UGC drafts new regulations for appointment of teachers

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has sought feedback from various stakeholders by February 28 on its draft regulations for appointment of teachers and other academic staff in universities and colleges.

The UGC’s proposed regulations (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and other Academic Staff in universities and colleges and measures for the maintenance of standards in higher education, 2018) lay down the minimum qualifications for appointment and other service conditions of university and college teachers and others.

The National Eligibility Test (NET) will remain the minimum eligibility test for appointment of assistant professor and equivalent positions. A PhD degree will be a mandatory qualification for the appointment and promotion to the post of professors. The PhD degree will be a mandatory qualification for appointment and promotion to the post of associate professors.

“The PhD degree shall be a mandatory qualification for promotion to the post of assistant professors in universities. The PhD degree shall be a mandatory qualification for direct recruitment to the post of assistant professor in universities with effect from 1.07.21. For promotion to the post of assistant professor in colleges, the PhD shall be a mandatory qualification if the date of eligibility falls on it after 1.07.21,” says the draft regulation.

In case one has obtained a PhD degree from a university/institution with a ranking in top 500 in the World University ranking by QS, the Times Higher Education (THE) and Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) she is eligible to be hired as assistant professor through direct recruitment.

Under the draft regulations, the workload of the teachers in full employment should not be less than 40 hours a week for 30 working weeks (180 teaching days) in an academic year. Assistant professors will have to undergo an induction programme of one month.