Analysis of Institutional Requirements for Affiliation of Private Tertiary Institutions in Ghana

Abstract

The study examined the institutional requirements of affiliation of private tertiary institutions with public universities and chartered institutions in Ghana. The study adopted a qualitative case study design. The data for the study was collected through in-depth interviews and document study. The data was analysed by thematic analysis. The study found that the University for Development Studies has Administrative and a Technical Committee that assesses the suitability of private tertiary institutions for purposes of affiliation. While the Administrative Committee assesses the physical infrastructure and equipment as well as legal and administrative documents of the prospective institution requesting for affiliation, the Technical Committee on its part is responsible for validating the curriculum of programme(s) and academic qualifications of staff who have been appointed to lecture in the mentee institution. The study further revealed that there were rigorous requirements by the University for Development Studies for affiliation of private tertiary institutions. The study concludes that affiliation of private tertiary institutions with public and chartered institutions will perpetuate as long as quality assurance is of concern to stakeholders at the tertiary level. Prospective affiliate tertiary institutions should therefore prepare adequately before making a request to public and chartered institutions for affiliation.

Keywords: Affiliation, Mentoring, Private tertiary institutions, University for Development Studies