Proposed plan may see experts without PhDs become faculty

The University Grants Commission (UGC) of India has plans to introduce a system under which industry experts can teach as full-time or part-time faculty members in central universities, according to an official. It has also been proposed that the experts will be eligible for teaching in universities without a PhD or NET qualification, reports the Press Trust of India.

The official said special positions – professor of practice and associate professor of practice – will be created. Under the proposal, experts who are willing to teach can be hired as full-time or part-time faculty members depending on what the university needs, the official said, adding that those who have retired at 60 will also be eligible for these positions and will be able to work until the age of 65.

This came up for discussion at the meeting of the UGC chairman with the vice-chancellors of central universities on Thursday 10 March. The UGC will form a committee to look into how this can be done and it will submit its report, the official said. There are also plans to set up a portal that will act as a single point for those willing to apply to a university.
Full report on the NDTV site