What is an honorary degree?
Sep 21, 2010
AN honorary degree or honoris causa which means for the sake of honour in Latin, is an academic degree for which a university or any other degree-awarding institution has waived the usual academic requirements such as study and the passing of examinations.
By Vision Reporter
AN honorary degree or honoris causa which means for the sake of honour in Latin, is an academic degree for which a university or any other degree-awarding institution has waived the usual academic requirements such as study and the passing of examinations.
Prof. ABK Kasozi, the executive director National Council for Higher Education, says a recipient of such a degree can be illiterate, but a social achiever.
Honoris causa usually takes the form of a doctorate or, less commonly, a masters degree, and may be awarded to someone who has no prior connection with the awarding institution, but is given in recognition to the individual’s distinguished contribution to a specific field, or to society in general.
The practice dates back to the middle ages. The first honorary degree on record was issued by Oxford University to Lionel Woodward in the 1470s. The practice became much more common in the 1600s in England when royalty would visit universities and degrees conferred on them.
A recipient of an honorary doctorate, according to the higher education council, may use it in the same manner as a substantive degree, except under certain circumstances where the formal academic background is required.
Selection for honorary awards
BECAUSE a doctorate degree is the highest academic award, universities are supposed to have strict guidelines in selecting candidates for honorary awards as they automatically become university alumni.
Makerere University for instance, has an independent Honorary Awards Committee whose guidelines are enshrined under the Makerere University Statute No. 13. The committee is chaired by the vice-chancellor and comprises senate and university council members.
The committee considers nominees and forwards them to the senate and council for voting by secret ballot. So secretive is the process that the ballot papers are sent and returned by post.
Any candidate who gets rejected can only be considered again after five years. No more than three honorary degrees can be awarded in an academic year according to the statute.
Honorary professorships
UNLIKE honorary degrees where no formal academic qualification is required, the higher education council says honorary professorship is an academic title reserved for academics hired by a university for specific tasks in the offering university.
The person must, therefore, have the appropriate academic qualifications.
To become a professor at Makerere University, one must have a minimum of a doctorate of philosophy (PhD) qualification for humanities or a masters degree in the field of sciences both backed by extensive research experience and publications in reputable journals.
Although universities in many countries, especially in the West have bestowed famous artists, athletes and foreign dignitaries with the title honorary professor even if they do not have academic qualifications, Makerere is the first university in Uganda to confer honorary professorships.
AN honorary degree or honoris causa which means for the sake of honour in Latin, is an academic degree for which a university or any other degree-awarding institution has waived the usual academic requirements such as study and the passing of examinations.
Prof. ABK Kasozi, the executive director National Council for Higher Education, says a recipient of such a degree can be illiterate, but a social achiever.
Honoris causa usually takes the form of a doctorate or, less commonly, a masters degree, and may be awarded to someone who has no prior connection with the awarding institution, but is given in recognition to the individual’s distinguished contribution to a specific field, or to society in general.
The practice dates back to the middle ages. The first honorary degree on record was issued by Oxford University to Lionel Woodward in the 1470s. The practice became much more common in the 1600s in England when royalty would visit universities and degrees conferred on them.
A recipient of an honorary doctorate, according to the higher education council, may use it in the same manner as a substantive degree, except under certain circumstances where the formal academic background is required.
Selection for honorary awards
BECAUSE a doctorate degree is the highest academic award, universities are supposed to have strict guidelines in selecting candidates for honorary awards as they automatically become university alumni.
Makerere University for instance, has an independent Honorary Awards Committee whose guidelines are enshrined under the Makerere University Statute No. 13. The committee is chaired by the vice-chancellor and comprises senate and university council members.
The committee considers nominees and forwards them to the senate and council for voting by secret ballot. So secretive is the process that the ballot papers are sent and returned by post.
Any candidate who gets rejected can only be considered again after five years. No more than three honorary degrees can be awarded in an academic year according to the statute.
Honorary professorships
UNLIKE honorary degrees where no formal academic qualification is required, the higher education council says honorary professorship is an academic title reserved for academics hired by a university for specific tasks in the offering university.
The person must, therefore, have the appropriate academic qualifications.
To become a professor at Makerere University, one must have a minimum of a doctorate of philosophy (PhD) qualification for humanities or a masters degree in the field of sciences both backed by extensive research experience and publications in reputable journals.
Although universities in many countries, especially in the West have bestowed famous artists, athletes and foreign dignitaries with the title honorary professor even if they do not have academic qualifications, Makerere is the first university in Uganda to confer honorary professorships.