KARACHI: A confidential examination report of a research scholar’s Ph.D. dissertation has been leaked before the meeting of the Directorate of Higher Education and Research (GRMC) of Federal Urdu University, it emerged on Monday, raising questions over varsity’s administration.
Sana Ghori, a contract teacher of Urdu University, had submitted research, titled “Critical Review of the Role of Naunehal Magazine (Karachi) in Promoting Children’s Mental Ability 1953-2016”, for the award of Ph.D. Degree in Mass Communication.
Ghori’s dissertation was sent to Dr. Aykut Kismir, Professor, Department of Urdu, Faculty of Language, History and Geography, University of Ankara. It is pertinent to mention here that Sana Ghauri’s research was in Mass Communication and should be sent for evaluation to the expert of the relevant field.
According to the leaked report, the examiner has recommended the relevant university to award the candidate/researcher, Sana Ghori, PhD degree in Urdu instead of Mass Communication.
In his remarks, Dr Aykut Kismir wrote: “I have evaluated the thesis of Ms. Sana Ghori, Ph.D. Urdu, under the supervision of Dr Auje Kamal. I am satisfied with the research scheme, methodology and basis of Researcher’s argumentation and analysis. I recommend that the scholar may be awarded Ph.D. degree for her voluminous research.”
According to education experts, if an evaluator recommended to issue an Urdu degree on a research paper of Mass Communication, it means that reports on such research become controversial and the GRMC may stop degree for the candidate.
“Although Sana Ghauri’s research is in Mass Communication, her subject is closest to Urdu literature. Due to which the evaluator has given an honest opinion considering this research in Urdu literature,” the experts said.
Meanwhile, it has also emerged that Dr. Auje Kamal is not an approved supervisor of the PhD program by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
When contacted in this regard, Sana Ghori said, “I am a student. It is not my problem to know the affiliation of the supervisor to HEC. My dissertation was approved by the university’s GRMC and forwarded for evaluation.”
“The dissertation is forwarded to a list of doctoral degree holders from different countries. The Vice Chancellor, who is also the head of GRMC, approves the list,” she added, also confirming that she had given all the necessary exams in this regard.
According to the Higher Education Commission’s PhD Policy for 2021, 4.3, before awarding a degree to a PhD research scholar, the candidate must pass a Comprehensive Examination on the subject. However, if the candidate fails, one more opportunity will be given, in which after success he will be able to be awarded degree by GRMC. The University of Urdu is still awarding degrees without conducting Comprehensive exams from any research scholar.
