Over 15,000 professors of practice in universities; just 80 in IITs: Education ministry

NEW DELHI: Over 15,000 professors of practice (POP) have been appointed by different universities across the country, since the policy was introduced by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

University departments lead in engaging the POP, while the colleges appointed 2,444 of them. In the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), just 80 were appointed.

The details were shared by Sukanta Majumdar, the minister of state for education, ministry of education, in response to a question raised by Congress MP Anil Kumar Yadav Mandadi from Telangana, in Rajya Sabha.

The UGC issued draft guidelines for engaging professors of practice in universities and colleges in August, 2022, to enable higher education institutions to hire industry experts and professionals as guest professors.

POP appointed in universities, colleges, IITs

University departments have as many as 15,325 professor-of-practice appointments. As per the All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) 2021-22, the latest one available, there were 1,168 universities in the country.

Colleges have been much slower to embrace the policy. The 45,473 colleges in the country have, between them, appointed under 2,500 POPs.

Interestingly, according to data shared by the ministry of education, the central universities alone have over 5,000 vacant teaching posts.

The UGC guidelines for appointing professors-of-practice state that distinguished experts who have made remarkable contributions in their professions from various fields – such as engineering, science, technology, entrepreneurship, commerce, social sciences, media, literature, fine arts, civil services, armed forces, legal profession and public administration among others – are eligible.

The PoP must have proven expertise in their specific profession or role with at least 15 years of experience, preferably at a senior level. For this position, the UGC waived most other academic requirements, such as publications, required for the “professor” rank.

According to UGC’s guidelines, professors of practice will be engaged for one year initially and for a maximum of 3 years.

The professors will be engaged under 3 categories: funded by industries, funded by higher education institutions from their own resources and on an honorary basis.

Last year, the UGC had also launched a new portal to facilitate universities in finding the right Professor of Practice and vice versa.

The management schools across the country have been leading the practice of hiring industry experts.

AICTE: Expansion of PoP section to 20%

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), in its most recent Approval Process Handbook, allowed institutions regulated by it to hire Professors of Practice to up to 20% of the faculty post. Earlier, the maximum limit was 15%.

“Maximum percentage of faculty members engaged as PoP within the required faculty strength (cadre ratio) in engineering and technology is 20 per cent wherein 5 per cent is exclusively reserved for women PoPs/associate/assistant (on regular basis),” the handbook stated.

While the UGC rule states,“The number of professors of practice in a HEI, at any point in time, should not exceed 10% of the sanctioned post in higher education institutions.”