Page 95 - Academic and Research Book_WEB

• Provide academic guidance to help pursue any other academic courses to improve soft skills,
writing skills computational skills, presentational skills, and analytical skills.
• Support in reviewing literature, identifying suitable research gaps, and meticulously selecting
appropriate research problems, following all procedures and methods of research.
• Help the scholar understand the modus operandi for making use of library facilities as well as
online electronic resources such as electronic data bases, e-reports, and other e-indexes available
in the existing body of knowledge.
• Support and facilitate availability of equipment, and diverse kinds of experiential facilities for
smoothly conducting research study.
• Monitor the progress of the research scholar in a timely manner by periodically holding formal
review meetings and also ensuring that the scholar keeps proper records and minutes of the
formal periodical supervisory meetings.
• Take care in ensuring due reporting and acknowledging each of the citations used in the review
of literature.
• Be accessible and available to the research scholar at mutually convenient times to give timely
feedback on the performance of the research scholar regarding conduct of the research work and
progress report with corrective and supportive positive action for the improvement and timely
submission of the research scholar’s Ph.D. Thesis.
• Ensure the preparation of a scientific and qualitative research report with lawful adherence of
concerned regulations.
• Review and forward periodical progress reports of the scholar in a timely manner and guide
her/him toward desirable publication of the research work in Scopus (or) Web of Science (or)
UGC Care list of quality journals and also for submitting the Ph.D. Thesis.
• Arrange an open-house seminar presentation of the research work and open defence and
holding of Ph.D. Viva Voce examinations of the research scholar. Only in an exceptional case,
if the progress report of the research scholar is highly undesirable and unsatisfactory, the
supervisor may recommend cancelling the Ph.D. registration of the research scholar.

Kitchener (1985; 2000) outlined the key features of faculty-student relationship as characterized by

authenticity, caring, mutual respect, and respect for all kinds of diversity. He has given a model of
ethical principles, which includes respect for autonomy, avoiding harm (non-maleficence), benefiting
others (beneficence), being just (justice), and being faithful (fidelity), as its various components. The
model would be very helpful to research scholars to facilitate ethical decision making.

Research Supervisor’s Code of Professional Ethics

The research supervisor must give the scholar liberty to express his/her opinion, regardless of caste,
gender, economic, social, and physical attributes, and treat him or her with dignity, without any kind
of malice. A supervisor is expected to inspire the research scholar to improve his/her achievements to
result in holistic growth and development. It is important to inculcate inquisitiveness and scientific
temperament among research scholars. Help them to develop understanding of the country’s national
heritage and national goals. Supervisors must avoid provoking one scholar against another, or against
colleagues and/or university/college administration.

Sutherland (2013); Vekkaila et al. (2012) emphasize the importance of freedom for self-expression
and self-determination with autonomy and privacy. In the absence of these factors, problems such as
cynicism and feelings of inadequacy tend to rise in the early years of academics and careers.

84 | University Grants Commission