Big changes are coming to how universities in India choose Vice Chancellors and teachers. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has shared new draft rules that could make it easier for industry leaders and experienced professionals from government jobs to become Vice Chancellors.
In the past, only well-known professors with at least ten years of teaching or research experience could apply for the Vice Chancellor position. Now, people with ten years of senior experience in business, public administration, or similar fields can also apply if they have achieved notable academic work.
Along with this, the new rules allow more people to become university teachers. Those with Master’s degrees in fields like Engineering and Technology can now apply for Assistant Professor jobs directly, without having to pass the National Eligibility Test (NET) if they have scored 55% or more.
The UGC’s new guidelines also allow candidates to teach a subject related to their highest degree. For example, if someone has a PhD in Chemistry, a Master’s in Physics, and a Bachelor’s in Mathematics, they can teach Chemistry.
Additionally, these guidelines focus on a candidate’s overall contributions to education, not just strict qualifications. This means innovative teaching methods and community work will now be recognized!
The old system of evaluating teachers based on the Academic Performance Indicator (API) will be replaced with a more broad approach. Selection committees will look at how much candidates have done in terms of teaching, research, and community service.
For the Associate Professor level, candidates must now have at least eight research publications or books to qualify, making it easier for diverse fields to be recognized.
The selection committee for Vice Chancellors will now consist of three members instead of three to five, including representatives from the university and UGC.
These changes are part of creating a more inclusive and flexible education system in India, as emphasized by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, aimed at improving the academic landscape to better meet the needs of students and society.
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