The UGC has done away with the mandatory publication of a research paper by scholars before the final submission of the PhD thesis. Another big improvement is allowing students to join PhD program Upon completion of his four-year bachelor’s degree. Allaying apprehensions about these regulations adversely affecting the quality of research currently being conducted, educators say these steps will help improve the standard of PhD research.
Main objective of improving quality
UGC Chairperson Mamidala Jagdish Kumar says, “Some people mistakenly think that mandatory publication of a research paper before submission of PhD thesis determines its quality. In contrast, high-quality PhD thesis work leads to quality publication.”
In a recent study on 2,573 scholars in central universities and IITs, the UGC has found that compulsory publication has not helped universities maintain research quality, as nearly 75% of submissions are not in quality Scopus indexed journals .
India is one of the top few countries in terms of the number of research papers published annually, says BJ Rao, Vice-Chancellor, University of Hyderabad (UoH). “However, the quality of the work being done or the journals in which these papers are published are not up to global standards,” he says.
Kumar says that since the publication of a research paper is a time-consuming process, making it mandatory to publish a research paper puts undue pressure on the students. “If the quality of research work is properly monitored, students can start writing papers well before the submission of PhD thesis. As long as the student submits a PhD thesis, some papers may be accepted. ,
Support by HEI
Uma Shankar Pandey, Research Supervisor, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Calcutta, says, “During graduation, students are given an orientation in conducting research, correct methodology and related tools. However, colleges now have to provide a more structured format to familiarize students with their journey as PhD scholars.
Providing soft skills like writing research papers is also a major responsibility for institutions, says Rao. “Research guides and committees will now be responsible for ensuring that the topic of research chosen by scholars is unique and has the potential to be published in quality journals.”
Kumar points out that in order to improve the quality of PhD work, there is a need to strengthen the existing process of getting PhD thesis approved. “PhD work begins with mentoring, which makes a supervisor and student a partner in maintaining quality. Also, each semester, students make presentations to the Research Advisory Committee to obtain feedback on research quality. Thereafter, the PhD thesis is sent to two external examiners who send feedback suggesting improvements. Lastly, the student should defend his/her work before the viva-voce board,” he says. At every stage, checking and maintaining the quality is going to be the main focus now.
increase in research
The numbers may increase with students being given the option to pursue a PhD immediately after graduation. “A change in mindset is needed to understand that cutting down on the number of pre-PhD years will not adversely affect a scholar’s ability to conduct quality research. Research is an interest-driven activity, which will be enhanced if students are given the right guidance at every step,” says Rao.
Main objective of improving quality
UGC Chairperson Mamidala Jagdish Kumar says, “Some people mistakenly think that mandatory publication of a research paper before submission of PhD thesis determines its quality. In contrast, high-quality PhD thesis work leads to quality publication.”
In a recent study on 2,573 scholars in central universities and IITs, the UGC has found that compulsory publication has not helped universities maintain research quality, as nearly 75% of submissions are not in quality Scopus indexed journals .
India is one of the top few countries in terms of the number of research papers published annually, says BJ Rao, Vice-Chancellor, University of Hyderabad (UoH). “However, the quality of the work being done or the journals in which these papers are published are not up to global standards,” he says.
Kumar says that since the publication of a research paper is a time-consuming process, making it mandatory to publish a research paper puts undue pressure on the students. “If the quality of research work is properly monitored, students can start writing papers well before the submission of PhD thesis. As long as the student submits a PhD thesis, some papers may be accepted. ,
Support by HEI
Uma Shankar Pandey, Research Supervisor, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Calcutta, says, “During graduation, students are given an orientation in conducting research, correct methodology and related tools. However, colleges now have to provide a more structured format to familiarize students with their journey as PhD scholars.
Providing soft skills like writing research papers is also a major responsibility for institutions, says Rao. “Research guides and committees will now be responsible for ensuring that the topic of research chosen by scholars is unique and has the potential to be published in quality journals.”
Kumar points out that in order to improve the quality of PhD work, there is a need to strengthen the existing process of getting PhD thesis approved. “PhD work begins with mentoring, which makes a supervisor and student a partner in maintaining quality. Also, each semester, students make presentations to the Research Advisory Committee to obtain feedback on research quality. Thereafter, the PhD thesis is sent to two external examiners who send feedback suggesting improvements. Lastly, the student should defend his/her work before the viva-voce board,” he says. At every stage, checking and maintaining the quality is going to be the main focus now.
increase in research
The numbers may increase with students being given the option to pursue a PhD immediately after graduation. “A change in mindset is needed to understand that cutting down on the number of pre-PhD years will not adversely affect a scholar’s ability to conduct quality research. Research is an interest-driven activity, which will be enhanced if students are given the right guidance at every step,” says Rao.