PhD scholars to face tougher graduation requirements in Pakistan

LAHORE – To strengthen research quality and postgraduate education, the University of Health Sciences (UHS) has introduced stricter requirements for Ph D scholars by making participation in at least three national and one international conference or seminar compulsory before the award of a doctoral degree. The university also approved four new competency-based Ph D curricula and conferred a Ph D degree in Forensic Sciences during the 227th meeting of the Advanced Studies and Research Board (ASRB), chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof. Ahsan Waheed Rathore, on Thursday. The Board approved the award of a PhD degree in Forensic Sciences to Dr. Muhammad Faheem Ashraf for his research titled, “Designing of nanoparticle-based sensing device for the real time detection of lidocaine and its metabolites with implication in forensic investigations.” The scholar had also published his research in an HEC “W” category journal as the first author. The ASRB also approved new curricula for PhD in Medical Education, PhD in Nursing, PhD in Oral Biology, PhD in Public Health, a revised Master of Health Professions Education (MHPE) programme, and the Certificate in Comprehensive Family Medicine Practice and Emergency Care (CCFP-EC). The newly approved PhD Nursing curriculum, developed under the NURTURE Framework, emphasizes clinical leadership, research innovation, teaching excellence, health policy, and professional ethics. It includes 500 hours of clinical residency, 200 hours of teaching residency, competency-based training, and mandatory life-saving skills workshops. The PhD Public Health programme focuses on disease prevention, health promotion, health systems strengthening, implementation science, community-based research, and artificial intelligence in public health. The PhD Oral Biology curriculum covers advanced areas including craniofacial developmental biology, regenerative dentistry, stem cells, biomaterials, dental forensic sciences, oral microbiology, and