Kurukshetra varsity delays execution of software

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, December 30

Following a delay in finalising standardisation guidelines for the anti-plagiarism software, Kurukshetra University (KU) may not roll out the service in the current academic session.

Earlier this year, KU had purchased the software, Turnitin, from the US for five years for Rs 20 lakh.

Funds from the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), a Centre-funded scheme, were utilised to procure the plagiarism tracker.

University sources said earlier the university planned to introduce the anti-plagiarism software in August, but procedural work had not been completed so far. Manoj Joshi, KU librarian and nodal officer for the programme, said the software had been tested successfully.

“We have started processing research papers of faculty members using the software. Comprehensive guidelines are being framed for execution of the project,” he said.

Joshi said the initiative would help the university in maintaining standard in research work at the oldest university of Haryana.

University’s Director of Public Relations Prof Tejinder Sharma said a committee under the Dean, Academic Affairs, had submitted a report to standardise details for the software. He said technology could check fraud in academic works.

“The university is exploring the scope of implementing detailed guidelines of the University Grants Commission in toto. Plagiarism has various dimensions, including copying published details without permission and copying ideas. We want to redress various issues all face and expect to introduce the service from April onwards,” said the official spokesperson.

Once operational, every research work would have to pass the test of anti-plagiarism software, he said.

Every year, about 250 PhD theses and research papers were submitted at the KU.

In 2015, the University Grants Commission had asked state and Central universities to use the anti-plagiarism software to check duplication of PhD theses.

Last year, a senior KU faculty member was indicted of plagiarism. He was forced into compulsory retirement, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court had stayed the order.

Officials said the initiative would further help the KU in image-building as it had emerged as the only educational institution in North India to be awarded A+, the highest grading, by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).