By Ali Hope

Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) has upgraded its Postgraduate School to a full College of Postgraduate Studies, a strategic transition aimed at elevating the quality of advanced education and boosting the institution’s global academic standing.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with ESUT Monitor, the Provost of the new College, Professor Charles Chime, disclosed that the University Senate approval of the upgrade formalizes a collegiate structure that the university had effectively operated for years under the former postgraduate school system.

“It means a transition to a higher pedestal in PG administration,” Prof. Chime stated. “It is tailored towards improving the academic quality of postgraduate education and also enhancing our visibility to the global community.”

Explaining the operational shift, the Provost noted that the former Postgraduate School already coordinated academic offerings across faculties rather than allowing departments to operate independently.
“If it were a school system, the various faculties will handle their programme themselves without recourse to coordination. But in the college system, everything is harmonized.”

Detailing the administrative restructuring, the Provost highlighted that while the Vice Chancellor remains at the apex of the college, the executive head of the unit now transitions from the title of Dean to Provost. To strengthen internal governance, he revealed that two Deputy Provosts will soon be appointed to oversee distinct academic portfolios: one for Sciences, Engineering, and Technology, and another for Social Sciences, Management, and Humanities. This new framework replaces the former single Associate Dean model.

According to figures disclosed by the Provost, the College currently caters to between 4,000 and 5,000 students, having admitted approximately 1,400 postgraduate candidates in the outgoing session alone.
Looking ahead, Prof. Chime revealed that the university is targeting a long term enrollment figure of 7,000 to 10,000 postgraduate students.

Attributing the recent surge in postgraduate admissions to institutional reforms, the Provost explained that the college has introduced strict measures to eliminate academic delays and prevent students from abandoning their programs midway.

“We have put measures in place to ensure that students don’t overstay, maintaining synergy between supervisors and students to ensure graduation is not delayed,” he said, praising university lecturers for complying with the new efficiency standards.
Reflecting on initial operational hurdles, Prof. Chidume acknowledged that the postgraduate program previously faced oversight and infrastructural deficits.

“The PG school then didn’t have good, proper oversight of what happens in the faculties,” he observed.

To resolve this, the Provost outlined key interventions, including deploying official college representatives to every thesis defense across all departments and faculties to ensure uniform quality control and accurate record keeping.