University of Liberia President Dr. Layli Maparyan has unveiled an ambitious five-year strategic plan aimed at transforming the institution and propelling it into the top 300 universities on the African continent by 2030.
The draft plan, titled “A Victory of Imagination – Building the UL of Tomorrow Today,” was presented during two town hall meetings held this week at UL’s Fendall and Capitol Hill campuses. The sessions brought together faculty, staff, students, and administrators to solicit feedback and foster dialogue around the university’s future.
“Currently, UL is ranked 5,000 globally and 502 in Africa — among the lowest on the continent,” Dr. Maparyan stated. “We must accelerate our efforts to improve. Advancing in the rankings will not only enhance our reputation but also strengthen our institutional quality.”
The strategic plan outlines goals across five core pillars: infrastructure, academics, administration, student success, and flagship status.
Key performance indicators include increased faculty research output, higher graduation rates, a PhD-driven faculty, improved financial resources per student, and a reduced student-to-faculty ratio.
Dr. Maparyan emphasized that infrastructure development is the plan’s top priority.
“A research institution must have reliable electricity. Without it, the educational process is deeply hindered,” she said. “We are a tropical country with abundant sunlight. Solar power across all campuses is my number one strategic goal, and I intend to get it started.”
In addition to energy sustainability, the infrastructure goals target improvements in water and sanitation, campus-wide internet access, and the full digitization of academic and administrative systems.
The plan envisions elevating UL’s academic profile by increasing the number of faculty with terminal degrees and enhancing research capacity. On the administrative front, Dr. Maparyan aims to streamline operations, improve customer service, secure additional funding from government and external sources, and strengthen campus security.
“We want every member of the UL family — and the public — to feel confident in our administrative services,” she said.
Under the student success pillar, the plan proposes tailored academic support for first-year students, improved advising for major and minor selection, and the launch of new student development programs. An updated Student Handbook is also expected to be released soon.
Dr. Maparyan acknowledged the Liberian government’s increased budgetary support but stressed the need for diversified funding streams. She cited donor contributions, alumni fundraising, competitive research grants, and revenue-generating services as critical to achieving the plan’s objectives.
“Donors and others will support us once we demonstrate that we’re doing the right things,” she affirmed.
Participants at the town hall meetings — including academic deans, department chairs, students, and education stakeholders — offered recommendations on the plan’s priorities. While opinions varied, infrastructure, academics, administration, and student success emerged as the top areas of focus.
Dr. Maparyan clarified that the plan remains in draft form pending approval by the UL Board of Trustees. Full implementation is anticipated to begin in January 2026, following board endorsement expected before the end of 2025.
