Quality of analysis publications: Kerala University would not appear to ‘CARE’?

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Majority of the analysis supervisors within the University of Kerala, who had been granted recognition after June 2019, had been chosen on the premise of analysis publications in journals that don’t determine within the University Grants Commission- Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics (UGC-CARE) checklist, an RTI reply by the varsity has revealed.

It was with the purpose of elevating analysis requirements that the UGC directed universities that analysis publications solely in journals listed within the UGC-CARE checklist needs to be thought of for any tutorial objective with impact from June 14, 2019. Hundreds of verified and real journals have been compiled below the UGC-CARE checklist and are used as a benchmark by varied universities. 

Surprisingly, the University of Kerala, which has applied successive UGC laws, said in its RTI reply that “recognition as research supervisor is granted to those applicants whose articles have been published in journals approved by the (university’s) PG-Board of Studies”. The RTI response, accessed by TNIE, additionally went on to state that the publications ought to fulfill the related norms laid down within the University of Kerala Regulations – 2016.

The RTI question had sought a listing of analysis supervisors within the disciplines of humanities and social sciences, chosen after June 2019, when the UGC-CARE checklist was made necessary. “Most of the research publications by the 33 research supervisors, who were selected after June 2019, were published in non-UGC-CARE journals,” mentioned the RTI applicant, who requested anonymity.  

While many of the analysis supervisors had each their papers revealed in non-UGC-CARE journals, a few of the articles had been revealed in journals that had been neither within the UGC-CARE checklist nor within the PG Board of Studies checklist, the RTI response revealed.

“The PG Board of Studies’ list of journals includes a majority of those listed by UGC- CARE along with a few local journals as well. Some of these local journals are non-peer-reviewed. Most of the research supervisors have conveniently used this option,” mentioned the RTI applicant. 

‘No compromise on high quality’

Meanwhile, the college has strongly defended the standard of journals listed and accepted by the varsity’s PG Board of research. According to S Naseeb, convener of the Syndicate Standing Committee on Academics and Research, UGC has prescribed minimal requirements for analysis publications by way of the UGG-CARE checklist however the last choice must be taken by the college involved. 

“The university tries its best to implement UGC directions issued from time to time. However, there are certain limitations to the number of research papers that can be published only in UGC-CARE listed journals. It is in this context that publication in peer-reviewed journals is also considered,” Naseeb mentioned.

He added that solely these analysis publications in journals, the standard of which have been totally cross-checked by the chairman of the Board of Studies, are thought of by the college.

Purpose behind norms set by UGC

UGC had directed universities to make sure that analysis publications solely in journals listed within the UGC-CARE checklist needs to be thought of for tutorial objective in order to lift analysis requirements

Hundreds of verified and real journals have been compiled below the UGC-CARE checklist and are used as a benchmark by varied universities