Irregularities in research centers! Most places are centers of ‘revenue’, research is also having a serious impact

Pune : A question has been raised whether most of the research centers run in colleges affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University are not for research but for revenue. In the recent inspection of the research centers conducted by the university administration, it has been revealed that large scale irregularities are going on in these centers and the arbitrariness of the research centers is going on. Due to this, it has a serious impact on research, and the question has been raised whether only students who really want to do research get admission.

On the rules

A total of 190 research centers are affiliated to the university in three districts namely Pune, Nagar and Nashik. The administration of these centers is expected to be as per the norms of the university. Despite this, the inspection has revealed that most of the centers have complied with all the rules laid down by the university. Charging extra fees, paying more associate guides than required, admitting more than expected number of PhD students and not paying university share and registration fee to the university year after year are going on in the research centres.

Guidance from retirees

In some centers students are still guided by retired mentors. It has been seen that all this is being done to maintain the recognition of the research center and to earn extra fees from the students. To stop all these malpractices, the university has given one month to the research centers and the university administration has ordered to submit a detailed report on all these reforms within a month.

Otherwise approval will be cancelled

If the research centers do not make improvements within a month, they will be strictly barred from admitting this year’s ‘PhD’; Also, the process of de-accreditation of some such research centers will also be started, the university administration has informed.

Issues found through inspection of research centers

– For the last five to six years, the Center has not yet paid the university’s share of student fees.

– The registration fee of the students has not been paid to the university for years.

– Fees are being charged in excess of the fees prescribed by the University.

– In many centers it has been observed that guidance is being given even after the retirement of the guide.

– In most of the research centers the number of associate guides has increased.

– There has been an excessive increase in the number of students in many research centres.

‘PhD’ for aspirants?

The number of students in some research centers is more than required. This number has been increased even though there is no number of guides. In such a situation, some students have also raised the question whether the management of the institution has set the stage to get their aspirants ‘PhD’.

In order to increase the quality of research conducted under the university, the research centers were inspected. Many issues have been revealed in this inspection, and it has been seen that irregularities are going on in most of the places. Improvements have been ordered within a month.- Prof. Dr. Sanjeev Sonawane, Vice-Chancellor

Details of Research Centres

Number of District Research Centres

Pune City 123

Pune District 28

City 35

Nashik 29

215 in total