HOLD MPHIL, PHD VIVA INTERVIEWS THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCE: UGC

Scholars who are in the last leg of their research work and awaiting their viva interviews can now complete the process through video conferencing. As a rule, after dissertations are submitted to the university, the viva interview is to be scheduled within six months. Therefore, to ensure the interviews are conducted within the stipulated time, University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked varsities to hold these interview sessions through video conferencing.

All the norms of the research guides will have to be followed while conducting the viva exams. Talking about the same, Dr NS Umarani, provice chancellor of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) said, “While UGC has informed all varsities to conduct the viva examinations online, SPPU has a mechanism in place to conduct the viva tests online. The varsity has already held viva tests remotely during extreme conditions.”

UGC has also asked varsities to develop a proper mechanism to ensure that both PhD and MPhil processes are completed within the stipulated time.

As per the instructions given by Rajnish Jain, UGC chairman, universities also need to ensure that the dissertations are evaluated by external experts as is the rule.

After the varsity conducted a video conference of all the principals and vice chancellors and pro-vice chancellor regarding the planning of examination as the lockdown has been extended till April 30, SPPU has cleared that no concrete decision is taken about the examinations. Immediately after the meeting, there were talks among students about the examination being conducted online, for which students are not prepared, they said.

Sharmila Yewale, an arts student from Fergusson College, said, “We have already left for our hometowns and not in Pune right now, but we got to know that the examinations will be conducted online, for which we are not ready as we have not carried all our books and notes with us. Also, it will be difficult for the student living in rural area to appear for the online examination.”

Dr Umarani, pro-VC, SPPU, said, “The video conferencing was conducted among the SPPU officials and all the principals to make it clear that examinations will be held, but no decision has been taken yet as to how it will be done. State-level committee is already working on the examination process; therefore, students should not fall prey to rumours.”

Source – IndiaTimes