UGC asks universities to adopt ‘professors of practice’ guidelines

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked higher education institutions (HEIs) across India to initiate necessary steps to engage professionals and industry experts as ‘professors of practice’ in their respective institutes.

The higher education regulator in August approved the draft guidelines for engaging ‘professor of practice’ in universities and colleges. According to these rules, those eligible to be engaged as ‘professor of practice’ include distinguished experts who have made remarkable contributions in their professions from various fields such as engineering, science, technology, entrepreneurship, commerce, social sciences, media, literature, fine arts, civil services, armed forces, legal profession and public administration among others.

In a letter addressed to the vice chancellors of all universities and principals of all colleges, UGC said, “One of the recommendations of National Education Policy 2020 is to impart holistic and multidisciplinary education in higher educational institutions. This may require the participation of experienced practitioners/professionals/industry experts etc. in the teaching-learning process.”