Md Tanvir Hossain, JnU

Jagannath University (JnU) has introduced conditions for thesis allocation to postgraduate students, setting a minimum CGPA requirement and a maximum number of students eligible for thesis per batch. These rules were outlined in an office memorandum issued on January 19, signed by the university's Registrar, Prof Dr. Md. Gias Uddin. The move has sparked widespread dissatisfaction among students.

According to the memorandum, postgraduate thesis supervisors or co-supervisors must hold a PhD, MPhil, or a Master’s degree with a thesis. Additionally, a qualified teacher cannot supervise more than three students in a single academic year.

It further states that in departments or institutes where the undergraduate (honors) or BBA first-year intake is 80 students or less, 20% of the total intake can undertake a postgraduate thesis. For departments with more than 80 seats, only 10% of the total intake will be eligible for thesis work. Furthermore, students must have a minimum CGPA of 3.00 (out of 4.00) at the undergraduate or BBA level to qualify for thesis work.

The memorandum also specifies that thesis supervisors will be assigned through a lottery system or a method determined by the department or institute's academic committee. Students will not have the option to choose their supervisors. If a qualified teacher declines to supervise and no alternative is available, the teacher will be obligated to take on the supervisory role.

These decisions were made during the university's 72nd Academic Council meeting on December 9, 2024, and approved at the 99th Syndicate meeting on January 2, 2025. A committee was also formed on December 5, 2024, to draft a thesis allocation policy. Until the policy is finalized, the interim rules will be followed.

Following the issuance of the memorandum, students expressed their dissatisfaction. They argued that the university is a hub for academic studies and research, and its ranking heavily depends on research output. Limiting opportunities for research will hinder the university's progress in global rankings.

A student from the Faculty of Science stated, "After completing postgraduation, we aspire to conduct thesis work, which helps secure admission to reputed foreign universities. Imposing such restrictions, including CGPA requirements and a 20% cap on thesis participation, is not student-friendly."

Emphasizing the need for broader research opportunities, Professor Dr. Imranul Haque, Director of the Research Cell at JnU, said, "This limits students' opportunities for research. The 20% restriction could be reconsidered. However, a CGPA requirement of 3.00 should not pose significant issues."

He added, "Our primary goal should be to expand research opportunities. Limiting the scope is not ideal. If a supervisor can achieve good outcomes with a student, it benefits everyone. However, challenges arise when multiple teachers prefer the same student. A systematic approach is essential to resolve this."

In response to the concerns, JnU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim stated, "We have formed a committee to review the thesis allocation process. A report will be submitted soon, and a new decision will follow. I hope it will be a favorable one."