Indore : Here is good news for students wishing to pursue doctoral research degree programmes in medicine discipline in the State. The co-ordination committee, the apex body of higher education in the State, has approved amendments recommended by Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV) in the PhD ordinance.
The DAVV had suggested revising PhD ordinance with proposing to confer the right to guide PhD aspirants on professors teaching in medical colleges.
With the coordination committee approving revised PhD ordinance, the long-pending demand of medical colleges to offer PhD courses have been fulfilled.
Previous ordinance did not permit professors of medical college lacking PhD degree to become guide of PhD aspirants.
The previous ordinance asked for a teacher wishing to become a research guide to have a PhD degree and minimum five years of teaching experience along with five research publications. Only faculty in MGM Medical College, Prof Sanjay Dixit met this requirement, so the right to offer PhD degree in medicine has not been entrusted on others. The medical colleges have been crying foul over this stating that the PhD ordinance did not inculcate the norms laid down by the Medical Council of India, which permits professors with teaching experience of more than 10 years to enroll students in PhD programmes, no matter whether they possess a PhD degree themselves or not.
Last year, the MGM Medical College had given a copy of this MCI norm to the DAVV which in turn proposed amendments in the ordinance.
“Changes have been approved in the ordinance by the co-ordination committee which will be applicable for all State universities. With this, medical colleges will be able to start PhD course in clinical branches. The MCI regulations will come into effect instead of the UGC. However, PhD aspirants will have to face entrance test and also undergo course work as per the UGC guidelines,” said director, college development council, DAVV, Prof Sumant Katiyal.
The amendment will also pave way for the state universities to hold entrance test for PhD aspirants in medical sciences. “We will hold 2-hour entrance examination for giving entry to PhD aspirants. It will comprise 100 questions and 50 per cent will be the passing marks,” said Prof Ganesh Kawadia, chairman, PhD cell, DAVV.
