UGC aims to bring uniform quality of Ph.D degree

Updated on: Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Chennai: By closely examining the procedures followed by universities conferring the Ph.D degree, the University Grants Commission is taking steps to ensure uniform quality of Ph.D degree.
According to S.P. Thyagarajan, who has been appointed to head the six-member committee that the UGC has constituted for the purpose says, About 50 per cent of the universities across the country are not following these (the UGCs) guidelines.

Every year, in India about 5,000 Ph.Ds are awarded in various disciplines, but the aim of UGC is to increase that figure to at least 15,000, according to Dr. Thyagarajan, who is also a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Madras. He reiterates, quality must be ensured and that an increase in quantity must not result in a decrease in quality.

The UGC had laid down guidelines, available on its website, on the process of admission, registration, coursework, synopsis preparation and evaluation that must be followed by universities awarding Ph.Ds that will be considered valid for the purposes of exemption from the NET.

In a recent letter sent to all Vice-Chancellors, UGC asked universities to send in a detailed proposal indicating the procedures they follow, along with a copy of their Ph.D ordinance or rules.

These documents will be placed before the standing committees to determine which of these universities are following norms.

We will hold our first meeting on July 20, said Dr. Thyagarajan, adding that since UGC had appointed this committee on a priority basis, it will declare the results of its deliberations within ten days.

While the NET exemption is the immediate concern, UGCs wider aim is to ensure that the Indian Ph.D degree is not diluted.

UGC aims to bring uniform quality of Ph.D degree

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