Seven departments in six colleges to get University of Madras Syndicate nod to start PhD programmes

When the Syndicate of the University of Madras (UoM) meets on Thursday, high on its agenda would be to grant recognition to seven departments in various affiliated colleges as research departments to facilitate PhD programmes.

Committees set up by the University had inspected the departments concerned between December 2025 and June 2026. Their reports stated that the institutions were found to check all boxes pertaining to eligibility criteria, including library facilities with adequate books, journals, and internet access, laboratories with adequate equipment in case of science and technology disciplines, and at least two persons with Ph.D qualification in the area of research by the department.

Among the departments in line for this recognition are the Department of Management Studies, Asan Memorial College of Arts and Science, Jalladianpet; Department of Biotechnology and Department of Social Work, DG Vaishnav College, Arumbakkam; Computer Science Departments in Guru Nanak College, Velachery, and Shri Shankarlal Sundarbai Shasun Jain College for Women, T.Nagar; Department of Biotechnology, Valliammal College for Women, Anna Nagar East; and Department of Mathematics, Women’s Christian College, Nungambakkam.

The Syndicate members would also deliberate upon awarding Ph.D to a candidate posthumously. Sources said that J. Divya, who was pursuing her Ph.D at the Department of Social Work, Madras School of Social Work, passed away on August 13, 2024 after submitting her dissertation.

The thesis was titled Perceived Social Support and Need Satisfaction as Predictors of Resilience Among Adolescence. After her death, her husband reportedly wrote to her supervisor requesting him to carry her thesis forward. Subsequently, it was placed before a Board of Examiners who approved the thesis for the award of a Ph.D. The same was communicated to the university and the Vice-Chancellor Convenor Committee approved the report of the Board of Examiners in March 2026.