Falling Quality of Research
Hyderabad, Aug. 8: “PhD is a mark of excellence and it should not become just another conventional degree like M.Sc and M.Com. The standard of PhDs should be maintained at any cost.” This advice was given by the governor and chancellor of state universities, Mr E.S.L. Narasimhan, at a recent vice-chancellors’ conference.
Sadly, the vice-chancellors in the state themselves have converted PhDs as a mere revenue earning tool for universities.Universities are churning out PhDs by the thousands every year in every discipline but the research work remains dismal both qualitatively and quantitatively. There was once a time when award of a PhD was a special honour worthy of being reported prominently in newspapers. But that is no longer the case.
“For many students, PhDs are a means to secure scholarships and fellowships from various Central agencies including UGC,” said Prof Nageshwar of Osmania University. “They will get a fellowship ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 per month and free hostel and mess facilities.”
For instance, as many as 8,029 candidates registered for PhD by Dravidian University alone during 2007-08 and 2008-09 academic years. The Rayalaseema University, which was established only two years ago, had registered nearly 1,147 students for PhD programmes though it lacks basic infrastructure and faculty even to offer conventional degrees.
Prominent universities such as Osmania University and Andhra University, which are functioning for decades with full-fledged campuses, register less than 500 candidates for PhDs. But two new universities overtook them by awarding thousands of PhDs in a single academic year.
As per UGC norms, universities are allowed to conduct PhDs only through regular mode. But, these two universities have been offering PhDs through ‘part-time mode’ too.
As if that was not enough, Dravidian University went a step ahead and started offering PhDs through distance education mode too. They are charging fee ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 80,000 depending on the subjects.
“Most often, students choose to do a research doctorate out of academic compulsion rather than research interest,” said Prof Bhujanga Rao, principal of an engineering college. “The recent UGC and AICTE norms making M.Phil and PhD mandatory for appointment as professors and principals have added to the rush.”
He added that a lot of PhD research topics taken up are irrelevant and make zero contribution to the store of knowledge.
......A news extract from Deccan Chronicle...........
