Tamil Nadu: Vice Chancellor points out malpractices in evaluation of PhD thesis

Chennai: Listing out several malpractices in the evaluation of Ph.D. theses in University of Madras, Vice-Chancellor of the university S.Duraisamy has proposed changes in the university regulations for selecting the foreign examiners at the university's senate meeting held here on Saturday.He told members that there are a number of malpractices going on in examination and evaluation of PhDs.

“We have found out one person in Ethiopia has reviewed 17 theses in seven months in a group of disciplines. In another case, one foreign examiner has sent eight evaluation reports and except for the title and name, all the reports are having the same content,” he pointed out. As per the proposed changes, the foreign examiners should have published minimum two research papers in their relevant fields within the last five years in reputed journals and the examiner also should be from an accredited university.

When some members expressed concern about completing the research on time in view of proposed changes, .Duraisamy sought the senate members' support to improve the quality of research in the university. The senate passed the resolution adopting University Grants Commission's (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of M.Phil.,/Ph.D., Degree) Regulation, 2016. It also approved other resolutions such as offering suitable Massive Online Open Courses in the university departments and affiliated colleges, providing five per cent reservation of seats for persons with disabilities in the meeting.