I have an unanswered question in my mind: Is PHD really required for "Teaching" in Colleges? I am of the opinion that a sincere PHD work requires tremendous research aptitude and Hardwork. For "teaching" a subject at UG level or even at PG level is PHD really required?
If I had had research aptitude at the age of 24, I would have joined the R&D institutions instead of getting into teaching profession
Instead of PHD, my suggestion is that a teaching staff should acquire additional skills atleast in THREE subjects over a period of FIVE years in the latest technologies & such programmes may be offered at regular intervals by reputed universities.
RE:PHD required or not for teaching
by pcu on Jan 18, 2008 08:26 PM Permalink
Its true. Its essential for a teacher to know about all subjects some thing like inter disciplinary. One with PhD knows deeply about his specialized area. So for teaching we should fix some other qualifications having said that there is no need that a PhD degree should not be considered for the teaching.
why do you want to renew PhD? Does this applicable to all professional? There is no expiry date for doctors (where the life of human being is in question) or politicians (first of all most of then dont have any qualification - where the future of the nation is in question) or IAS or IPS or any other who are all having any degree? Dont this apply to all degree or diploma such as BSc or MSc or all Diploma or MCA or other qualifications? Now a soft ware professional who has done MCA is earning more than Prof. working at IIT or institutions like that. Those people are earning that much after a very short duration of studies compared to the laborious and time consuming PhD. Already that gap in salary is existing. So this idea is not at all necessary. If it is acceptable to all sectors then PhD can also be put under the scanner.
RE:why PhD alone? why not other degrees and diplomas?
by ayyasami krishnamoorthy on Jan 18, 2008 08:24 PM Permalink
Dear sir / madam, Your view is good but may not be practically feasible. Your suggestion of review may be applied for the highest degree like PHD. One of my friends completed PHD in 1956 and thereafter he has not done anything new. Can he be ever compared with a PG student who has acquired the degree recently?
RE:why PhD alone? why not other degrees and diplomas?
by pcu on Jan 18, 2008 08:32 PM Permalink
dear sir thanks for your comments. If we compare the quality of education it is improving all the time. I started my schooling from age 5. I learned English only from my 4th std. If we start to scrap degrees from old fellows as mentioned by you do you call a person who completed only up to 12th std. of yesteryears as illiterate. Thanks for your comments and expecting your reply.
RE:why PhD alone? why not other degrees and diplomas?
by ayyasami krishnamoorthy on Jan 18, 2008 08:41 PM Permalink
Dear Sir, I did not mean that & I do not want to hurt anybody. Upto UG / PG level anything is acceptable & requires NO review. Too much of review will result in total chaos.But for higher degrees beyond PG degree, expiry date is not a bad idea. (Please note: It is only my view. I may be wrong but I am open for any debate in this regard)
I see lots of msgs on this board. Tell me, how many of you know anything about a PhD and research. As usual, you people have free internet and want to rub it in. This is typical of India....big talks and more talks, no work
RE:How Many of YOu
by ayyasami krishnamoorthy on Jan 18, 2008 08:28 PM Permalink
Dear Kittappaji, Stop accusing India. Certain assets of Indians cannot be viewed wrongly, you see. I know about what is PHD and research and have a personal feeling (Please note: I am not imposing it on any one) that PHD is not required for teaching profession.Teaching is different and Research is different.They should be mutually exclusive
RE:How Many of YOu
by Chandra Prakash on Jan 18, 2008 08:24 PM Permalink
Hello Kittappa, I have not done PhD but I know many PhD people. Unfortunately most of them got it through back door process. Those who have done it properly also lack further knowledge about their subjects. Nor they have any interest for updating themselves. It is a valid question, shall there be expiry date ? I think, it will be better to have an expiry date. Or else these experts will simply sit on their old knowledge and show off.
RE:How Many of YOu
by Kittappa on Jan 18, 2008 08:27 PM Permalink
such PhDs do not matter anyway; dont worry. If an employer needs them to publish one paper every year, let them do it.
RE:How Many of YOu
by Sushim Roy on Jan 19, 2008 04:58 AM Permalink
@Chandra Prakash....why did you not get such a degree yourself too? trust me...none cares for those backdoor degrees.....simply ignore their existence
the only solution for phds to be validated is to ensure that phd holder after getting phD published atleast one paper every year for next 5 to 10 years ...
RE:ONLY SOLUTION ...
by Joseph Abraham on Jan 18, 2008 08:18 PM Permalink
Dont be silly guys. The ''Art'' of publishig papers is well known. The author may be talking abt some PhDs in india. Not all PhDs...Any way the aurthor hasnt done his PhD. he is just MA in economics
RE:ONLY SOLUTION ...
by pcu on Jan 18, 2008 08:23 PM Permalink
PhD is only for the hard work one has put in during his stay in research institutes. Its not easy to get the same facility once he left the institute without going for any higher studies such as pdf. Assume if he joins any where else as a lecturer only for teaching not for research then how can he publish papers? Will you ask the same to all professionals? do you know how much painful it is to get a phd? Reduce the salary of these all software people who are all getting higher salary because it is much cheaper for the foreign companies to get the work done in India (with lesser salary) compared to the same work done in their country.
RE:ONLY SOLUTION ...
by Munish Oberoi on Jan 18, 2008 08:15 PM Permalink
yes that is the way it shud be.
but most of the ppl here are abusing the author, spitting venom on him.
i guess these are the ppl who hold useless phds and are frightened to death that they will lose their phds if they are asked to publish any papers now !!!
RE:ONLY SOLUTION ...
by Sushim Roy on Jan 19, 2008 04:56 AM Permalink
this guy Munish is a blatantly ignorant person...i'm doing my phd myself abroad....and phd..it has nothing to do with publishing papers later.....publishing of papers come when you are doing some research actively...after getting your degree/award...if you choose to divert your attention....what's wrong in that? man...publishing paper later has nothing to do with someone's degree
RE:wow ...
by amar kamble on Jan 18, 2008 08:17 PM Permalink
this really not a good idea ... tommorrow some body will say their should be expiray date for Nobel award also ... people will work for 5 to some times 10 years then they get Phd ...
First of all, a PhD is given for original research work. Not doing anything for 10 years cannot invalidate work done during PhD. So 'cancelling' the PhD later is illogical.
Second, there is something called 'tenure' in many universities (especially in the US). Basically, any appointment as assistant prof. is temporary. The candidate needs to prove his/her competence as a researcher by showing adequate research output, funding etc., usually after 5-6 years after appointment. We can surely think of ways to make this fool proof.
Third, to be consistent, we must extend this accountability to *all* professions - especially the civil service and the armed forces. After all, as the author admits, an IAS officer is never stripped of his IAS, in spite of his many screw ups. I am sure Mr. Srinivasa-Raghavan would welcome such a move ;)
On what basis does the author advocate a unilateral concept of expiry for a phd? Does he know the amount of effort and heartache associated with completing a phd (especially in India). If you want to refine something, first go and find out the conditions in which most phd students in India have to work. I mean, most University professors treat phd students as their personal slaves and make them do anything from shopping for his household to demanding part of the salary of the phd student. Students who overcome all this and go on and finish in 8-10 years will be thrilled to know that in a couple of years, they can expect to start another round of phd. Do you know what comes of these phd students and what salary they earn during their phd period? Excellence in every field is a nice concept but why not start from the bottom, like say 10th standard or 12th standard and keep asking students to pass those exams every 10 years? Idiots like you should be asked to do a phd on 'why I should not write something without thinking' and we can then think of an expiry for a phd.
Being an IIT - M Tech student , Let me share my opinion . First dont compare the standard of IIT with JNU. I agree that JNU is a very fine institution in many Arts and Science aspect.. But in technology, IITs are far ahead of any institution in the nation,perhaps in the world. All the profesors(in all IITs) have devoted their life for their interested subjects.. I dont understand the concept of number of publication being the yardstick of the validity of their Phd. Some research areas lack progress(due to the nature of topic),so very less number of publication will be made, while some other fields may be hugely expanding, so a large number of publication could be made. By the proposed idea, you are trying to question the commitment and dedication of this higly qualified people..Moreover who will review the development in a field?? Actually through a research, It is them who introduces a new idea. How can another one review a new concept ?? What one person feels to be impressive may be mundane to others. So i believe it's not a relevant idea..
RE:Who will renew the Phd??
by Kittappa on Jan 18, 2008 08:12 PM Permalink
okay, I agree with most of the points you said. However, do not say IIT professors have devoted their life!! There are only a few professors who have done this. Others are just lazy, do not work hard and they happen to be IIT profs ( may be because they did not have any other options 20 years back). I was @ IISc, only very few profs are good.
PhD undoubtedly is a recognition of Contribution. This fact is undeniable. But, to be able to judge how effective it might be for a person to teach after 10 years of doing nothing to update themselves is totally another thing. So once you get a Phd you keep it. But if you are to be employed in something requiring that in depth knowledge a simple peer-test should be good enough.
