New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has unveiled draft guidelines aimed at transforming the recruitment criteria for Vice Chancellors (V-Cs) and faculty members at universities, signaling a major shift in the landscape of higher education in India.

The draft proposes that professionals with significant senior-level experience in industry, public administration, public policy, or public sector undertakings (PSUs) can now be considered for the role of V-C. Traditionally, this role has been reserved for distinguished academicians with at least a decade of experience as a professor or in a senior academic administrative position.

Key Provisions of the New Draft Guidelines:

1. Direct Entry of Industry Experts as Vice Chancellors:
   • Candidates with at least 10 years of senior-level experience in sectors such as industry or public administration, coupled with a proven academic or scholarly track record, will be eligible to apply for the V-C position.
   • The selection committee for V-Cs will now comprise three members, nominated by the Visitor or Chancellor, UGC, and the university’s apex body. A key change mandates that any member of the university’s apex body who is an applicant for the V-C role must recuse themselves from related meetings to prevent conflicts of interest.
2. Revised Faculty Recruitment Norms:
   • Postgraduate degree holders in Master of Engineering (ME) or Master of Technology (MTech) with a minimum of 55% marks will be eligible for the post of assistant professor without the requirement of clearing the UGC National Eligibility Test (NET).
   • The guidelines also introduce specialized recruitment pathways for disciplines such as Yoga, Music, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Sculpture, and Drama. Practitioners with significant professional achievements can be hired at the assistant professor level.
3. Broader Recruitment Criteria for All Faculty Levels:
   • For assistant professor positions, candidates with a postgraduate degree with at least 55% marks, and either a Ph.D. or qualification in NET/SLET/SET, are eligible.
   • The guidelines aim to attract exceptional talent in traditional art forms, recognizing professional accomplishments as valid criteria for academic positions.
   • For promotions to associate professor and professor levels, the new norms emphasize a holistic evaluation of academic contributions, moving away from the previous Academic Performance Indicator (API) system. This includes a combination of research publications, book chapters, patents, and supervision of doctoral candidates.
4. Focus on Innovation and Indian Knowledge Systems:
   • The new regulations place significant emphasis on contributions to the Indian Knowledge System, digital content creation for MOOCs, and teaching in Indian languages.
   • UGC Chairperson M. Jagadesh Kumar highlighted the intent to infuse flexibility and innovation into academic recruitment, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to enhance educational excellence.

The draft guidelines have been uploaded on the UGC website, inviting feedback and suggestions from stakeholders. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who launched the draft, emphasized its potential to make higher education more inclusive and dynamic, thereby empowering educators and academic staff.

As these guidelines pave the way for a more inclusive approach to academic leadership and faculty recruitment, they reflect a significant step towards integrating diverse professional expertise into the academic domain, ultimately aiming to enrich the educational landscape in India.

This updated story reflects the comprehensive changes proposed in the UGC’s draft guidelines, emphasizing the broadened eligibility criteria for Vice Chancellors and faculty roles, as well as the shift towards a more holistic evaluation of academic contributions.