Big Changes Ahead: UGC Rethinks Hiring Criteria for Professors

Big Changes Ahead: UGC Rethinks Hiring Criteria for Professors

Last Updated Nov - 11 - 2024, 05:32 PM | Source : NDTV | Visitors : 71

The UGC plans to modify recruitment norms for professors, enabling postgraduates with expertise in emerging fields like startups and industrial collaborations t

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is anticipated to make modifications to the recruiting standards for professors at colleges and universities, often known as higher education institutes (HEIs). Following these reforms, postgraduate degree holders with a passion for new fields like as entrepreneurship, startups, and industrial collaborations will be able to be directly hired as professors in higher education institutions. Currently, these recruitments are carried out in accordance with the 2018 UGC Regulations, which specify the requirements and minimum credentials for hiring of teachers and other academic personnel.

According to UGC Chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, the new rules will focus more on producing graduates who have the skills and competencies needed in today’s workforce.

The proposed changes will mandate more emphasis on research so that the teachers can contribute innovatively. The UGC wants faculty members to be able to adopt new pedagogical approaches, blend technology, introduce experiential learning conditions and transform the education system.

“Sadly, in the current system of Indian HEIs, faculty recruitment and evaluation prioritises publications and ring fences the applicants within strict disciplinary boundaries. The selection process reduces their academic contributions to the drudgery of numbers,” Mr Kumar said in an article he wrote for Hindustan Times.

“There is an expeditious need for a balanced approach to faculty recruitment and evaluation. Faculty members will then be motivated to commit to a more comprehensive span of activities that benefit the university and society,” he further said.

The UGC also posted about the proposed changes on its X handle.

According to the existing rules, having a PhD with four-year graduation/PG is the minimum qualification for recruitment as professor. Along with this, it is mandatory to have graduation/post graduation and PhD in the same subject.

But changes are expected in this system. A detailed review has been done in the last six months, and a draft prepared, which will soon be made public for feedback.

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