Factors Contributing to the Approval of Research Proposals, Thesis Submission Delays, and Evaluation Issues at the Phd Level in Pakistani Universities
Abstract
Several causes can contribute to delayed PhD graduation in Pakistani universities. One such aspect could be problems and procedural delays with the approval of research proposals, thesis submissions, and evaluation. This study will look into PhD scholars' topic approval timelines, concerns with their thesis submission process, and issues in thesis review. The study was done at four Pakistani universities, with 200 PhD scholars participating. A survey method was used, with data obtained using an online questionnaire. The key findings are that research proposals are approved by three forums. The first one is the board of studies. The second one is the board of faculty, and the third one is the board of advanced studies and research. The respondents reported that it took up to two semesters to get their research proposal or topic approved. Moreover, respondents also reported that there were fewer issues during the thesis submission process. Similarly, various issues were faced during foreign thesis evaluation, as it also took time. The findings of the study suggest that procedural delays need to be addressed and efforts should be made by university administration to facilitate PhD scholars in timely processing and evaluation of theses to facilitate timely attainment of PhD.
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