New Delhi: The Universities are autonomous bodies created either under the Central Act or State Acts and the onus of filling up the vacant posts lies with them. However, to make the teaching profession more attractive and to draw in good talent at the entry level, the UGC Regulations on Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and Other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measure for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education, 2010 has prescribed norms for improvement in service conditions for the new entrant, in terms of better working and leave conditions, career advancement prospects, retirement benefits etc.
This information was given by the Minister of State (HRD), Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey today (31 July 2017) in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question.
Further, the minister said that the UGC has undertaken the following initiatives for improving the teachers and teacher education so as to make the profession more attractive:
Operation Faculty Recharge: The UGC supports ‘operation faculty recharge’ through strengthening high quality research in science related disciplines and promoting innovative teaching in the universities through induction of fresh talent at the level of Professors, Associate Professors, and Assistant Professors. Many universities require the support of professionals and experts beyond those available to the university in its regular faculty especially in strengthening high quality research in science-related disciplines, at internationally competitive level and in promoting innovating teaching in universities. Besides, it has provided positions of Adjunct Faculty and Scholars-in-Residence to enrich the teaching and research programmes of the university system at MPhil and PhD levels.
Travel Grant Scheme: UGC implements a Travel Grant Scheme that provides financial assistance to permanent teachers and librarians of colleges and vice-chancellors of state universities, deemed to be universities and central universities, recognized under section 2 (f) and 12 (B) of the UGC Act, to present research papers at international conferences abroad.
Financial Assistance for Teaching & Research: UGC provides financial assistance to teachers teaching in universities and colleges to promote excellence in teaching and research. Research project may be undertaken by an individual teacher or a group of teachers. The ceiling of assistance under the scheme is Rs.20 lakhs for sciences including Engineering & Technology, Medical, Pharmacy and Agriculture etc. while for humanities, Social Science, Languages, Literature, Arts, Law and allied disciplines, the assistance is Rs.15.00 lakhs.
Fellowships, chairs and programmes: In order to encourage research and development in the country, UGC has laid out a number of schemes, awards, fellowships, chairs and programmes under which financial assistance is provided to institutions of higher education as well as faculty members working therein to undertake quality research in almost all areas of knowledge across disciplines including revival & promotion of indigenous languages.
