UGC to launch quality audit of PhD theses in universities

Hyderabad: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has come up with a new initiative to evaluate the quality standards of the doctoral theses submitted in the Central, State and Deemed universities in the last 10 years across the country.

It may be mentioned here that the UGC had earlier introduced a series of measures as part of improving the quality standards of the research programmes.

They include conducting the mandatory entrance test for research course admissions, introducing anti-plagiarism check, making NET/SET and doctoral degree for the appointment of faculty at the universities etc.

Continuing its efforts, the UGC has now decided to launch a pan India third-party study on the 'Quality of PhD theses in Indian universities'.

For this, the Commission has asked interested agencies to carry out the study to submit their proposals latest by June 10 to the study may give findings at the national as well as the State level, with regard to the quality of PhD theses.

As part of the study, the third party taking up the task is asked to indicate the quality-aspects proposed and the entire study should be completed within a period of six months.

According to the UGC sources, the study would help in identifying the universities carrying out good work in the field of research.

That apart, it will also bring out the quality of research being carried out and guided by the faculty at various central, state, private and other universities.

Speaking to The Hans India, a senior official from the NAAC Bangaluru said, "There are incidents of questioning the quality of education even after some of the higher educational institutions (HEIs) were accredited by the NAAC."

Though the six months time period to carry out a pan India study is a tough task, such studies would help the Commission to gain an idea to gaze on the basis of several indicators to identify the quality work being carried out by the HEIs, faculty and the researchers.

In turn, it would further help in developing appropriate policy measures for maintaining the quality of doctoral research at the universities being run across the country under different management's, he added.