NEW DELHI, Jul. 6, 2023 (TBINN)
University Grants Commission, in the latest turn of events, reversed its decision on the need for assistant professors to hold PhDs mandatorily. N.E.T., S.E.T. and S.L.E.T. will mark the minimum criteria for recruitment, officials, reportedly, said.
PhD qualification for appointment as an assistant professor would continue to be optional. The National Eligibility Test (N.E.T.), State Eligibility Test (S.E.T.) and State Level Eligibility Test (S.L.E.T.) shall be the minimum criteria for direct recruitment to the post of assistant professor for all Higher Education Institutions, U.G.C. Chairman, M. Jagadesh Kumar told the Press.
It is to be reminded here that back in 2018, the U.G.C. gave a three-year window to candidates to complete their PhDs, therefore, setting the criteria for recruitment at entry-level posts. It also asked all universities and colleges to make this criteria effective from the 2021-22 academic session.
However, in 2021, U.G.C. extended the date of applicability of PhD by July 2021 to July 2023 for recruitment of assistant professors in universities.
Notably, this decision came amid the COVID Pandemic that brought the research work of PhD students to a standstill due to the prolonged closure of educational institutions.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also said in 2021 that making PhD degree mandatory for the post of assistant professor at universities is not favourable in the current education system.
We believe that a PhD is not required to become an assistant professor. This condition cannot be kept if good talent is to be drawn to teaching. Yes, it is required at the level of associate professors and professors.
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