erudition lost the dilemma of varsities more...
TRANSCRIPT
TIMES CITYTHE TIMES OF INDIA, BENGALURU | MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2017
CM’S DECISION TO HIKE ADDITIONAL EXCISE DUTYON LIQUOR MAY PUSH ILLEGAL SALES | P4
WITH ONLY 22 OF 580 STUDENTS FROM SOUTH,DOON SCHOOL IS LOOKING FOR MORE | P5
Bengaluru: India is produc-ing more PhDs than ever be-fore, and so is Karnataka. It still wants many more to match the explosive growth of its economy and popula-tion. That universities churn-ing out a high number of doctorates is crucial for an educated young workforce, it does come with its own set of problems — declining quality of education and the industry unable to accommodate these highly-educated but poorly-qualified researchers.
The question of whether a PhD degree is as elite as it once was has become more pertinent in recent times with a sharp rise in the number of recipi-ents. In the 2015-16 academic year, a total of 24,171 PhDs were awarded across the country, of
which 1,945 were from Karnataka, most after Tamil Nadu (3,973) and UP (2,205).
Bangalore University awarded as many as 126 PhDs in 2016-17. “We see the grada-tion of research, citations, in-dex, course work, date of regis-tration, actual work done dur-ing the entire period (usually 2-3 years) before awarding a PhD. But yes, we want to im-prove on research,” says K N Ninge Gowda, registrar (aca-demics), Bangalore University.
Several varsities have adopt-ed quality control technologies such as software that detects possible plagiarism. Bangalore University adopted it four years ago. “So far, no student has been charged with plagiarism. We do this check before awarding a PhD,” said Gowda.
“Involvement of guides and a student’s bent of mind and willingness to work hard mat-ters a lot,” says Gowda. A lead professor, along with taking PG classes, now often guides 6-8 research students a year.
Professor Rajendra Chenni, head, Department of English at Kuvempu University (Shivam-mogga), admits that it’s difficult for a professor to supervise doc-toral thesis of 8-9 students on varied subjects.
“Among the reasons for de-cline in quality of research is lack of motivation. The much-needed research aptitude is missing among many who reg-ister for a PhD. Besides, many working lecturers also pursue PhD for academic performance
average prescribed by the Uni-versity Grants Commission (UGC) for career advance-ment,” says Chenni, a well-known researcher and acade-mician of Karnataka.
Ideally, universities should conduct pre-PhD tests, inter-view for entrance, test a candi-date’s grasp on the research topic he’s interested in, feels Chenni. “A research proposal is examined at regular inter-vals by Kuvempu University’s doctoral committee,” he says.
He says the need of the hour is to cultivate a culture of re-search similar to that in exist-ence in Central varsities.
“Earlier, the litmus test for a doctoral thesis was the repu-
tation of the journal it got published in. But with more of them finding place in paid journals, they are gradually losing their significance,” says a professor.
Understanding Indian context crucialProfessor Narendra Pani of School of Social Science at Na-tional Institute of Advanced Studies says the problem lies in not asking right questions when a candidate decides on a research topic. “Understand-ing the Indian context is cru-cial for a PhD student. What we see now is students use the western model and try to find answers for questions once
asked by western research-ers. That has no social rele-vance here and hence they fail to theorize,” he says. “For instance, post-demonetiza-tion, it would be interesting for a student doing research in economics to understand its impact on the informal sec-tor,” says Pani.
“In 1970s, economists like Amartya Sen came out with findings on why and how big farms had lesser productivity, and the inverted pyramid anal-ysis. That’s because of their thorough understanding of the local conditions and asking right questions before theoriz-ing. That’s what is missing now,” he adds.
ERUDITION LOST Doctorates Were Once Considered The Pinnacle Of Academic Qualification. The Sharp Increase In The Number Of Recipients Across The Country In Recent Times Raises Concerns Over The Quality Of Dissertations & Diminishing Rigour In Research
When somebody recently asked me if the PhD had lost its sig-
nificance, I made it clear that I dared to differ! And hence, this column. First, let's look at some facts
PhD is the highest degree one can earn
To supervise a PhD student, the guide must have a doctorate in most cases
It’s an unwritten rule for those occupying key positions such as the governors of cen-tral banks (RBI) in most coun-tries to have a PhD
Although majority of those who earn doctorates take up careers in academia, as faculty in universities, there are excep-tions — a few have ended up at the helm of Fortune 500 firms (Jack Wlech, the CEO of GE), while some as heads of state (Manmohan Singh). Founders of Google and Yahoo were pur-suing PhD at Stanford Univer-sity when they embarked on their careers as entrepreneurs
A doctorate student either takes up a problem that has not
been solved or chooses an issue yet to be completely explored, and endeavours to resolve the same in the most comprehen-sive manner. The emphasis is not on ‘solving the problem somehow’, but finding the most
suitable solution to the prob-lem, and for the most general case. In industry, there is often enormous pressure to find a ‘quick and dirty’ solution; in academia, the onus is on ‘beau-ty of the method’.
One often takes up a prob-lem or puzzle that has remained unsolved for generations, even centuries in some cases. The intellectual delight involved in solving — even the attempt —
such difficult problems is so gratifying that having billions of dollars can scarcely match the pleasure. This is one reason why pursuing PhDs will always remain cool!
In most research varsities, a PhD is the minimum qualifi-cation to get a faculty position. Unfortunately, regulators in our country arbitrarily impose PhD on varsity faculty. Given the rapid and unplanned growth of colleges in India, there have been a large number of poor quality PhD holders in the past three decades. This, perhaps, explains why many think the doctorate has lost its significance — such thinking is akin to throwing the baby with the bath water.
PhD will always be the de-gree for those who want to closely examine and study dif-ficult and interesting problems with rigour and originality. If you are young, and are on the verge of completing your UG or master’s, nothing can be more cool than pursuing a doctorate.
Prof S Sadagopan, Director, IIIT-Bangalore
Earning the honour is all about beauty of the method
BIGP I C T U R E
Less than 100 a decade ago to 400 in recent years
Mysuru: On average 370 PhDs were awarded by the University of Mysore — the sixth oldest varsity in India — in the last four academic years, and 335 have already received degrees for 2016-17 with the outgoing VC, K S Rangappa, advancing the convocation.
The number of students re-ceiving a PhD has substantially gone up in the last decade, so much so that the varsity has been organizing a separate event on the convocation day for awarding research scholars.
From less than 100 PhDs awarded a decade ago, the num-ber has shot up to over 400 in the recent years. The university awarded 464 PhDs in 2015-16, 396 in 2014-15 and 295 in 2013-14. Going by the trend, almost 47% of PhDs are awarded in science and technology and 34% in arts, and 5% to 10% of the awardees are foreigners.
The varsity attribute the rise in the number of PhDs awarded to the tough UGC criteria, crea-tion of research centres outside Mysuru and Karnataka, and availability of fellowships for SC/STs, minorities and OBCs.
J Somashekar, registrar (evaluation), University of Mysore, however, claims every-thing is done in conformity to the UGC norms.
“Right from selection of can-didates, topics and guides to submission of projects, it is the respective board of studies that decides and sends them to the varsity for approval. Once sub-mitted, anti-plagiarism check is done and the thesis is rejected if plagiarism in research is over 30%,” explains K Shivachithap-pa, coordinator of the varsity’s Directorate of Research.
Mangaluru: For years, hon-orary doctorates have pro-vided varsities an opportunity to build relationships with the rich and famous. And the number of degrees awarded has been going up every year.
That many choose to ac-cept the honour because of the mutual respect and admi-ration they share with the varsities is also a fact.
Eminent personalities such as C N R Rao, Rajeev Suri and S L Bhyrappa have re-ceived honorary doctorates from Yenepoya, Manipal and Mangalore varsities for their contribution to the society. These degrees are more ornamental than func-tional though.
“Bharat Ratna C N R Rao could have easily refused the honour that his university bestowed upon him. This was his 73rd honorary doctorate. He has received them from Harvard and MIT. This is his mutual respect and admira-tion for the varsity,” said G Shreekumar Menon, regis-trar, Yenepoya University.
Former cricketer Rahul Dravid recently refused an honorary doctorate from Ban-
galore University.When Manipal University
chose Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri for the honour in November 2016, they had all the more reason to do so. He was a var-sity alumnus. The university has been choosy enough in selections for the honour, with no honorary doctorates con-
ferred for three years after 2012 when ex-CJI M N Venka-tachalaiah had received it.
Mangalore University, too, has been selective lately. Among the few awarded in the last three years are entrepre-neur Shashikiran Shetty, au-thor S L Bhyrappa and folk-lore expert B A Viveka Rai.
Honorary PhD real honour? Varsities more selective now
inputs from Gururaj Jamkhandi in Dharwad & Ravindra Uppar in Belagavi
The procedure of conferring
honorary doctorates has been streamlined and is more rigorous now. Many varsities haven’t conferred such honours in the past two years
Shivanand Hosamani | VC, RANI CHANNAMMA
UNIVERSITY
MANIPAL UNIVERSITY |M N Venkatachalaiah & Rajeev Suri
YENEPOYA UNIVERSITY |C N R Rao
MANGALORE UNIVERSITY |Shashikiran Shetty, Goverdhan Mehta, B V R Chowdari, S L Bhyrappa, C N Manjunath, A J Shetty, B A Viveka Rai
FADING SHEEN: Karnataka awarded 1,945 PhDs in 2015-16, most after Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh
Every year, a panel comprising the
chancellor, a government representative and a HC judge reviews profiles of outstanding personalities for honorary doctorates. The varsity's syndicate members have no role to play K N Ninge Gowda | REGISTRAR(ACADEMICS), BANGALORE UNIVERSITY
PHDS OF 40 SCHOLARS FOUND FAKE
The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) recently declared
void candidature of 40 PhD scholars for assistant professor posts in various state colleges. The scholars received a notification stating that their doctorate degrees were fake.
The notification was published in January on KEA’s website.
All of them obtained doctorates from varsities outside Karnataka — six in computer science, seven in
commerce, one each in political science and mathematics. The rest 25 had PhDs in English literature.
Tough standards of the UGC-conducted NET for recruitment of assistant professors have many candidates going for a
PhD. Many pursue doctorates from obscure universities to get
the waiver in NET.K S Manjunath, executive director
of KEA, says filtering was done based on the guidelines of higher education department.
For research scholars, a guide lacking the right grasp on the
research topic is a problem difficult to deal with. Instances where one is an expert in a particular subject but has become a guide to a scholar pursuing completely different topic have become common place.
Research scholars become a guide soon after receiving a PhD, without enough experience and papers published. Many private colleges have recently opened R&D centres recognized by respective universities to hone research scholars, but have no qualified guides.
GUIDES NOT QUALIFIED ENOUGH
1262016-17
2002015-16
DEGREE COUNTPhDs awarded by
Bangalore University
MY OPINION
Source: University of Mysore
DEGREE COUNTUniversity of Mysore
2016-17 2015-16PhDs awarded 335 464Male 180 286Female 155 178Arts 129 165Commerce 33 41Education 15 26Law 2 5Science & Tech 156 227
HONOURS IN PAST FEW YEARS
IN EYE OF THE STORM
Belagavi’s Rani Channamma University garnered stern criticism for conferring
12 honorary PhDs at its first convocation in 2013, after its inception as a full-fledged varsity. Five of them were from Belagavi itself. Dharwad’s Karnatak University sent eight names this year, however, the chancellor cleared only one, of popular poet V C Airsang. In 2014, the Karnataka State Higher Education Council decided to impose a ceiling of three doctorates per varsity per year.
THE DILEMMA OFA DOCTORATE
Danger lurks at this Metro station
RED ALERT: The ceiling tiles at Visvesvaraya Metro Station, could fall at any moment and injure passengers. They have been hanging precariously for the past one week, but nothing has been done to fix them. Are the authorities waiting for a mishap to happen to wake up and do the needful?—Sridhara S R
THROWING RULES TO WIND: Most of the time, vehicles are parked haphazardly in the middle of the IInd Main Road, Kalasipalyam New Extension, causing traffic snarls and inconveniencing pedestrians. Despite many complaints, traffic cops have done nothing to rein in these drivers who have little regard for road rules.—Dinesh Babu
WHAT A WASTE! For the past two months, Hennur Road in Lingarajpuram has been flooded with drinking water due to leaking pipes. Gallons of water is being wasted at a time when the city is facing acute water shortage. Despite repeated complaints, BWSSB has not bothered to look into the matter. —Tamjeed Nazim
ACT NOW: Electrical wires fallen precariously on the sidewalk near St Marian School, Millers Tank Road, Vasanth Nagar, are posing a grave threat to pedestrians. Worse, there are other cables too that have got entangled with these wires. It can lead to electrocution any time and endanger several lives if the civic bodies fail to act immediately —Satish Gangadhar
POTHOLE TROUBLE: The road in front of Koramangala regional passport office in Ejipura is in a pathetic state. Water-logged potholes make manoeuvering along the stretch a back-breaking experience for motorists and pedestrians. The road hasn't seen any repair work in the recent past. — Rohit Joseph
HURDLES MANY: 6th D Cross Road in Kaggadasapura, CV Raman Nagar, has been dug up to ensure sewage flow, but is now obstructing vehicle movement. Instead of making the whole road unmotorable, why can't the civic body allow traffic movement on one side? —Vinayak Maheswari
PARKED VEHICLES BLOCK TRAFFIC ON KALASIPALYAM ROAD
TREAD CAUTIOUSLY ON THIS ROAD IN EJIPURA
BESCOM'S SHOCKER FOR PEDESTRIANS ON MILLERS ROAD
ROAD BLOCKED IN CV RAMAN NAGAR
BWSSB IN SLUMBER, DRINKING WATER FLOODS ROAD
The previous highest tem-perature for April was
38.3 degrees Celsius, recordedon April 30, 1931.
“The impact of the heatmight be felt more due to thelargely clear skies during theday, with the temperature reac-hing its maximum between2pm and 3pm, and cloud forma-tion taking place after 3pm,”weatherman Raje Gowda said.
Heat impacthigh during day�Continued from page 1
Bengaluru: Residents ofHSR Layout and surroundingareas organized a Blood toBreathe (blood donation)campaign on Sunday as partof their protest against theKarnataka Compost Develop-ment Corporation (KCDC)plant at Kudlu. They staged anovernight dharna too.
Residents alleged that theplant set up in 1974-75 wasmeant to convert wet waste in-to compost, but was now oper-ating way beyond its capacity.It emitted a foul odour, manyresidents complained ofheadaches and illnesses.
On Sunday, residents donat-ed blood and gathered in frontof the KCDC gate and stayedovernight. BBMP officials maymeet the protestors on Monday.
Residents stagenight dharnaagainst plant
TIMES NEWS NETWORK