'M Phil holders must clear NET/SLET for lectureship'

The move is to ensure the quality of faculty in institutes of higher learning.

However, candidates holding a Ph D might still get an exemption from clearing the NET if they have done their research in compliance with the UGC norms. “In case, the Ph D has not been done in compliance with the UGC rules, the candidate will have to clear the NET/SLET tests before he is considered for the post of lecturer,” UGC chairperson Sukhadeo Thorat said here.

Earlier, keeping in view with the increasing number of vacancies in teaching posts in institutions across the country, the UGC had exempted the M Phil holders from clearing the NET/SLET tests. Even the B L Mungekar Committee appointed by the UGC supported this exemption in their interim report. However, in their final report, the committee took away this exemption as they had observed that students with the poorest percentage could get enrolled and acquire an M Phil degree.

The UGC has also come out with a uniform regulation on Ph D programmes, according to which the universities will lay down criteria for the faculty to be recognised as research supervisor for M Phil and Ph D students.

“A supervisor cannot have more than eight Ph D and five M Phil scholars at any given point of time. The universities will decide the number of M Phil and Ph D seats and advertise them widely. The universities will have to admit M Phil and Doctoral students through an entrance test,” the regulations said.

The entrance will be followed by an interview in which the doctoral students will discuss their research area. After admission to the Ph D course, the students will have to do a course work for a minimum period of one semester.

“The course work will be mandatory and it will be treated as pre M Phil/Ph D preparation,” Thorat said.

After the students complete the course work, they will undertake a research work and will have to make presentation in their departments for feedback. Then they will produce their thesis within a reasonable time,” he said. The thesis will be evaluated by two experts, including one expert outside the state. Then the candidates will have to appear for a viva voce exam, he said.

The institutes will submit a copy of the thesis to the UGC which would store in its depository being set up in Ahmedabad. The UGC will prepare a database on the Ph D work being produced.

New Norms

*Move to ensure quality faculty in institutes of higher learning

*Ph D holders might get exemption if research is done in compliance with the UGC norms

*UGC to have a uniform regulation on Ph D programmes

*A supervisor cannot have more than eight Ph D and five M Phil scholars at any given point of time

*Universities will decide the number of M Phil and Ph D seats

*Universities will have to admit M Phil and doctoral
students through an entrance test