Eighteen Liberian students have graduated from Sharda University in India.
Thirteen of the 18 graduates, earned Master’s degrees, while five others obtained Bachelor’s degrees. The ceremony marked a milestone in Liberia’s pursuit of higher education abroad.
The graduation ceremony, held on June 20, 2026, was attended by Professor Dr. Josephus M. Gray, Dean of the Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Liberia (UL).
Gray represented UL President Layli Maparyan at the university’s international convocation.
According to a communication addressed to Dr. Gray, he had the honor of presenting degrees and academic medals to members of the 2026 graduating class on behalf of Dr. Maparyan.
He also met with Liberian students studying at Sharda University, particularly those sponsored by the University of Liberia, and conveyed Dr. Maparyan’s congratulations to the graduates for their academic accomplishments.
The Liberian student community welcomed Dr. Gray’s participation in the convocation alongside international dignitaries.
Beyond the graduation ceremony, Dr. Gray said, his visit was to strengthen academic cooperation between Liberia and India.
He disclosed how he has collaborated with Indian scholars on a joint research initiative titled: “Bridging Continents: India-Liberia’s Governance and Development Partnership.”
Gray further said, he has been invited to serve as an external examiner for Ph.D. dissertations, and to participate in seminars and scholarly forums at Sharda University.
Dr. Gray said, the engagement builds on his previous role as a Visiting Professor at Sharda University in 2024, where he participated in an academic forum on “Indian Constitution After 25 Years of Independence: Liberia-India Relations” and taught courses in the university’s Master’s program in Political Science.
Meanwhile, Dr. Gray has announced how he will remain in India until July 25, 2026. During his absence, Samuel T. Kortue, Associate Professor and Chairman of the Department of History, will serve as Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Dean and the Amos C. Sawyer College.
The visit is expected to further strengthen academic ties between the UL and Sharda University while expanding opportunities for research collaboration and international engagement.