The Senegalese Directorate General of Higher Education (DGES) has issued a warning to private higher education institutions (EPES) that are issuing doctoral degrees without the required authorization from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (MESRI). According to DGES, these diplomas are not recognized and the institutions risk facing sanctions. The warning comes after an investigation revealed that some private institutions are delivering doctoral degrees, including PhDs, without meeting the regulatory requirements.
The DGES cited several texts that regulate the delivery of doctoral degrees, including Law No. 94-82 of December 23, 1994, and Decree No. 2018-850 of May 11, 2018. The director-general of higher education, Pr Awa Niang, emphasized that these diplomas do not respect the public order regulations governing the sector. The DGES also mentioned that the diplomas issued outside the regulatory framework are not recognized in Senegal or internationally.
The DGES has put the concerned institutions on notice, requiring them to immediately stop issuing unrecognized doctoral degrees and to comply with the regulations in force. The administration warned that any failure to comply may result in the immediate closure of the institution and judicial proceedings. The DGES also mentioned possible penal sanctions, particularly for the illegal exercise of a regulated activity.
The DGES has called on students and socio-professional actors to exercise vigilance before enrolling in doctoral programs or recruiting based on doctoral degrees issued by private institutions. The administration recommended verifying the status of the institution and the program with the DGES or the National Authority for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ANAQ-Sup) beforehand.
According to the DGES, the objective is to guarantee students and users a quality, secure, and legislation-compliant higher education. The DGES stated that it will work with ANAQ-Sup and the MESRI services to contribute to the cleansing of the private higher education sector. The DGES emphasized that this warning does not concern state diplomas of doctor in medicine, pharmacy, and dental surgery issued by private institutions.
Some of the regulations cited by the DGES include Decree No. 2012-1116 related to the doctoral degree and Decree No. 2026-1320 of July 21, 2026, modifying Decree No. 2015-582 of May 11, 2015, on the recognition, classification, and equivalence of diplomas. The DGES aims to protect students and users from unrecognized diplomas.
The Senegalese government has taken steps to ensure that higher education institutions operate within the regulatory framework. The government's efforts aim to provide students with quality education and protect them from unscrupulous institutions.
Key points
- The Senegalese government has warned private institutions against issuing unrecognized doctoral degrees.
- The Directorate General of Higher Education has put concerned institutions on notice to comply with regulations.
- The government's efforts aim to provide students with quality education and protect them from unscrupulous institutions.
