Pro-VC Yeole starts on-spot PhD registration approval system

Nagpur: The perennial wait by scholars to start their doctorate of philosophy (PhD) at Nagpur University (NU) is over from this session.
Aspirants have started receiving approval letters on the spot soon after their presentation before the Research Recognition Committee (RRC).
The RRC meetings, which would be deciding the fate of 303 PhD applicants, started from May 2 and would go on till May 22.
Until last December, the aspirants had to wait for months on end to know about the RRC decision as the approval letters eluded them.
On December 23 last year, TOI had reported the plight of entire 2017 batch of PhD applicants who were unable to start their research work in the wake of pending approval of their registration.
Acknowledging TOI report, Pro-Vice Chancellor Pramod Yeole said taking note of frequent complaints by scholars, he is now personally attending the RRC meeting as its chairman and clearing the research proposal instantly. Until now, the scholars had to wait after making presentations before the RRC.
The decision would remain pending because the officials used to take time for preparing the minutes and placing them before the RRC chairman. The long-drawn procedure would consume several months and in some cases over a year before the candidates come to know about the final decision.
“We decided to develop a software to address the issue. So far, the meeting would take place in the Pro-VC’s absence. I have already attended the presentation since May 2 and would be there for remaining ones also. The decision on approving or rejecting a research proposal is being immediately taken even before the candidates leaves the room,” Yeole said.
After reviewing the proposal, the PhD cell used to issue all letters together informing aspirants about the RRC’s decision to accept or reject their topic, supervisor, place of research and date of registration. However, the delay or gap between date of application and approval caused legal problems for the applicants and university.
Yeole said in case the date of research start is treated as the day when letters were received there was a problem for candidates as it delayed their study. “But, if it was the application date, then it raised question on actual period of study since students would submit their thesis within six months making mockery of the two year mandatory period,” he said.
Yeole added that on-spot decision would fix several problems in the procedure.