PhD students of IP varsity give exam in parking lot

Around 50 PhD first year students of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) wrote their semester-end exams last week in a parking lot of an affiliated private college Banarsidas Chandiwala Institute of Professional Studies, located at Dwarka sector 11, for three days.

“We gave our papers in the underground parking lot of this private college. The chairs provided were with attached table and were of the size which is usually used in schools. Because the answer sheets were long, writing was a problem,” a first year student who gave his exam at the parking lot said.

The student also added that there was confusion over change in venue as the details, which were put on the website, were abruptly removed later.

“This is the first time that PhD students had to give their exams in another centre,” a second year PhD student (name withheld) said.

The date sheet given to the students mentioned the varsity’s Dwarka campus as the venue. On October 23, 25 and 26 students opting for Research Methodology-1, Philosophy of Science and Technology, Philosophy of Management and Research Ethics and Technical Writing respectively were asked to write their exams at the parking lot.

However, university’s public relations officer Nalini Ranjan denied any change in the venue.“Nothing of this sort took place. Why would we keep an exam centre somewhere else for our own university students,” he said.

A teachers’ association member of GGSIPU also confirmed the change in venue.
“What I don’t understand is why would they send the students to another university when they can easily accommodate a small number like this. Also there are no other exams taking place, thus giving ample space options,” the member said.

The member said admitting students to PhD without proper framework is creating a mess
“The students were admitted by the end of July and they had to begin course work late July, which means that their entire semester’s education lasted only three months, that too only 12 weekends, as our university conducts PhD coursework only on weekends, primarily on Sundays,” added the member.

The member also informed that half the PhD students could not begin their coursework as their respective schools sent the final selection lists (after interview) a week or two late.
“All those students have been barred from entering the coursework late, but it is not clear when they will start their coursework and when they will complete it,” he said.
According to the PhD ordinance available on the varsity’s website, the university is supposed to have two rounds of PhD admissions – in July and December, the member said.