Ensure timely filling up of vacant faculty positions in colleges, universities: UGC to states, UTs

NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked the states and union territories to fill vacant faculty positions and universities and colleges on time. In a letter addressed to secretaries and higher education councils of all states and UTs, UGC secretary explained the importance of teachers and professors and that universities are expected to engage appropriate faculty members for delivering quality education.

“You will appreciate that the most important factor in the success of Higher Educational lnstitutions is the quality engagement of its faculty members as they are the pillars of all academic processes. They are envisioned as having the crucial responsibility of creating a conducive learning environment in the institution, developing programme-specific curricula, effective implementation of teaching learning and evaluation processes and developing students as responsible members of society,” UGC secretary Manish Joshi said in the letter.

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“Higher Educational lnstitutions are expected to strive towards engaging motivated, energized and capable faculty members to deliver quality education to learners,” he added.

The secretary went on to say that the shortage of faculty members in the colleges and universities affects the teaching and learning system which necessitates the timely recruitment of “eligible and competent” faculty and the HEIs should take appropriate steps for appointment of professors at the earliest.

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The letter added that, in this regard, UGC has notified the "UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and Other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Other Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2018" providing the guidelines on the minimum qualifications and other requirements for appointment and service conditions of faculty members of colleges and universities.

“May l, therefore, request your personal intervention and request you to kindly ensure timely filling up of vacant faculty positions in the State Universities and their affiliated colleges under your jurisdiction. This shall go a long way in improving the quality of higher education in our country,” the UGC secretary further said.