Individuals awarded honorary doctorates in Ethiopia will no longer be permitted to use the title “Doctor” outside the institution that conferred it, under a new directive from the Ministry of Education.
The regulation, signed by Minister of Education Berhanu Nega in July 2025, seeks to uphold academic integrity and ensure that honorary distinctions are granted and used appropriately.
Political and Government Officials Excluded — Serving government officials and political candidates are prohibited from being nominated for honorary doctorates.
Eligibility of Institutions — Only universities that have graduated at least eight cohorts of students and offer advanced degrees such as PhDs are authorised to confer honorary doctorates.
Compliance with Standards — Eligible universities must adhere to both national and international academic standards before granting the award.
Restrictions on University Staff — Full-time employees, Senate members, and administrative staff of higher education institutions may not be nominated unless their employment with the institution has formally ended.
Honorary doctorates may be awarded to Ethiopian or foreign nationals — whether individuals or groups, living or deceased — who have made significant contributions to their professional fields.
The Ministry emphasised that these measures are intended to preserve the prestige and credibility of academic titles, ensuring that honorary awards remain a recognition of genuine achievement rather than political influence or institutional favouritism.
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