Govt makes PhD degree mandatory for promotion to Asst Prof from 2021
BY TIOL News Service
NEW DELHI, JUNE 13, 2018: WITH the ultimate objective of improving quality of education, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has enacted some new regulations to attract & retain the best quality of teachers and other academic staff in universities & colleges.
Elaborating on the measures taken, the Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Mr Prakash Javadekar, enumerated several highlights. For starters, incentives paid to teachers as provided in the earlier Regulations of 2010 and subsequent amendments have been retained. These incentives also include incentives for M.Phil & Ph.D. Further, the API-based PBAS System has been removed. A new simplified teacher evaluation grading system has been introduced and research score added for Universities to improve research output. Also, the promotion criteria under CAS for University teachers has been made more research oriented, while in case of College teachers, CAS criteria is more focused on teaching. Also, for the first time, weightages are assigned for CAS in respect of MOOCs and E-Content in Universities and Colleges.
The minister further stated that in a first, provision for promotion in Colleges would be up to Professor level. Besides, a special provision for recruitment of Assistant Professors in Universities and Colleges for Ph.D Degree holders from a University or Institution in the top 500 Global rankings has been made. Moreover, the Regulations mandate introduction of one month induction programme for newly recruited Assistant Professors in Universities, Colleges & Higher Education Institutions.
It may also be noted that Ph.D Degree has been made mandatory for promotion to Assistant Professor (Selection Grade) in colleges from July 1, 2021. The Ph.D Degree would be mandatory for direct recruitment to Assistant Professors in Universities w.e.f. July 01, 2021. Further, research clusters would be created in the Universities within the State for sharing research facilities, skills and infrastructure to ensure optimal utilization of resources and creating synergies amongst higher education institutions. Up to 10% of the existing sanctioned strength of Professors in Universities shall be appointed as Senior Professors in the Universities. Senior Professors in Universities will be appointed through direct recruitment and through promotion under CAS. Moreover, universities would accord permission and provide need based facilities to Colleges teachers to supervise Ph.D & M.Phil scholars.
It may also be noted that special category of 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 has been made to promote sports in Universities and Colleges. Mr Javadekar also stated that a Ph.D Degree shall be mandatory requirement for Direct Recruitment to the post of Assistant Professors in University with the effect from July 01, 2021. However Masters degree with NET or Ph.D. would continue to be the minimum eligibility requirement for Direct Recruitment to the post of Assistant Professors in colleges.