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Research Papers are Now Child’s Play- Neeraj Hatekar, An Economics Professor

Some time ago, a bunch of students doing their masters in economics sent a research paper to a Delhi-based journal, as an experiment. Without being informed of any referee comments which is the standard process, they were told their paper had been accepted. They were, however, asked to pay a ‘publication cost’ of Rs.7,000.
Getting a research paper published is now as easy as sending one email. When it comes to research, this is the state of affairs across academia in India and the University of Mumbai is no different.

“Since getting papers published is linked to promotions and increments, teachers have started their own journals,” said Neeraj Hatekar, an economics professor at Mumbai university, whose students had sent the ‘paper’. “Anyone can publish anything now.”

At conferences across city colleges, everything from the banal to the absurd is presented, in the interest of earning points, and adding to one’s resume. This is largely driven by the UCG’s Academic Performance Indicator (API) system, which grants teachers points for presenting papers, which in turn determines career progress.

“This is a big racket,” said one postgraduate professor. “There are random publications and people pay to get their papers published.”

Even as the new ‘racket’ grips Indian higher education, the problem of producing a large number of high-quality papers continues to plague Mumbai university.

In a 2010 study of 50 Indian universities, Mumbai university ranked eighth in terms of output in international peer-reviewed journals. However, in terms of average citations per paper the university fared poorly, with 1.6 citations a paper compared to 4.6 for the top performer, the University of Hyderabad.

In the share of international collaborative papers, Mumbai fell to 41 on the list of 50. In the study’s method of ranking, combining quality and quantity parameters along a ‘p-index’, Mumbai fell to 25th spot (see graphic).

“It is true, research has not been a strong feature of Mumbai university,” said an academic council member.

Funds are not a problem: in 2011, the university launched the scheme of minor research grants now worth Rs1.5 crores for teachers to produce research. Even the NAAC re-accreditation report praised this, whilst simultaneously observing that “a large number of permanent faculty [are] not actively involved in research”.

However, teachers are already overworked. “With the heavy work load, requirements for doing refresher courses and poor research facilities, it is difficult to do research,” said CR Sadasivan, president of the teachers’ union.

(source : Hindustan Times  Mumbai, May 16, 2013)

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Permalink Reply by Siddhartha Shankar Ray on May 19, 2013 at 7:09

Dear Waghmare Saab;

Thanks for your post and for addressing a rather critical issue.

I am rather sad to notice that there has been no response from the LIS Link members while I expected a good response especially from the members who have done research and earned Ph.D.

Frankly speaking I sincerely expected a good debate over the issue but as I found none so far, I feel that people have accepted it.

In sport, they call it to give Walk Over ! and more importantly, it justifies the statement.

In the recent past, I noticed a tepid response among  academicians towards publishing papers in standard journals. With the new mandate from the UGC, there  seems to be certain upsurge of this particular academic activity!  Since it is a forced/obligatory activity, the quality went in the backseat!!

But As I can recall, the  picture was not  so some 20 or 30 years ago.

Publishing papers used to be a mark of scholarlyness of an individual.

There were two groups, one who were able to WRITE & those who were not.

Since there was no impositions from the part of the funding agencies (like UGC) a large number of people remained unconcerned. Thee is no denying that a good number of such reluctant people were quite capable of producing excellent research publications but they were more concerned to mentor good students who can be good academicians or researchers.

I saw a few such teachers during the early days of my professional career & one advise I still fondly remember, it was like this, "....you may not have huge collection, you may not have sky high budget, even you may not have excellent infrastructure to narrate in order to impress people in the interview board but you sure have one extremely important tool in your own hand to surpass your peers in the interview & that is your number of publications & their quality...it will help you to stay apart distinctly from the other candidates". 

I have no idea why today's teachers  do not inspire & encourage their students while comparatively, financially, our institutes (especially Universities & Scientific Research Institutes) are quite solvent than they had been some 30 years ago; and in certain institutes & universities, the infrastructure are quite outstanding. I have been reading an article by Dr. Jagdish Arora, Director of INFLIBNET published in the 10th. February issue of Current Science and it is remarkable to see from a few tables in the article how the most glamorous University in India has such poor publication output!! while, some of the best academicians in our country teach at that University!! 

Prof Balram, Editor of Current Science had written a just a few years ago in an issue in the editorial coloumn about Mentoring research scholars and about good mentors.

From your post it appears that indeed we are facing acute shortage of such mentors in the academia to guide and inspire the new-gen researchers to produce quality publications.

Sincerely,

Siddhartha S. Ray, Calcutta

Permalink Reply by Digambar Bhaurao Waghmare on May 26, 2013 at 20:02

Dear Sir,

I was on long leave so I could  not  replay on time

sir I agree with your posted opinion  

I think its need of hours in the academia to guide and inspire the new-gen researchers to produce quality publications

Regards,

Digambar B Waghmare 

Permalink Reply by Siddhartha Shankar Ray on May 27, 2013 at 18:47

Dear Waghmare Saab,

Thanks for your reply. I completely endorse your statement.

However, the way situation is turning, it seems that in not too distant future we will see lots of Ranchor Das Chanchars getting their goals achieved by Fungshuk Wangroos (Courtesy 3 idiots!!)

And if the Wangroos are smart enough, they will impose befitting charges for their service!!

Sincerely,

Siddhartha S. Ray, Calcutta

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