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| Kenyan University Lecturer Refuses to Accept Student’s Thesis Rejects it After She Dedicated It to Her Boyfriend |
Kenyan postgraduate student’s Master’s thesis has been rejected after her academic supervisor deemed it inappropriate, sparking a debate about formal academic etiquette.
The student, identified as Faith, had included a heartfelt dedication to her boyfriend, who had promised to marry her, in the opening pages of her thesis.
What she intended as a personal expression of gratitude was met with sharp criticism from her supervisor, Prof Kutaywa, who described the dedication as an “academic joke.”
The controversy emerged when screenshots of email exchanges between Faith and her supervisors were shared on social media by user @heiress_ke, alongside a selfie and an explanation of the situation.
In the emails, Faith’s supervisor raised concerns about the suitability of dedicating a scholarly document to a romantic partner, pointing out that theses become permanent records in university libraries and contribute to the academic reputation of both the student and the institution.
“I will get migraines imagining this thesis in libraries is credited to a boyfriend who likely doesn't even know what SPSS is,” Prof Kutaywa wrote, referencing the statistical software used in the research.
He advised Faith to consider acknowledging individuals who have played a more enduring academic or personal role in her journey, such as parents, guardians, or mentors. He also warned that leaving the dedication unchanged would cause him “absolute embarrassment.”
Faith’s co-supervisor echoed the sentiment, stating that the dedication was unacceptable in a formal academic context.
He emphasised that a thesis is a permanent scholarly record, and acknowledgements should reflect meaningful contributions to the student’s intellectual development rather than personal romantic relationships.
The co-supervisor argued that failing to observe these conventions reflected poor academic judgment and undermined the professionalism expected in graduate research.
The incident has reignited discussions online about the balance between personal expression and institutional standards in academic work.
While some sympathise with Faith’s desire to express gratitude to her partner, others note that academic theses are formal publications and must adhere to professional conventions to maintain credibility and respect for the institution.
Faith now faces the challenge of revising her thesis dedication to meet her supervisors’ standards if she hopes to have her research formally approved, highlighting the delicate line students must navigate between personal sentiment and academic protocol.
