Bhubaneswar, Aug. 23: Senior executives in industries and major corporate houses can now be Ph.D guides for doctoral students of Utkal University.

These guides or supervisors must have a minimum 10 years of post PhD experience, at least three research publications and must be actively engaged in research work. “This means that senior officers in companies such as Nalco and Posco can now guide the students,” said research and development in-charge of Utkal University S. Jena.

These guides are allowed to take a maximum of five research scholars under them. The eligibility of these guides will however be decided by the research committee on application through the proper channel.

Until now, only lecturers, readers and professors with a minimum three to five years post-graduate teaching experience recognised by the university were eligible to be guides. Also, research scientists with five years of post-doctoral research experience working in research institutes of repute were recognised as guides.

“The move will help students to learn more than just theory. It will also offer a chance to experienced officials to share their practical expertise and knowhow and guide the students accordingly,” said Jena

“Several senior personnel in institutions of repute had expressed interest to be guides.

“Looking at all aspects, the academic council has decided to include them as guides,” he added.

With the new PhD rules in place, students who registered after June 2010 will no more have the liberty to choose their own guides. Unlike previous years, this time, the choice of a guide will be decided by the department in a formal manner.

The decision will be taken depending on the number of students per faculty member, the available specialisation among faculty supervisors and the research interest of the student.

“Earlier, students could use their personal contacts to select a guide for themselves and often non-meritorious students could manage to use their influence to find guides of their choices,” said Sujata Nanda, a student.

“The new rules appear to be good, but we are always afraid we won’t find good guides,” said Rupesh Das, another student.

Students at the premier university are already following the new PhD guidelines.

The newly registered students had to qualify through an entrance test, followed by an interview.

As admissions are over, the students are now working on their course work in the concerned discipline.

This pre-PhD preparation continues for one semester and it will be only after receiving the course completion certificate from the head of the department that the students will be officially registered,” said a senior official in the department.

The university gets around 50 PhD students every year.