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  • Category: General
    Points:5

      

    Are Ph.D. enrolled students really interested in research?

    Universities are issuing regular notifications for admissions to Ph.D. programs. Some may offer a scholarship to meritorious students, and some may give a stipend to those assisting on a project. I wonder, though, whether postgraduate students are really keen to take up the research work that is associated with the Ph.D. or are just doing so for better employment opportunities. Then there are faculty who wish to enhance their C.V. with the goal of getting a promotion and better pay and hence take leave to complete their Ph.D.

    Of course, there are students and faculty who are genuinely interested in taking up research work and not just for the sake of having the doctoral qualification in their biodata. Are you acquainted with such people?
  • #775762

    Points:5
    These days going for higher studies is mainly to improve their employment opportunities. A graduate going for a PG course or a PG going for a PhD or also acquiring additional degrees. I have seen some people who are interested in teaching jobs. Such candidates will go for a PhD as they will get lecturer posts if they acquire a PhD degree. Some students are really interested in doing research. Such candidates can apply for scientist posts even with a postgraduate qualification and while doing their job in a research organisation as a scientist can submit the thesis to obtain PhD degrees.
    Many students join PhD courses as a stop-gap arrangement. They will be getting some scholarship or stipend and they can search for a job while working for their PhD.
    In my opinion, around 50 to 60% of students who join for PhD will discontinue and join a job they are looking for. These days all educational qualifications obtained are for employment only, I feel.
    drrao
    always confident

  • #775765

    Points:7
    Nowadays, most of the students in M.Sc./M.A/M.Com courses are not interested in research. They mainly look for job opportunities. Some of them even utilize the two years of their PG program to prepare for Civil Services or other higher-level examinations.

    But at the same time, some students who are genuinely interested in doing research and have strong economic background to do so, face different types of problems. Selection of a guide and getting a proper topic for research are daunting problems for some of them.

    My daughter wants to carry out PhD-level research on such a topic for which the availability of a guide is a major issue. There are only four professors in India who can guide her on this topic.
    Billo Rani kahon to abhi jaan de doon: Oh dear Billo, if you ask, I will give my life

  • #775766

    Points:5
    In the past times, there were many students interested to continue their doctoral degrees once they acquired their post graduations. They did not deviate from their earlier plan's except in some circumstances which might be beyond their reach.
    With the progress of times, the concept of the students has changed significantly. They are more interested to get a job of their choice and if they fail to get the same, they would apply for the doctorate program thinking that they would get some stipends which could ease their financial problems for the time being. For many students it might be a temporary arrangement to accept such doctoral programs. They might be involved in other avocations including the research activities and once they succeed in their missions to get a job of their choice, they would not hesitate in dropping their doctoral degrees.

  • #775836

      

    Points:1
    Partha K. - you have made a valid point about doctoral Guides. It is not easy to find a Guide with genuine expertise on the subject that the student wants to do research on so that the necessary guidance is obtained, and, more importantly, not take credit for the student's work. A research scholar may even well end up getting a Guide who is not really a Guide and is merely assigning some clerical or other menial work as a quid pro quo!

    It would be interesting to know what research topic your daughter is keen to work on. Would you be willing to share the details?
    When you make a commitment, you create hope. When you keep a commitment you create trust! ~ John C. Maxwell

  • #775842

    Points:1
    For my daughter, the topic is not yet finalized. So, let us leave the matter for now.
    Billo Rani kahon to abhi jaan de doon: Oh dear Billo, if you ask, I will give my life

  • #775852

    Points:8
    It is a mixed bag. There are still many students who are really interested in research. That is why we get many new breakthroughs and exploratory and explanatory outputs in various fields.

    However, a majority of present-day doctoral students are aiming just for a doctoral degree and limit their efforts just to that. Since the past couple of decades, the quality of doctoral studies and output have deteriorated in quality, so much so that in some cases they have just become mere essays in standard. The quality deterioration is not just at the student level, but even at the 'Guide' level.

    In non-science fields, research guides are motivated by their political affiliations and bias. Even the awarding of doctoral degrees is also impacted this way. Every day I get to see many photos and news of PhD awardees in local newspapers. They give the impression that PhD is so easy to get and is awarded like a routine. There were many instances of questioning the authenticity of doctoral theses submitted by some doctoral degree awardees.

    There were many such allegations even pointing out to 'copying and copy-pasting' of research literature from many other sources and seeking withdrawal of such degrees given' leading to public debates and some even to litigations.

    So the truth is while still there are many Ph.D. enrolled students genuinely interested and putting sincere efforts into research, there are many growing number of students looking upon Ph.D. studies just for a career and somehow get a doctoral degree.

  • #775904

      

    Points:5
    These days undertaking a Ph.D. program is all the easier. The revised UGC guidelines now allow students, who have a 4-year bachelor's degree to apply for Ph.D. admissions. However, they should have a minimum of 75% marks or an equivalent CGPA. For reserved category candidates, like SC, ST, OBC (NCL), EWS and differently-abled, there is a 5% relaxation in marks or grades as the case may be. We know at least one person who has graduated (B.Tech program) from IIT Hyderabad this year and has joined the same institute for a Ph.D. Not sure what his motive was to join the program when others from his batch mostly took up jobs in the IT sector and elsewhere. Perhaps he is genuinely interested in research or he might have plans to pursue an academic career in the IITs or other reputed institutes. With the improved infrastructure in most IITs, many are these days opting for the IITs rather than going abroad for Ph.D. In any case, most of these research scholars are more focused on enhancing their academic qualifications rather than a genuine interest in research.
    Patience and perseverance pays


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