Cease using unearned honorary doctorate titles

During recent graduation ceremonies in Namibia and abroad, many politicians, businesspeople, former sports personalities and religious leaders have been awarded honorary doctorate degrees.Many go on to use the honorary title ‘Dr’ in their everyday lives, placing it next to their names on CVs and official correspondence such as emails, and sometimes even insisting that others address them as doctor.To make matters worse, most, if not all, media houses in Namibia immediately start referring to these individuals as ‘doctors’.This tendency creates and promotes confusion among the citizenry, especially the less informed ones. Many people cannot distinguish between an ‘earned’ academic doctorate degree where one writes a comprehensive examination and a thesis and an ‘unearned’ honorary doctorate which is awarded without undertaking any examination. It is important to distinguish between the two.Academic doctorate An academic doctorate, commonly known as a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), is a significant academic achievement earned through comprehensive examinations, original research and the defence of a thesis or dissertation.At many leading universities and colleges, this process also involves coursework in the candidate’s area of specialisation.The duration of a PhD typically ranges from three to seven years, but it can sometimes take longer depending on the field of study and the awarding institution.Individuals with doctorate degrees are recognised for their scholarly contributions and are considered experts in their fields.An earned PhD opens doors to many career opportunities in academia, research, consultancy, leadership and board positions.It also demonstrates critical thinking abilities, intellectual capacity and significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge. According to the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA), a PhD is the highest qualification on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF Level 10).Honorary doctorateIn contrast, ‘unearned honorary doctorates’ are those bestowed upon individuals who have made exceptional contributions to society in terms of community developments or business. An honorary doctorate does not require a recipient to take an academic examination or meet the requirements of a doctoral programme.Honorary doctorate degrees allow institutions and universities to recognise and celebrate individuals for their outstanding achievements, leadership, philanthropy or significant societal contributions. They serve as a mark of distinction and are intended to honour recipients’ accomplishments and positive impact on the world.The use of Dr for honorary doctorates An honorary doctorate is awarded Honoris Causa, a Latin word meaning “for the sake of honour”. Hence, it is inappropriate for honorary doctorate degree recipients to place the title ‘Dr’ in front of their name in written correspondence/documents or demand to be referred to as ‘Dr’, as it is unethical and deceitful and undermines the credibility of the higher education system in Namibia.It also devalues the significance of the earned doctoral degrees and academic promotions in general.An honorary doctoral degree recipient should not insist or expect to be referred to with the title ‘Dr’ in a setting outside of the university or institution that awarded them. The Honoris Causa of an honorary doctorate is not transferable to another institution or the public.Know the differenceLastly, to all stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts, and Culture; Namibia Qualifications Authority; National Council for Higher Education; universities and colleges; professors; researchers; all offices, ministries and agencies and private businesses and media outlets: there seems to be a lack of understanding and knowledge in the public on who can be called 'Dr'.The late Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela would not allow anyone to refer to him as Dr Mandela, despite having over 200 awards, including multiple honorary doctorate degrees. Hence, there is an urgent need to educate our people about PhD holders and honorary doctorate degree recipients/holders. Namibians deserve to know the difference between an “earned” academic doctorate degree and an “unearned” honorary doctorate degree and the purposes they serve.

Cease using unearned honorary doctorate titles

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-11

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Cease using unearned honorary doctorate titles

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-11

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