THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has come up with critical draft proposals such as exemption of candidates with PhD from NET qualification for direct recruitment to assistant professor post, mandating PhD for associate professor promotion and denying study leave for doctoral studies.
The Commission has listed PhD from a university or an institution in top 500 in the World University ranking, assessed by any of these agencies: Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the Times Higher Education (THE) and Academic Ranking of World Universities (AR-WU) of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai). However, this is not going to make any significant difference as only very few universities from the country are included in the top 500.
The draft regulation is titled 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. UGC has asked stakeholders and the public to submit their feedback before February 28. The feedback may specify the clause number and page number that needed amendment and subject matter. The draft is available online at ugc.ac.in. Suggestions and responses can be forwarded to UGC via email to ugcregulations2017@gmail.com
All Kerala Private College Teachers Association general secretary K.L. Vivekanandan told Deccan Chronicle that they are yet to conduct a detailed study of the regulations. “However, there are some provisions we felt are regressive. These are draft regulations which are subject to change,” said Mr Vivekanandan.
The draft specified the minimum qualifications required for the post of assistant professor, associate professor, professor, senior professor, principal, assistant librarian, deputy librarian, librarian, assistant director of physical education and sports, deputy directors of physical education and sports and directors of physical education and sports.
Those who have registered for PhD before July 11, 2009 will be governed by previous norms. Such candidates will be exempted from NET requirement, but must comply with five criteria set by UGC: degree must have been awarded in regular mode, thesis evaluation by at least two examiners, participated in open PhD viva voce, published two research papers from the PhD workout of which at least one must be in a refereed journal and must have at least two presentations based on PhD work.
