The Union Education Minister released the draft regulations titled in the presence of the UGC Chairman last day, proposing major changes in the appointment of teachers, their promotions in higher education institutions and appointment of Vice Chancellors, with an aim of making the quality and social participation of higher education more efficient, in line with the National Education Policy. The UGC Regulations 2018, which had little modification in 2019, with minor amendments, is currently in place. The government is introducing the new draft by envisioning a more dynamic future for the higher education sector, especially at the college and university level, by making appointments more flexible, inclusive, and considering a diverse talent pool. Through these new guidelines, the government is trying to bring about a paradigm shift.
Major changes are being made in five main areas. These are college teacher appointments, promotions, appointment of Vice Chancellors, increasing the importance of Indian languages in higher education, and ensuring social justice in higher education by making appointments more flexible and inclusive. The most important qualification for college and university teacher appointments is currently studying the same subject in the undergraduate and postgraduate level and research in the same field, followed by the rank in the National Eligibility Test(NET/SET). This qualification criterion is fundamentally contradictory to the flexible and interdisciplinary approaches put forward by the new National education policy. Therefore, the most notable change is that teacher appointments can be made on the basis of the highest level of study and research. Accordingly, the ban that existed till now for a multi-faceted talent who has done physics at the degree level, mathematics at the postgraduate level and then research in the field of biology in the research field ends. For years, such talents have been considered as the qualification for teacher appointments in institutions like IITs and IIMs based on their highest level of knowledge. This will provide students who are interested in the teaching field with the opportunity to take up a wider variety of subjects at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, making their studies enjoyable and their research field more interdisciplinary.
The Academic Performance Index, which is considered as the basis for the promotion of teachers today, is fostering a person-centered work culture among teachers. In order to give it a broader dimension of social commitment, it is about shifting from a numerical score index to a new system that takes into consideration the role played by teachers in teaching, research fundraising and the resulting results in teaching and research, and content creation in the digital arena, from a numerical score index to a comprehensive evaluation scheme. Apart from this, excellence in arts and sports, physical characteristics and proficiency in different fields will also be considered.
Appointments of university vice-chancellors are always subject to controversy and legal disputes. Nepotism and political exaggeration are very evident in this field. This greatly affects the free and efficient functioning of the university. The academic performance of universities, where vice-chancellors are appointed on political grounds, reflects very poorly in national and international rankings. As per the current rules, VCs are selected by a search committee of three to five members. Various influences and interactions are going on in this. The Vice Chancellor appointments in many states like Kerala, West Bengal have always created a lot of controversies. It is very necessary to have proper standards and procedures and to have a responsible center to clean up this field. In the new draft regulations, the responsibility for the appointment of the University Vice-Chancellor is fully vested in the Chancellor. A 3 members search committee constituted by the Chancellor, where all the members of the search cun selection Committee shall be eminent persons, who are not directly or indirectly connected with the particular University or Institution. He or She should be currently a Chancellor or Director or who have previously held such positions. The search committee will consist of a representative of the Chancellor as the chairman of the search committee, a representative of the UGC chairman and an eminent academician nominated by the highest executive forum of the university.
Today the qualification to be a Vice-Chancellor is stated as “a distinguished academician with the minimum of 10 years of experience as professor in a University system or 10 years of experience in an equivalent position in reputed research and /or academic administrative organisation.” Whereas the new regulations are more inclusive and flexible, considering candidates with diverse backgrounds. For example, the criteria for vice Chancellor appointments now includes individuals with at least 10 years of senior level experience in industry, public policy, public administration or public sector undertakings, provided they have a proven track record of significant academic or scholarly contributions. Additionally, it is no longer a necessary requirement for vice chancellors to be professors.
Based on the notification made at the national level, a short list is made from the applications received and after interacting with them, this committee may submit a panel of three to five names to the Chancellor. Out of which one person shall be appointed by the Chancellor as Vice-Chancellor. UGC will not accept any appointment in violation of this. The university will cancel the recognition of that institution. No financial and academic support are provided.
Another important proposal put forward by the National Education Policy is that higher education institutions may engage experts, professionals, practitioners from industries and other professions for teaching and research. They are called professions in practice. Now it is a defined structured position. University regulations as they stand today do not allow it. Keeping that in mind, the proposed regulations also include guidelines that require the appointment of eminent persons in different fields as professors of practice in universities.
There is no doubt that these proposals will provoke massive opposition from teachers who are in service and not ready to accept new concepts and reforms. But this type of structural and perspective transformation is the need of the hour to make our higher education sector more dynamic and of international standard by utilizing the diverse tastes and abilities of the young generation who dream of a Viksit Bharat. It is the responsibility of academics to contribute their opinions and participate in creating a clearer and more comprehensive system.
