UGC Draft Regulation 2018 Invites Criticism Over ‘Biased’ Norms

UGChas proposed new regulations regardingqualification of teachers, working hours andeligibility criteria for associate professors. The higher education regulatory body has been surrounded in a hailstorm of criticism regarding the proposed rigid norms. The new norms has also spiked concern amongst teachers and aspirants seeking assistant professor and associate professor posts.

UGC has invited suggestions and feedback from teachers and stakeholders regarding the new norms till February 28, 2018. In the meantime, the regulator has released Conferment of Autonomous Status upon Colleges and Regulations for Maintenance of Standards in Autonomous Colleges, 2018, and classification of Universities for Grant of Graded Autonomy Norms 2018.

UGC Weightage for Graduation Marks:

Most of the universities and teaching aspirants are concerned about UGC’s recommendation to consider marks obtained by candidates during graduation while recruiting for the posts of assistant professors.

Currently, Post Graduation, Ph.D., M.Phil., NET with JRF, NET score, Teaching/Post Doctoral Experience and Research Publications are considered for selection of assistant/ associate professors.

According to the new regulation,markssecured duringgraduation degreewill also be considered. Also, candidates with 80% or above will be given weightage score of 21 marks, while those with marks ranging between 60% and 80% will be given weightage score of 19 marks during the interview.

The decision has receivedcriticismfrom various ad-hoc teachers ofDelhi University. These teachers stated that the marking scheme used to be tougher in past as compared to these days.Academiciansalso termed these rules ad biased and regressive as they will set back the candidates from rural regions.

UGC Revised Workload Norms:

UGC draft regulation also revised the workload and said that full-time teachers should have minimum work duration of 40 hours a week for 30 working weeks in an academic session.

It also added that the least number of hours for direct teaching-learning process for an Assistant Professor should be 16 hours, whereas, that of an Associate Professor and Professor should be 14 hours.

Commenting on the working hours, DUTA President, Rajib Ray, said that defining minimum working hours instead of the maximum working hours would compromise theteaching standards. He also added that introducing minimum working hours is also in conflict with theconstitutional mandatefor the preservation of standards that are supposed to be followed by the UGC.

Also Read:Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) Comes Under UGC Elite Category

Ph.D. Degree mandatory for Associate Professors

TheUGC Draft Regulationsalso mentioned that Ph.D. would be mandatory for the recruitment of Associate Professors in colleges with effect from July 2021. Assistant Professors seeking promotion to the post of Associate professors will also require Ph.D. degrees to be eligible.

The draft also mentioned that time taken off to pursue M.Phil. and Ph.D. Degree will not be considered as research or teaching experience during the appointment for teachers in higher educational institutes. It further added that the period of active service while pursuing Research Degree along with teaching assignment without any leave will be counted as the teaching experience for the recruitment/ promotion to associate professors. Also,candidates with Ph.D. can directly apply for assistant professor’ post without the NET qualification.

Also Read:UGC’s Suggestion to Exempt Ph.D. Candidates from NET Invites Criticism

Teachers are nervous about these norms and have expressed their disapproval. They said that these new norms would deprive the teachers of promotion for three years. They also added that the first year ofPh.D.isfull-timehence not counting it as research experience is unfair.