UGC set to revamp faculty appointment, eligibility criteria; draft regulations on January 6

NEW DELHI: The education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, will release the draft UGC 'minimum qualifications for appointment of teachers, academic staff in universities and colleges, regulations 2025' on January 6. As per UGC chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, the revised regulations aim to revamp the faculty appointment process and align it with the goals of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The UGC is considering major changes in the eligibility criteria for appointing teachers at higher educational institutions. Currently, candidates are required to have a consistent academic background in the same subject across their undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD degrees to qualify for teaching positions. However, the new guidelines will allow candidates to apply for teaching roles in subjects relevant to their UGC NET or PhD disciplines, even if their prior qualifications are in different areas.

Also read UGC drafts guidelines for introducing skill-based courses, micro-credentials in HEIs

Shift towards multidisciplinary faculty appointments

In an interview with The Print, Kumar stressed the importance of appointing faculty with diverse expertise into higher education institutions (HEIs). In the same interview, Kumar stated that the existing regulations (announced in 2018), were formulated before the NEP 2020. The NEP 2020 focuses on the need for multidisciplinary education and the inclusion of industry experts in academia.

As per the revised teachers' appointment criteria, a faculty member’s qualifications may no longer need to include a PhD or UGC NET, with provisions for hiring industry professionals under the "Professor of Practice" scheme.

The UGC Chairman pointed out that the current teacher recruitment criteria places emphasis on academic performance metrics, such as publishing papers and accumulating Academic Performance Indicator (API) points. During the interview with The Print, Kumar said that the new regulations aim to offer universities greater flexibility in faculty appointments, allowing them to consider candidates with various skill sets and expertise from different disciplines.

Also read UGC Guidelines for RPL: Hobbies, voluntary work to now earn credits

UGC Faculty Appointment Regulations: Aligning with NEP 2020

The new UGC faculty appointment regulations will align with NEP 2020 and aim to bridge the gap between academia and industry. In the interview with The Print, Kumar also mentioned that under the revised faculty appointment eligibility criteria, teachers will no longer be restricted by rigid academic qualifications. Giving an example, he explained, a candidate with a four-year undergraduate degree and a PhD may directly qualify for an assistant professor role, eliminating the need for a master’s degree.

No API for faculty promotions

While speaking to The Print, the revised regulations will no longer use the API system for faculty promotions. "It’s essential to promote a variety of roles and contributions within our university system. These new regulations will offer our faculty the flexibility and opportunities to pursue their individual passions, while also minimising the challenges they face,” Kumar said in the interview with The Print.