The dearth of Ph. D.'s posed a problem when it came to thesis advising. The theses were, of course, to be of international standard. The solution to the problem was the creation of the sandwich program. D. students take the academic courses in any of the three universities. Students go to a university abroad to start thesis research with a foreign adviser.
Students return home to complete the thesis with a local adviser.
The study done abroad is sandwiched between studies done at home, whence the name. Subsequently the growing exchanges between local universities and universities in the region provided similar opportunities. In its twenty-year existence the program has produced 45 scholars. Of these 31 were in the sandwich program. One of the successes of the program is the global perspective gained by its graduates from their exposure to a foreign work environment and culture.