A circular issued by the Central University of Kerala asking all the departments to prepare a list of projects for PhD scholars in line with "national priorities" has triggered a national debate.
The announcement comes in the wake of protests by teachers and students bodies after the petition seeking restoration of earlier mechanism of faculty reservation.
Union minister Prakash Javadekar said that along with the upper caste reservation, 25 per cent seats will be increased in higher educational institutes to prevent disturbances in existing quotas.
Finance ministry says the proposed revamp will focus on structural reforms, rate rationalisation & ease of living, & will be deliberated upon in the coming weeks.
The project is meant to be a ‘protective shield that will keep expanding’, the PM said. It is on the lines of the ‘Golden Dome’ announced by Trump, it is learnt.
Now that both IAF and PAF have made formal claims of having shot down the other’s aircraft in the 87-hour war in May, we can ask a larger question: do such numbers really matter?
There is certainly a need to have respect for the highest academic degree (PhD). It should not be awarded to all and sundry.
Most of our Universities have abandoned academic rigour & quality benchmarks and only populist measures of increasing enrolment and number of students passing out matters . It is a shame for academia that PhD’s are reported to be applicants for class IV jobs.
Further,when we have doubts about quality of our regular University/ college faculty with Masters and PhD degrees, then it is a matter of serious concern. It goes to prove that by merely forcing a PhD degree requirement for faculty positions, standards of research and teaching can not be made better. PhD should only be a desirable & not be an essential qualification. Considering the widely varying PhD standards prevailing in the country,
It is recommended that a central apex body be made a nodal agency for approval of PhD topic ,guide , pre PhD Seminar and Thesis examiners. Maximum manipulations happen at these stages. Clearing a national level comprehensive written and oral exam
Should be prerequisite for thesis submission.
Somebody did suggest that this was a great idea and I fully agree.
Who can deny that PhDs on national priorities like Demonetization, GST, Joblessness, Aadhaar, use of Money Bills and Ordinances to subvert the Parliament are the crying need of the hour.
There is certainly a need to have respect for the highest academic degree (PhD). It should not be awarded to all and sundry.
Most of our Universities have abandoned academic rigour & quality benchmarks and only populist measures of increasing enrolment and number of students passing out matters . It is a shame for academia that PhD’s are reported to be applicants for class IV jobs.
Further,when we have doubts about quality of our regular University/ college faculty with Masters and PhD degrees, then it is a matter of serious concern. It goes to prove that by merely forcing a PhD degree requirement for faculty positions, standards of research and teaching can not be made better. PhD should only be a desirable & not be an essential qualification. Considering the widely varying PhD standards prevailing in the country,
It is recommended that a central apex body be made a nodal agency for approval of PhD topic ,guide , pre PhD Seminar and Thesis examiners. Maximum manipulations happen at these stages. Clearing a national level comprehensive written and oral exam
Should be prerequisite for thesis submission.
Somebody did suggest that this was a great idea and I fully agree.
Who can deny that PhDs on national priorities like Demonetization, GST, Joblessness, Aadhaar, use of Money Bills and Ordinances to subvert the Parliament are the crying need of the hour.
Julian Huxley was asked, “what good is butterfly”, as she was doing research on butterfly. She answered ” what good are you?”