Big demand for PhDs exploited
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The heavy demand for PhD admissions in state universities is being exploited by professors who guide research scholars.
Complaints against professors of sexually harassing girl students, caste discrimination, forcing research scholars to do their personal work at their offices and homes, demanding money, denying help to pursue research work etc, have became a regular feature in all the state varsities.
University officials have failed to initiate action against a single guide so far. Whenever such complaints come up, the guides concerned lodge counter-complaints alleging that the students lack competence to pursue research and are complaining against the teachers to cover up their inadequacy.
The demand for Ph.D has increased since 2009, when the UGC issued revised guidelines and made it mandatory for appointment as faculty in institutions of higher learning. For instance, in OU 12,000 students are on the ‘waiting list’ for PhD admissions this year. Another 5,000 students who qualified in PhD entrance test last year are also awaiting admission. About 500 students who had qualified in NET, MPhil, CSIR etc are also waiting for admission. A professor can guide eight research students at a time. “This is being exploited by professors, who are threatening recalcitrant students with cancellation of admissions,” some allege.
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