Abstract:
The academic gown literature in Africa is limited due to a lack of research on design
histories, philosophies, aesthetics, gown wearer perspectives, and framework for
producing academic gowns for Ghana's technical universities. The study therefore
sought to develop a framework for academic gown production for Ghanaian technical
universities by investigating the design histories, philosophies, aesthetics, and
perceptions of academic gowns. The study used expert and maximum variation
sampling techniques to select 66 participants. Using an inductive approach and a
qualitative research design, the study employed a multi-method data gathering
strategy, and narrative analytical techniques were used for data analysis. The study
revealed that technical universities initially hired gowns for academic ceremonies, but
between 2000 and 2011, they started producing their own gowns incrementally due to
high rental costs, identification issues, and income generation. While some designed
and constructed their gowns in-house, the majority subcontracted to gown contractors.
Institutions, apart from management, still hire gowns for members to supplement their
existing collection and then rent out their own gowns to interested institutions.
Whereas some institutions incorporate their philosophies into the gown designs to
ensure corporate identity, others do not. The institutions often designed the gowns to
be aesthetically pleasing, and the designs have expressive, political, sociocultural,
economic, and emotional implications. 41.7% of participants were satisfied with their
gown designs, 35.4% were dissatisfied, and 22.9% were somewhat satisfied, with
58.3% expressing a desire for improvement. Consequently, the study developed a
seven-stage design framework after validating the five-stage framework, which is
now suitable for gown design and production. Wearers value highly academic gown
use for ceremonies, and customising them can enhance their identity and brand image.
Therefore, academic institutions should adopt the framework for academic gown
production. For research and educational purposes, technical universities should
maintain detailed information about gown designs for research and educational
purposes.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Music Education,
School of Creative Arts, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
(Arts and Culture)
in the University of Education, Winneba
