Faculty shortage forces Rajasthan University depts to scrape PhD courses

Updated on: Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Few departments of Rajasthan University are holding PhD entrance tests these days as they are not in a position to offer guides to scholars due to shortage of faculty members. Some have even closed Phd programme for now.

For example, the Centre for Mass Communication and departments related to commerce and management have dropped the programme. The situation has left scores of students disappointed and forced them to look for private universities.

If the problem of faculty crunch continues in coming years, a few more departments will have no option but to follow the same route, tarnishing the reputation of the university in research and development.

asMy hands are full as I have seven scholars. Till the time I get a helping hand the department wonat be in a position to hold entrance for PhD programme,a? said Sanjeev Bhanawat, head of department, Centre for Mass Communication.

Even for the departments, which are offering the programme, it has not been easy. While the demand for the programme is rising, the number of seats is getting reduced. The department of sociology has around three teachers and short of four others. This situation forced to department to reduce the seat capacity to almost half.

Non-availability of seats is pushing students to enrol with private universities. But that opportunity doesnat come cheap. These universities are charging exorbitant fees.

Sameksha Kasliwal, a student enrolled in a private university, has paid fees five times more than what she would have shelled out in RU.

asIt is very frustrating that despite high scores in preceding exams I have to enrol in a private university,a? added Kasliwal.

University officials have expressed their inability and said that they have no alternative until the ongoing recruitment process is completed.

Prof Rajiv Gupta, head of department, Sociology, suggested that students should be encouraged to take up interdisciplinary and interdepartmental research programmes.

asIt will not only give new perspective to research programme but also create more seats,added Gupta.

Times of India

Faculty shortage forces Rajasthan University depts to scrape PhD courses

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