PhD Mandatory for University Teacher & Professor Post – New Govt Regulation
A PhD degree is the most valuable asset that an aspiring academician can have. PhD research will help to improve your abilities to understand and solve problems, increase your confidence, make yourself a better communicator and gain skills that may lead to a better job, even in many fields apart from academics.
A doctoral degree is not just a passport to a world of research and new knowledge, it is also a valuable asset that increases one’s chances of earning higher paid in more satisfying jobs. It is an investment, a certificate of one’s special abilities that can give them an advantage on the job market.
It is a foundation that can lead to the publishing of papers, awarding of grants and other kinds of recognition by your peers. And now, more importantly, it is a soon-to-be UGC requirement for teachers in universities.
So far, at the entry level, the minimum eligibility requirement for an assistant professor was that they should have cleared the National Eligibility Test (NET) and have a Masters degree. But now, according to a draft policy document obtained by the Hindustan Times, a PhD will
be a must for teaching at university level from the year 2021 onwards, even for assistant professors, which is the entry level designation for instructors in universities.According to the chairman of the pay review commission for the seventh Central Pay Commission (CPC) and the current chairman of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) VS Chauhan, NET as the minimum eligibility criteria is important for a diverse country because there are so many different subjects.
Further, teachers will undergo a mandatory, month-long induction programme before starting work, and will also have to devote two hours to mentor students for extra-curricular activities.
Apart from new qualification and eligibility criteria for teachers, UGC is also planning to introduce the Academic Performance Indicator and will also introduce simplified evaluation grading system to make the process easier. The promotions of the associate professor will be on the basis of teaching-metrics whereas in universities it will be on the basis of research and teaching.
“The Seventh Pay Commission had recommended that PhD should be the minimum eligibility for recruitment at universities. After much consideration, it was decided that it should be applicable from 2021. NET as the minimum eligibility criteria is important for a diverse country and as there are so many different subjects,” said VS Chauhan, who was the chairman of the pay review commission for the seventh Central Pay Commission (CPC), and is the current chairman of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
“I am unaware as to what has prompted these changes. I am sure that there must be some wisdom behind them,” said Dinesh Singh, former Vice Chancellor of Delhi University.
Singh added that it was ironical that because it isn’t in the Top 500 globally, the University of Delhi will, in effect, not be able to hire its own PhDs directly and require them to clear NET. “I have first-hand knowledge of so many doctoral students of the universities whose doctoral work have been deemed outstanding at the global level and have been published in outstanding research journals. Such PhDs will be humiliated by making them take the NET exam,” he added.
Hello,
I wanted to know, the assistant professor currently who have qualified NET but do not have a PhD…do they also have to get a PhD for continuing as assistant professor or is it for people who will join from 2021?
I don’t understand the meaning behind this. So even if a person was an excellent teacher and who is knowledgeable in their respective field has to be forced into research program just for being qualified?
I think Ph.D should be the only compulsory criterion for academic positions and not the NET or any other exams. These exams are not able to classify those talented individuals who are really a good teacher or researcher. Many renouned Professors and Researchers have to leave India every year because of this useless system. If India wants to retain its talent here, then they must promote pH.D people and not just NET classifieds
fianlly HRD ministry work was done by pay commission….waste of ministry……such a pathetic system…still they are waiting for 2021….
Getting a good paper published doesn’t always means that the student is very competetive and have gained problem solving Skills in thier own. PhD is a degree which gained by the efforts of student as well as the efforts of guide, collegues and tecnicians. I have seen a lot’s of Dr got their published paper in peer reviewd journal because their guide contributed more than 70 % in that experiments and paper wrighting. So, the chriteria to asses the student competency should be, whether he has cleared NET because clearing NET requires individual effort and the level of subject understanding. NET defines the student’s ability to cope the pressure in three hours along with longer commitment to clear the exam. The quality of questions asked in CSIR-NET is totaly based on real research based scenario and student must have the ability to answer them to inititae their research or academic life. So, i think minimum eligibility of NET qualification should be made mandatory to avoid fake so called reputed student having good research paper im their phD.