Outsourcing research, at what cost?

Making things work in an instant is the order of the day, so much so, it seems thorough research is given a go by. Hiring people to do one's research work is a reality. Can this unhealthy trend be reversed? Earning a doctorate may not be as difficult as it was years ago. It is not always about years of research and study. Many students are now outsourcing research work, and the prestigious prefix ‘Dr.' can be bought for a price. A recent trend noticed in research circles in Chennai is the increasing instances of Ph.D scholars outsourcing their work to companies that offer to “complete your Ph.D on time.” Such outsourcing not only poses challenges in terms of evaluating the research scenario in the country, but also calls for urgent measures to curtail the trend, say academics. A company in Mylapore that calls itself a “research guide organisation” agrees to work on a Ph.D thesis for a cost of Rs. 1.5 lakh. “We should be informed about the title eight months in advance. We take care of the entire thesis — right from the title till the work is completed. We will be in constant touch with the candidate and every 15 days we will mail them the details. Also we train them for viva-voce,” says Ganesh, an employee of an outsourcing firm. His company claims that it has students from almost all the universities in India, and from other countries such as UAE and U.K. for master's work too. “In India, the demand for master's thesis work is less,” he adds. Another company in Vadapalani offers to complete the thesis work in the engineering and science domains. “Our professors and experts are in various parts of the State. Some are attached to universities while others are full-time employees. The candidate can contact them over phone. The guide should not be informed as the thesis would not be accepted if it is prepared by someone else,” a staff at the company told this correspondent when asked about the procedures involved. The company brochure pinned on the notice board even has this clarification: “Please note that this brochure is not an invitation to outsource the requirements of Ph.D scholars. We are assisting research scholars to complete or expedite their work without compromising on the regulation of the institution they are affiliated to.” Another city-based company offers two options — The ‘Complete Consultant Plan' wherein the scholars are advised right from identifying the university and research guide to crafting the proposals to the preparation of thesis. The ‘Partial Consultant Plan' identifies the problem and devises the solution for the problem till the work is published in international journals. The charges for the complete work or partial work vary. Steps taken To act upon allegations of plagiarism and complaints against scholars, universities are beginning to put in place some stringent measures. “The doctoral committee that is in place has members from other universities and other States. They monitor the candidate every six months unlike earlier when the candidate had to submit the work only towards the end of three years,” says Koteeswara Prasad, dean of research, University of Madras. The grievance committee is also in place at the university to look into the grievances of scholars and their supervisors. The rapid expansion of higher education, with mushrooming number of colleges and universities, and more students gaining entry to research programme, it has become a challenge to maintain quality in research. “While the nation is focussing on improving the research talent, the practice of outsourcing the work to ghost writers has become widespread. It has taken roots in the past five years and is so prevalent now that these outsourcing firms are advertising openly,” says S.P. Thyagarajan, pro-chancellor (research), Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (SRMC), and an expert member of the University Grants Commission (UGC). Since many institutions do not have sufficient facilities for pursuing research, malpractice is resorted to fulfil the academic requirements. “In many cases the university may not have the sophisticated equipment to carry out the research. So, the students give their sample to another institute where the study is done. Thereby, he or she is not really involved in the process,” he points out. The key to curb plagiarism is in the hands of the supervisors who have to keep track and constantly monitor the progress of the research scholars, say experts. “Many professionals are keen to do research at IIT-Madras and enrol. The system is so rigorous that many of them opt out mid-way,” says Prof. L.S. Ganesh of the Department of Management Studies and dean (students) at the institute. Unless the system is stringent and uncompromising, original research may not happen. The research scenario at present has all the pitfalls found in many engineering colleges where final students outsource projects to firms for a price. If research is the fuel for innovation and growth, then the government and universities have to act fast, say academics.