PhD Mandatory for University Teacher & Professor Post – New Govt Rule

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has drafted fresh regulations on minimum qualification requirement for appointment of teachers and other academic staff in universities and colleges. As per the draft regulations, the UGC has made PhD compulsory for candidates seeking appointment to the post of associate professor, the Indian Express has reported. Besides, it has also made a minimum requirement of 55 percent marks at the Masters level for direct teaching recruitment. The draft regulations, however, have been termed as “extremely retrograde” by Delhi University teachers for the appointment of teachers as well as their promotion.

Here are minimum qualification requirements according to UGC 2018 has drafted regulations:

• For direct teaching recruitment, a minimum of 55 percent marks at the Masters level is required.

• PhD is mandatory to be promoted as an associate professor.

• No study leave to pursue PhD.

• A candidate who scored 80% marks at the undergraduate level will get 20 points.

• Those with 60-80% marks will get 19 points.

• Those who scored less than 55% get no points.

• The draft regulations have however done away with the Academic Performance Indicator (API) score till the post of assistant professor.

The teachers have objected, in particular, to the minimum 55 per cent marks requirement at Masters level for direct recruitment for general category candidates, as per the report. Sujit Kumar, a teacher at the department of commerce, B R Ambedkar College has raised concerns for teachers who have been teaching on a contract/ad hoc basis and have graduated a long time ago and said that the ‘screening guidelines are not acceptable’.

Apart from the regulation that has made PhD compulsory for a promotion to associate professor post, the move to a level 12 pay grade (increment on basic pay from Rs 7,000-8,000) had also left some teachers worried. As per the earlier guidelines, teachers said they needed 12 years of teaching experience as an assistant professor to be promoted to associate professor. The regulation also states that taking study leave for PhD will not be counted as teaching experience.

via Financial Express