Research Activities in Visvesvaraya Technological University: An Analytical Study

This paper reports the analysis of doctoral dissertations awarded by Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU). The primary objective of this study is to understand the growth and development of research activities of VTU in the past 13 years. There are 250 doctoral degrees awarded from 2007 to 2011, in 8 engineering and allied domains. The data relating to research growth and development were analyzed and presented under 9 heads viz., chronological, department-wise, frequency-wise, rank-wise distribution doctoral dissertations, productivity of supervisors, top ranking of research guides and rank wise distribution of research centers. The authors carefully analyzed the bibliographic details of doctoral degrees awarded by the VTU. The present situation is that, on an average 50 doctoral degrees are being awarded in a year. From 2010 and 2011 the research output traced significant growth with the awarding of 156 (62.40%) doctoral degrees. Substantial research was carried out in Mechanical (40.40%) engineering department. It was also observed that 169 research supervisors are presently engaged in guiding doctoral students.