The Standards of Higher Education Sector Will Be Improved

A set of new rules are announced with the motive to improve the standards of the higher education sector. These rules will be a part of the new University Grants Commission with the agenda of attracting and retaining the best quality teachers and other academic staff members in the colleges and universities.

The Union Minister of Human Resources Development (HRD), Prakash Javedkar said at a press conference that the main objective of the involvement of new UGC regulations is to improve the quality of higher education and to keep the good teachers in the profession. He further added that the incentives given to the teachers will be the same as they were in the earlier regulations of 2010 but there will be the provision of promotion up to professor level in the colleges for the first time.

The new regulations are approved by the HRD Ministry, which includes:

·       There will be a special provision for the recruitment of assistant professors in all the universities and colleges

·       The newly recruited assistant professors will have to go through a one-month induction programme.

·       As per the new regulations, PhD will be compulsory for promotion to assistant professor, From July 1, 2021.

·       Up to 10 percent of the existing sanctioned strength of professors in universities shall be appointed as senior professors. These senior professors will be appointed through direct recruitment and through promotion under Career Advancement Scheme.

·       Research clusters will be created in universities within the state for sharing research facilities, skills and infrastructure to ensure optimal utilization of resources and creating synergies among higher education institutions.

·       A special category has been made for the promotions of sports. The category includes medal winners in Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games in eligibility criteria for assistant director/college director, physical education and sports and deputy director, physical education and sports in universities.

By: Divya Thakur