Writing thesis for the research degrees – what is missed by universities?

Writing thesis for the research degrees – what is missed by universities?

Writing thesis is a known practice for academic studies and particularly for research degrees like MS/M/Phil/PhD in every part of the world.  The number of thesis writing is growing as enrollment in higher education is increasing. With reference to developing countries like Pakistan, number of thesis writing is growing alarmingly.

What universities offer? 

Universities primarily offer 1-2 modules of research methods to orient students about technical aspects of research terminologies. Supervisors are also given by universities who are always over-loaded by number of students they are supervising. The load on supervisors is multiplied by other academic and non- academic works in the universities.

What is missing in universities for research degrees?

·       

•            Management of academic thesis

There is lack of concept of how to manage thesis well. Writing thesis does not requires only writing job. There are number of others highly influencing factors within the short period of thesis writing for research degree. To be addressed issues include; effective time management, supervisor management, stress and learning management and itself thesis management.

• ·         Career Link with research thesis

There is no obvious link established during academic studies that how the thesis writing will impact the career of research scholars. Thesis writing is a very comprehensive work and must be linked with carrier objectives. To be addressed issues include; selection of thesis title in line with life objectives, design of thesis for career success, using thesis work to win scores in professional career and optimizing influence of thesis on life of research scholars

• ·         Writing papers out of thesis

Although, there is increasing emphasis in university circles to publish papers before thesis submission. But practically, this dream is not being materialized by research students in most of the cases. The students are not given enough training on how to produce papers out of your research thesis. There should be a separate coaching and culture around students to be motivated to publish papers out of thesis. The design and conduct of research is very much associated with possibility of papers publications.

• ·         Writing thesis – Art of Technique

The lot of emphasis on students is to orient research terminologies and techniques and tools. Very less training is given on how artfully articulate academic thesis. We argue that design of research work in an artistic way is more important than learning how to fix ANOVA and Regression.  Students must be trained o areas higher than tools and techniques. The job of research is to create something and add in the body of knowledge.  Such innovative thinking and addition in literature is essence of research thesis.

The book recently written by Dr. Muhammdad Ahsan is very effective and useful to learn how to combine art and techniques to produce well-worth research thesis. The thesis must offers assured publications, support for career growth and positive influence on researcher’s life. IRP workshops on writing academic thesis are designed to serve these missing areas of thesis writing.  

by Rahmat

Chief Coordinator 

Institute of Research Promotion 

 www.irp.edu.pk