Ahmedabad: Gujarat University (GU) and the UGC’s Information and Library Network (Inflibnet) Centre in Gandhinagar have signed a memorandum of understanding that formally recognises Inflibnet as a research centre for PhD programmes, the two institutions said on Tuesday.
Seven-year partnership to broaden research supervision
The agreement, signed for a period of seven years, allows qualified researchers to pursue full-time or part-time PhD programmes under the mentorship of scientists at Inflibnet while remaining registered with Gujarat University. Degrees will be conferred by GU in accordance with the UGC PhD Regulations, 2022, GU said.
The arrangement is presented as an institutional implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aim to foster inter-institutional cooperation. Initially, the collaboration will focus on library and information science and computer science and information technology, with scope to extend to other related disciplines over time.
Direct access to national digital infrastructure
Enrolled scholars will get direct access to Inflibnet’s cloud infrastructure and data-analytics tools, and national digital platforms managed or supported by Inflibnet. These include:
- One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
- Shodhganga (electronic theses repository)
- ShodhChakra (research discovery platform)
- Vidwan (expert database)
The partnership is expected to strengthen research analytics, digital library initiatives, scientometrics and knowledge-management capabilities available to doctoral candidates.
Admissions, governance and joint oversight
Admissions to PhD programmes under the Inflibnet research centre will be conducted under Gujarat University’s established processes. GU will retain full responsibility for admissions, coursework, registration and the awarding of degrees, ensuring compliance with UGC regulations.
The protocol envisages a joint steering committee to provide annual oversight and reviews of the collaboration. The committee will be led by the Gujarat University vice-chancellor and the Inflibnet director, the statement added.
Scope for candidates and supervision
Eligible categories for admission include:
- Inflibnet staff who meet GU’s eligibility norms
- Candidates selected through Gujarat University’s standard entrance process
- Scholars admitted under a joint-supervision model
Under joint supervision, students may receive mentorship from Inflibnet scientists alongside GU faculty, with administrative and academic processes remaining under GU’s purview.
Anticipated local and sectoral impact
For Gujarat’s higher education and information-science ecosystem, the partnership provides a formal mechanism to leverage a national inter-university centre’s digital resources without altering degree-awarding authority. Institutions and students in Ahmedabad and neighbouring districts could benefit from strengthened access to digital subscriptions and research infrastructure, potentially reducing institutional barriers to high-quality data and analytics.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration of MoU | Seven years |
| Covered disciplines (initial) | Library & information science; Computer science & IT |
| Key platforms available | ONOS, Shodhganga, ShodhChakra, Vidwan |
| Degree awarding | Gujarat University (per UGC PhD Regulations, 2022) |
The formal recognition also creates a pathway for Inflibnet scientists to act as supervisors while students benefit from GU’s academic framework. Observers say such models can improve the practical orientation of doctoral projects by combining institutional strengths in digital infrastructure with a university’s academic governance.
GU and Inflibnet will conduct annual reviews through the steering committee to evaluate outcomes and consider expansion into additional subject areas.
The memorandum underscores national efforts to reduce duplication in research infrastructure and to make scholarship more accessible through centralised digital resources—a policy direction emphasised under NEP 2020.
