The decision was finalized in the 568th meeting of the commission held on April 24, 2023 (Picture: News18/File)
The commission plans to set up this team to probe violations of rules
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has decided to set up a committee that will evaluate faculty appointments as well as consider timely award of PhDs in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The commission plans to set up this team to investigate violations of rules. This decision was finalized in the 568th meeting of the Commission held on April 24, 2023.
“The role of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in nurturing intellectuals and imparting knowledge for the development of the nation is well known. The UGC, in order to promote and coordinate university education, notifies regulations from time to time to ensure quality of teachers and quality of research degrees,” UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar said.
The need for this standing committee arose because of instances of breach of appointment standards over the years – which subsequently resulted in several complaints to regulatory bodies.
Elaborating more about the committee, Kumar said the team would meet at regular intervals throughout the year to select some institutions, collect information on faculty appointments and keep records on the award of Ph.D. degree. They will also verify the documents to ensure that the teacher appointment and Ph.D. The degree awards follow the UGC norms. The Standing Committee will also recommend appropriate action in case of any violation.
The two regulations specifying minimum eligibility criteria for appointment or promotion of teachers and award of PhD degree include:
Commission’s Regulation on Minimum Qualifications for the Appointment of Teachers as well as Other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges with Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education, 2018.
– and the Commission’s (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2022.
Both the above rules will establish criteria for selecting deserving candidates for teacher appointments and for maintaining the quality of research degrees awarded in HEIs. In addition, agreement with these rules is also mandatory.
