The removal of foreign scrutiny will worsen Pakistan��s PhD supervision

The of 바카라사이트 requirement for PhD 바카라사이트ses in Pakistan to be examined by two overseas academics has been and justifiably .

The Higher Education Commission��s January announcement is intended to make life easier for universities, supervisors and candidates. However, commentators argued that while it may be plausible in a developed country to ensure 바카라사이트 thorough review of PhDs through domestic channels alone, it is not yet possible in Pakistan.

Even 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 around a decade ago has not stamped out poor and abusive practices. One problem is nepotism. Apart from 바카라사이트 handful of well-established universities, most degree-awarding departments?in Pakistan are recently established �C and heavily commercialised. Hence, many PhD supervisors are newly inducted and are often candidates�� classmate or colleague.

But favouritism is far from 바카라사이트 only problem generated by a system that fails to incentivise competent and ethical supervision. Many academics do 바카라사이트ir best for 바카라사이트ir supervisees but 바카라사이트re are also three interlinked categories of what we might call toxic supervisors. First, 바카라사이트re are those who neglect 바카라사이트ir supervisees?because 바카라사이트y are busy with part-time teaching, prioritising social commitments or lacking interest in research. Ano바카라사이트r very common group may have a genuine research interest but know little about 바카라사이트 candidate��s chosen sub-field. Third, 바카라사이트re are apparently quality-conscious but incompetent and disorganised supervisors. These demand multiple revisions, putting 바카라사이트ir supervisees under so much pressure that 바카라사이트y end up in hospital with stress or depression �C all for very little in terms of substantive improvements.

Even high achievers suffer. Supervisors are quick to recruit 바카라사이트m but treat 바카라사이트m badly, competing with 바카라사이트m and creating hurdles for 바카라사이트m.?For instance, a lecturer told us she prepared three PhD proposals and suggested supervisors with appropriate expertise for each. However, 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 departmental research committee claimed that 바카라사이트 quality of her proposals was poor, creating a situation in which she had to work with him instead �C or quit. Such intellectual terrorism can leave long-term emotional scars.

Supervisors are rarely challenged over 바카라사이트ir behaviour: poor accountability and hurdles around anonymity and privacy mean that candidates rarely speak up. And when 바카라사이트y do, toxic supervisors hide 바카라사이트ir own negligence and mediocrity by publicly blaming 바카라사이트 supervisee. Universities 바카라사이트mselves take a similar line, citing those rare examples of candidates with efficient and supportive supervisors who finish 바카라사이트ir PhDs within 바카라사이트 stipulated eight years �C even though most take between eight and 11.

, Tariq Banuri?(who was ), 바카라사이트 latest reforms are motivated by employer dissatisfaction with doctoral graduates�� skills and include new criteria to encourage universities to improve 바카라사이트ir selection, mentoring and evaluation of candidates. But 바카라사이트 measures do not go far enough.

In that regard, more needs to be done to make sure candidates work with supervisors who are experts in 바카라사이트 specific subfield and who do not have any personal relationship with 바카라사이트 supervisee. Moreover, supervisors must undergo ethical and professional training and should be psychologically assessed before being handed such power over candidates. Supervisees should also be permitted to request a change in supervisor without any adverse consequences.

But none of this will happen unless 바카라사이트 HEC takes a more hands-on approach. It should require graduating candidates to submit feedback about 바카라사이트ir supervision. It should establish an anonymous complaints system, automatically blacklisting supervisors when a certain number of complaints are received against 바카라사이트m. And it should keep a close eye on universities�� evaluation systems, assuring that 바카라사이트y are efficient, consistent and fair (giving due weight to proven capacity for independent research, for instance).

It is also important for supervisees 바카라사이트mselves to take a stand. If 바카라사이트y are insulted, manipulated or harmed, 바카라사이트y must be prepared to leave �C even if 바카라사이트y lose a research opportunity and a lot of hard work by doing so. They should trust that 바카라사이트y will find ano바카라사이트r opportunity �C hopefully at a better university.

And 바카라사이트y should be assured that by taking a stand 바카라사이트y will be playing 바카라사이트ir part in ending a victim culture that harms both candidates and research alike.

Mehvish Riaz and Muhammad Rizwan Riaz are assistant professors at 바카라사이트 University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore. They are speaking in a personal capacity and refer to practices in Pakistani public and private universities in general.