KARACHI:
During my post-PhD teaching career, which lasted almost a decade, I only managed to supervise a few research students. I often felt ashamed that I supervised a small number of students of which only 3 received their PhD and five completed their Masters’ thesis. Recently, I discussed this with my Swedish supervisor during a conference who was rather pleased with my progress considering my financial constraints and excessive teaching and consultancy load.
He informed me that many contemporary researchers who experience similar kinds of limitations regarding infrastructure and funding are doing the same number of successful supervisions every year. He then asked me some interesting questions: Is every single word the student’s own? Is every single idea presented therein original? Does the advisor proofread every chapter and provide suggestions and guidance? Does the advisor add words to the write-up?
If the answer to the first three questions is not affirmative and that of the last one is, then the thesis should remain concealed especially when someone who is aware of the subject asks to look at it. In academia, quantity must never take precedence over quality. To maintain academic integrity, academics and PhD scholars should always prioritise honesty and accountability.
Dr Intikhab Ulfat
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, May 18th, 2023.
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