PANAJI: In a major development in the higher education sector of the state, 18 colleges, including five government colleges, have joined hands to offer PhD programme in different subjects under the  research cluster initiative of the directorate of higher education.

The colleges which have joined hands to  offer the PhD programme are the five government colleges at  Quepem, Khandola, Pernem, Sankhali and Margao, and  13 government-aided colleges – the Cuncolim Education Society’s College, Cuncolim; the Shree Mallikarjun College, Canacona; the Dhempe College of Arts and Science; the Dempo College of Commerce and Economics; the Bandekar College of Commerce; the Saraswat College; the Fr Agnel College, Pilar; the PES College, Ponda and the Rosary College, Navelim.

As of now, the PhD programme has been offered only by the Goa University.

Heads of the several higher education institutions had brought to the notice of the directorate of higher education the difficulties faced by the students who intend to go for PhD course at the GU, which has  limited seats for the particular  programme.

Accordingly, a proposal had been moved, and thereafter the directorate took up the research cluster initiative.

On Monday, a memorandum of understanding was signed by the directorate of higher education headed by Prasad Lolyekar with the   college principals.

There will be four research cluster centres at  the government colleges at Quepem, Khandola, Sankhali and Pernem, where there has been an upgrade in infrastructural facilities. The students who take admissions to the PhD programme in the government-aided colleges will be able to use the facilities at the research cluster centres. Speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’, principal of the CEC College, Cuncolim, Sanjay Desai expressed satisfaction over the initiative taken by the directorate of higher education.

“We must thank director of higher education Prasad Lolyekar for making this initiative a reality. This initiative will strengthen higher education in Goa,” he added.