Honorary doctorates: a double-edged sword for academia

HONOURARY degrees, though intended to recognise exceptional contributions, have become a source of controversy.

- PROFESSOR DASARATH CHETTY

This issue recently resurfaced in South Africa when Professor Mary Metcalfe, an academic and politician, raised concerns about the awarding of honorary doctorates, particularly when there was a transactional element involved.

A prominent example is the honorary doctorate in dietetics awarded to Maye Musk, Elon Musk’s mother, by the University of Free State (UFS). This was a first for the university in that specific field.

Shortly after receiving the degree, Maye Musk provided two scholarships, each valued at $15 000 (about R266 000) annually, to two full-time UFS students.

While the UFS defended its decision in 2023 by stating that Musk had significantly contributed to dietetics, questions have arisen about whether the doctorate was a precursor to expected donations from the mother of “the world’s richest man”.

Given that this is not an isolated incident of a doctorate being awarded under questionable circumstances, the Council for Higher Education (CHE) released a report in June this year, titled “Good practice on the awarding of honorary degrees and professorships”.

This guide clarifies that honorary doctorates are globally bestowed upon individuals recognised for “exceptional contributions to knowledge, the university or society in general, and academic scholarship or research”, and recipients do not need to meet “normal academic requirements”.

They are often awarded for significant voluntary contributions to social upliftment in areas like social welfare and human rights, or to cultural icons whose contributions to music and arts improve the human condition.

The CHE guide explicitly states that only public universities in South Africa can confer honorary doctorates.