MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The President of the University of Liberia (UL), Dr. Layli Maparyan, has reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to a sweeping modernization of the university.
In an interview with ELBC on Monday, August 17, 2017, Dr. Maparyan vowed to tackle what she described as chronic deficits in power, connectivity, and physical accessibility.
The UL President identified electricity, internet infrastructure, and campus facilities as three critical areas in urgent need of reform.
She acknowledged that the Capitol Hill main campus and several other UL buildings remain ill-equipped for 21st-century academia, with outdated systems that hinder both teaching and research.
Dr. Maparyan also highlighted that the UL’s physical structures are not adequately designed to accommodate persons with disabilities.
To address these challenges, the UL President revealed that her office is currently reviewing and reforming several key administrative documents and institutional policies.
Meanwhile, the UL President has stressed the need for reforms in the academic sector, particularly targeting faculty development.
Dr. Maparyan warned that the institution’s low number of doctoral degree holders is undermining its international standing.
Speaking on the state of the university’s academic workforce, Dr. Maparyan revealed that out of a large faculty population, only 150 teachers currently hold PhD degrees.
She stressed that this critical shortage of PhD-qualified faculty has negatively impacted the UL’s competitiveness on the global stage.
In response to the challenge, Dr. Maparyan has appealed to faculty members holding master’s degrees to pursue doctoral studies.