IITs to Offer Joint Ph.D Degrees

In a joint venture announced by the Indian Institutes of Technology, the administration has decided that they will be offering PhD aspirants to pursue their doctoral programme from two different IITs in one go. Sources state that as per the decision, the IITs will allow the students to complete the first half of the programme at one institute and the second half at the other.

These premier engineering institutes in India believe that the decision will facilitate collaborative research as well as ensure the usage of the advanced infrastructure at these IITs. Currently, different IITs have MoUs and agreements with other international universities, through which they offer collaborative PhD degrees to aspirants. With this decision, IITs will be able to collaborate with each other and use their advanced facilities and experience to promote research work.

Also Read:IIT Delhi and Chiao Tung Partner to Offer Joint PhD Programme

Key Components of Joint IIT Ph.D. Initiative

Here are the key components of the Joint IIT PhD Initiatives:

• Any two Indian Institutes of Technology may choose the field of research of mutual interest. The students who are interested in pursuing the programme will be able to join either of the institutes that are offering the joint programme. The Institute that the student joins for the first year will be called Home Institute while the second institute will be known as the Partner Institute.

• The PhD students will need to follow the rules and regulations of the Home Institute, such as the course work and the examinations of the Home Institute. Every student, enrolled under the Joint PhD programme will be assigned two supervisors, each from either institute. The faculty appointed from the Home Institute will be the Supervisor, meanwhile, the faculty appointed from the Partner Institute will be co-supervisor.

• The Joint PhD Degree will also see the establishment of a Doctoral Committee which will be responsible for monitoring the development in the research. Till the research thesis has been submitted, the students will need to follow the rules and regulations of the Home Institute. The monitoring process, submission of the thesis as well as the submission and evaluation of the thesis will be done according to the Home Institute’s rules.

• Students pursuing the Joint PhD Programme will need to complete one year or two semesters under the supervision of the co-supervisor at the partner institute. Sources state that the students, at the time of their stay at the Home Institute, will need to pay the semester fee, which includes Tuition and Hostel fees as has been defined by the Home or Partner Institute. Students will also be eligible for financial assistance and scholarships as per the rules.

• After the completion of the programme, the Ph.D. student will be awarded one degree, which will be signed and stamped by both the Institutes. The IITs in partnership will decide on the format of the degree. In other words, the IITs will be allowed to offer two separate degrees, however, the certificates must clearly state that the degree has been awarded unanimously between the two IITs for the same Ph.D. thesis.

Also Read:Joint Venture Between IIT Kanpur, BITS Pilani and La Trobe Australia Launches PhD in Smart Cities

With the help of the Joint PhD, students will not only be able to complete their research thesis in their area of interest but they will also be able to take guidance from two different supervisors and use the advanced infrastructures and facilities provided by either institute. Thus, a better research output can be expected while also ensuring full utilization of facilities and infrastructure provided by the Institutes.