Tribhuvan University Sets New Criteria for PhD Supervisor Appointment
Tribhuvan University (TU) has published new and strict qualifications for the appointment of PhD supervisors. Under the new guidelines, clear criteria have been set for academic qualifications, research publications, and work experience for supervisors.
According to the new criteria, the qualifications required to become a supervisor are as follows:
Academic Qualification and Position
The supervisor must be a permanent faculty member of Tribhuvan University who has obtained a PhD degree.
The supervisor must be working as a Professor, Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor in the relevant central department, constituent campus, or school of TU.
The supervisor must have obtained the PhD degree at least three years before starting supervision.
Research and Publication Criteria
The supervisor must have at least five research articles published in “SCImago-listed” or “NepJol star-rated” journals. Among them, at least two articles must compulsorily have been published in “SCImago-listed” journals.
For subjects related to national languages and cultures, the Faculty Board of the concerned Dean’s Office may determine the minimum criteria for supervisors.
Rule on Predatory Journals: Articles published in “predatory journals” or by predatory publishers will not be recognized. The decision in this regard will be based on the data available at the TU Service Commission, which has been considered part of TU’s disciplinary standards.
Work Experience
The supervisor must have at least five years of experience working as a teacher or researcher at TU or at other universities, institutes, research centers, or academies recognized by TU. Such recognition may be obtained or approved by the concerned subject committee or the Faculty Board of the concerned Dean’s Office.
In addition, the supervisor must have experience in two “co-supervisions” or experience of being appointed or nominated as a “Principal Supervisor.”
Number of Supervisions
One supervisor will be allowed to guide only a fixed number of PhD candidates at a time:
Professor: 5 candidates or 5 supervisions
Associate Professor: 4 candidates or 4 supervisions
Assistant Professor: 3 candidates or 3 supervisions
Joint Supervision
For “dual or double degree” programs, “joint supervision” may be accepted as per the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the concerned university, research center, or institute.
Even in such cases, the TU supervisor will be considered the Principal Supervisor.
The candidate must strictly comply with the rules and discipline of TU’s PhD program, as well as the guidelines of the partner university, where applicable.
In the Case of Existing Supervisors
Supervisors who were already supervising PhD candidates before the implementation of the new criteria, but who do not meet the above criteria, will be allowed to continue their responsibilities for their previous students.
The guidelines clarify that these new criteria will apply only to the appointment of new PhD supervisors.
