Engage field experts in colleges, universities: UGC guidelines

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued guidelines for engaging “Professors of Practice” or distinguished experts from different fields at institutions of higher education. These professors are not required to have the educational qualifications usually mandated for teaching and they can be paid through corporate sponsorship or an honorarium, the guidelines state.

The documents highlights that distinguished experts who have made a “remarkable contribution” in fields such as engineering, science, technology, social sciences, defence forces, community development, organic farming, panchayati raj, public administration, among others and with an experience of at least 15 years will be eligible for the scheme.

“This will help to take real-world practice and experiences into the classrooms and also augment the faculty resources in higher education institutions (HEIs) in line with the National Education Policy 2020 that seeks to transform higher education by focusing on skill-based education to meet the needs of the industry and the economy and recommends integrating vocational education with general education and strengthening industry-academia collaboration in HEIs,” UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar said.