Time to frame guidelines for M. Phil and PhD Program
Research in particular topics is not a new thing among students. Enhancing knowledge through institutional affordance is the way of accessing the journey of advance level education. M. Phil and PhD programs can be considered to be doors of opening knowledge in particular matters. This program helps to think from every corner and aspects of practicing knowledge. But in Bangladesh there are no such rules and regulations in operating such programs. Our UGC (University Grants Commission of Bangladesh) has yet to frame or set any commonly used for such operating and issuing sand/award to the students. The encouragement among students for admission to the research oriented program as stated above is stubby.
That reflects in the number of students for research oriented programs like M. Phil and PhD is very few compared to neighboring countries. Research oriented programs as mentioned above helps the countries sustainable economic development and to meet up the global demands. Let me explain how it works. After pursuing the Hon’s and Master’s degree, students look for the program of M. Phil and PhD for better knowledge in one particular topic.
The word of better knowledge may be defined as a clear idea that enhances your knowledge and skill. Here, enhancing knowledge means improving one’s thought’s value, quality, by utilizing and navigating all the resources, that helps in understanding effective methods. Such knowledge, connecting one to real-world scenarios, and practicing knowledge. This journey of acquiring knowledge, fostering and boosting and contributing to countries’ economics.
Let’s defined the words of M. Phil and PhD.
The elaborated meaning of M.Phil and PhD programs is that MPhil stands for Master of Philosophy, a postgraduate research degree that allows students to conduct independent, original research in a specific field of study, and PhD is short for Doctor of Philosophy and is the highest academic degree awarded for original, significant research and advanced study in a specialized field. It is clear that M.Phil and PhD degree holders travelled in an advanced learning process and finally acquired a collective knowledge that is usually used globally.
In Bangladesh, There is no data of specific number of students that acquired such a degree. In 2022, Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (BANBEIS) revealed that PhD degree holders are 51,704/- but no data is available for Mphil degree holders.
At present, a number of Public and Private Universities are conducting such programs with limited seats. But there are no uniformed guidelines regarding the process of admission requirements in Bangladesh. The discrepancy seen in the grading system among universities. Such discrepancy in grading scales not only creates confusion and inconsistency but also results in discriminatory practices that disadvantage students from other universities where the grading systems may differ from university to university.
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Such inconsistencies in admission requirements contradict the equal protection principle enshrined in the Constitution of Bangladesh, which mandates that all students, regardless of their university or department, must have an equal opportunity to pursue higher education based on merit, rather than arbitrary, institution-specific grading criteria. Students who are seeking admission to such programs see differences among universities.
To avoid such discrepancy and discrimination, earlier on 02.06.2009 and on 02.03.2010, the Ministry of Education published a gazette notification regarding the adjustment of the result/marks of division that equivalent to the numbers of GPA/CGPA vide being office order No. শিম/শাঃ ১১/১৯-১/২০০৭/১৭৪ and another being office order No. শিম/শাঃ ১১/০৫-১(অংশ)/৫৮২, respectively. Keeping in mind that the world is going faster and faster with knowledge.
To move with the race of wisdom, the door of M. Phil and PhD programs should be governed with a uniformed guideline. One of our Neighboring counties, India has already adopted regulations for M. Phil and PhD program by the University Grants Commission (UGC), as detailed in the UGC Regulations 2018. Why is our UGC stuck on the same footing as before? It is time to open more opportunities to the door of wisdom.
Written By: Md. Juwel Azad; Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh.
