UGC allows experts without PhD to teach

New Delhi: In a major move to rope in Industry experts and professionals, the University Grants Commission (UGC) is doing away with the mandatory PhD requirement to teach in Central Universities. Special positions- professor of practice ad associate professor of practice are being created. This will allow, say a diplomat to walk in to teach international relations. There are so many experts who want to teach, there could be someone who has implemented large projects and has a lot on the ground experience, or there could be a great dancer or a musician. But we can’t appoint them going by the present rules, “said the UGC Chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar.

Vice-chancellors of central Universities in a meeting with Kumar on Thursday decided to set up a committee to work on the amendments in the regulations for teacher’s appointment. The meeting was called to discuss the progress in the implementation of the national education policy among other things.