondo State. These programs include Chemical Engineering, Petroleum and Gas Engineering, Economics, Public Administration, Public Health, and Medical Laboratory Science. This approval followed a thorough resource verification process to ensure the university’s readiness to offer these courses effectively.
In September 2023, Cable Lifestyle reported that the NUC approved 32 undergraduate programs for the newly established University of Ilesa following its upgrade from a College of Education, enabling it to offer a diverse range of courses from the 2023-2024 academic session.
These decisions by the NUC underscore its commitment to fostering a dynamic and globally competitive university system in Nigeria. Through continuous revisions and updates of university curricula and academic programs, the commission aims to produce graduates who are not only knowledgeable but also adaptable to the ever-changing demands of the global workforce.
