Re-evaluate PhD selection method: Government to ministries

NEW DELHI: Government has asked ministries and central departments to re-examine the method of selection of guides for doctoral degrees (PhDs) and the way they help students in their course work. Research questions and hypothesis should be based on topics that fit emerging needs and priorities of the country.

Based on PM Narendra Modi's interaction with secretaries on Monday, cabinet secretary T V Somanathan has written to all secretaries to explore the possibility of selection of guides through identified parameters. PhD programmes should be reoriented to promote innovation and development of new relevant ideas and technologies, he said.

They have also been asked to explore the system for joint PhDs through a 'Network Project System', which includes research by multiple PhD scholars and also from different institutes. Sources said the need for the paradigm shift was flagged by a secretary during the interaction with the PM.

Officials said that actual research should be qualitative, quantitative and done u mixed method, which is a practice in countries such as the US. "There should be mandatory teaching requirements and obtaining competitive grants before getting doctorate degrees. There is a dire need to overhaul the system of doctorate degrees. Countries that promote and have ecosystem for collaborative research have always been the leaders. See how they dominate in getting top prizes, including the Nobel," said an official.

The ministries have also been asked to review the "employability" of various educational courses and that courses in ITIs should be revised in consultation with industries to align them with changing technologies and needs of the industry.


Select The Times of India as your preferred source on Google Search