Pune: From age limit to technical errors, post-doctoral fellowship applicants at SPPU flag several concerns

The SPPU-PDF is a full time research programme for PhD degree holders. The age limit for open category applicants is 32 years, for SC/ST/PWD/Women candidates it is 37 years and for OBC category it is 35 years.

A student on the condition of anonymity said, “From the admission process to PhD submission, research students have to go through many stages. So even they don’t realise when they cross the age of 35. And putting an age requirement for post doctorate in it is like censoring research students, because the department-wise seats for post-doctorate are very limited. Hence age condition also deprives meritorious research students from post doctorate”.

The said student couldn’t submit his form to the university due to technical errors. Pro Vice Chancellor, SPPU, Parag Kalkar said they haven’t received any complaints about such technical errors and encouraged students to email their concerns to him so that they can be resolved.

Rahul Sasane from the University Student Struggle Action Committee, said, “For three consecutive years, post-doctoral fellowship advertisement was not released by the university administration. Who is responsible for the academic and financial loss of the student? This should be disclosed by the university administration. Also, the university administration should ensure that the advertisement will be published regularly every year from next year. Otherwise, we will have to protest strongly”.

University officials said that while the fellowship was conducted regularly before Covid, there has been a gap for a few years post that.

The SPPU-PDF also lists a series of instructions for applicants like they have to identify the workplace from the University Departments/Schools of SPPU and approved research centres at affiliated colleges of SPPU (which have received at least ‘A’ Grade from NAAC), ensure that they identify a mentor who has successfully guided 3 PhD students and that their PhD guide cannot be their mentor for SPPU-PDF. Students say in today’s time it is very difficult to find a mentor who fulfils all the listed qualifications.

Savitribai Phule Pune University has launched the Savitribai Phule Pune University Postdoctoral Fellowship (SPPU-PDF) programme for the meritorious PhD degree holders in Science, Technology, Commerce, Humanities, Languages, etc, who are below the age of 32 years.

Age relaxation for reserved categories, women, persons with disabilities are given as per the norms of government of Maharashtra. The University had started this initiative in the year 2018 on the recommendation of its Management Council. This PDF scheme was envisioned to run mostly in electronic mode with fast track on-line handling for efficient decision-making.