Draft University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2022

 Highights of the draft:

Focus on teaching

All Ph.D., entrants irrespective of discipline, shall be required to take credit-based courses in teaching/education/pedagogy/writing related to their chosen Ph.D. subject during their doctoral training period. Ph.D. scholars may also have 3-4 hours per week of actual teaching experience gathered through teaching assistantships or other forms of knowledge dissemination that are not repetitive. Teaching for the Department, supervision of fellow students/technical staff, dissemination tasks can also be credited as knowledge dissemination and as a work commitment.

IPR

Lifelong learners/ accomplished researchers as evinced from their original contributions in terms of patents granted or 10 new relevant knowledge or/and artistic practices desirous to get a research degree the Research Advisory Committee may provide choices in selecting the courses/ credits that facilitates the entrepreneur in the monetization of IP thus generated.

If the research results of the thesis constitute new possible things for the protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs), the Ph.D. candidate and Supervisor shall inform the University or the Research Advisory Committee about the matter. In this case, the Ph.D. candidate, with the consent of the Supervisor, may request that the submitted dissertation be treated discreetly before the thesis is submitted for assessment, until the defence/viva-voce. The IPR Cell or the competent body of the university designated for the purpose shall 14 conduct the procedure for legal and commercial protection of research results, in accordance with the relevant Regulations. In this case, the public defence can be extended, in agreement with the Ph.D. candidate, at the latest for a year, starting on the day of the procedure of evaluation of the dissertation. 

Plagiarism

The thesis shall be submitted together with an originality report produced by an antiplagiarism software application. The supervisor (and co-supervisor, if there is any) shall receive an originality report on the whole text of the thesis and shall take this report into account in the evaluation on the submission. 

Publication

It is desirable that the research work of Ph.D. scholars is published in peer reviewed or refereed journals and presented in conferences/seminars. An originality report is not to be considered as sufficient proof that the submitted thesis does not contain plagiarized text. Avoiding plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct in the authorship of the thesis remains the sole responsibility of the researcher. If the Research Supervisor (or Co-Supervisor) suspects plagiarism, he or she may ask for an investigation.

Suggestions invited on Draft UGC (Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Higher Education Institutions to offer Joint Degree, Dual Degree and Twinning Programmes) Regulations, 2021

 UGC has placed the draft Regulations on Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Higher Education Institutions to offer Joint Degree, Dual Degree and Twinning Programmes, in the public domain and invited suggestions from all the stakeholders. Last date- 15th March 2021.

These Regulations shall apply to Indian Higher Education Institutions intending to collaborate with Foreign Higher Education Institutions leading to award of diploma(s) and degree(s) including Post Graduate and Doctoral programmes, and Foreign Higher Education Institution intending to collaborate with Indian Higher Education Institutions. Academic Collaboration between Indian and foreign higher education institutions under these Regulations shall facilitate Credit Recognition and Transfer, Twinning Arrangement, Joint Degree Programme and Dual Degree Programme.

Download the draft..

Reforms in Higher Education- RUSA

The cabinet recently approved RUSA which can make significant impact of quality of higher education. The report prepared by MHRD in association with Tata Institute of Social Sciences makes many recommendation, important is need to completely overhaul the University Affiliation system.

Majority of the students (94%) are enrolled in state universities or autonomous/ affiliated institutes. The state universities depend on affiliation fees and raise additional resources by offering revenue yielding courses. This type of university affiliation, with resource started university granting degrees to hundreds of affiliated institutes is the main problem. Need for affiliation revenue ensures that universities do not let go even autonomous institutes. The second problem is structure of UGC which is entrusted with responsibility of maintaining standards and also fund disbursement. 

The solution proposed transfers action to state with empowered State Higher Education Council. Will it deliver? 

Grooming global talent: Oakland University enters into MOU with VNRVJIET

There is always demand for global managers. The first wave of global talent was led by MNC managers living in far away countries for expanding their market. They were often paid hardship allowance for working in countries like India, China. Immigrant entrepreneurs heralded second wave of global talent with born global becoming a mantra for sustainable success skyrocketing demand for young professionals with global exposure. Globalization moved to class rooms with universities providing students learning experience under study abroad, twinning arrangements and other forms of student exchange.
VNRVJIET, an autonomous institute promoted by professionals of A.P has entered into MOU with Oakland University for academic partnership in engineering and computer science.

The School of Engineering and Computer Science , Oakland University offers programs leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in computer science and informatics, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering and systems engineering. It also offers the Master of Science degree in computer science, electrical and computer engineering, embedded systems, industrial and systems engineering, mechanical engineering, mechatronics, software engineering and information technology, and systems engineering. Additionally, a Master of Science degree program in engineering management is offered in cooperation with the School of Business Administration.
VIGNANA JYOTHI, sponsor of VNR VJIET was founded in the year 1991 as a not-for-profit organization by a group of Industrialists, Academicians, Professionals and Non-Resident Indians with an objective towards imparting value based education to youth.In the year 1995, Vignana Jyothi (VJ) started an Institute of Engineering & Technology at Bachupally, Hyderabad and accorded Autonomous status for SIX years by University Grants Comission ( UGC ) from the year 2012. The institute is accredited by National Board of Accreditation and National Assessment and Accreditation Council with “A” Grade. The Institute is offering 8 UG and 12 PG courses:
UG Courses: Civil, Electrical & Electronics, Mechanical, Electronics & Communications, Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics & Instrumentation, IT and Automobile Engineering with an overall intake of 960.
PG Courses: Advanced Manufacturing Systems, Power Electronics, VLSI System Design, Embedded Systems, Software Engineering, Electronics & Instrumentation, Highway Engineering, Automation Engineering, Structural Engineering and Geotechnical Engineering, CAD and Computer Networks and Information Security with 234 total intake.
The MOU was signed by Dr Subhananda Rao, Dean,VNRVJIET and Prof .Dr. Louay Chamra, Dean , Oakland University.
Dr DN Rao, General Secretary, Vignanajyothi welcomed the partnership as an important milestone in the evolution of VNRVJIET as an advanced learning center grooming global talent.