By Gift Chiponde

Lilongwe, March 27, Mana: The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has issued a strong warning to Malawians, clarifying that receiving an honorary degree does not automatically qualify an individual for the title of "Professor" or "Doctor."

In a statement released yesterday, NCHE emphasised that honorary degrees are purely symbolic recognitions and do not hold the same academic weight as a PhD or a Professorship.

The council noted an increasing trend where individuals who have been conferred honorary degrees begin to use academic titles without completing the rigorous scholarly processes required for those qualifications.

“An honorary degree is a recognition of one’s contributions to society, but it does not equate to an earned academic qualification,” the statement read.

NCHE further cautioned institutions against misleading the public by allowing honorary degree recipients to assume academic titles. The council stressed that only accredited institutions and duly qualified individuals can rightfully hold and use such titles.

This warning comes amid growing concerns that some individuals in Malawi are falsely portraying themselves as professors or doctors after receiving honorary degrees from unaccredited institutions.

The NCHE has urged all stakeholders to hold hands in upholding the integrity and dignity of higher education in the country.