Why UGC wants faculty recruitment overhauled

As Indian higher education institutes (HEIs) prepare to improve their global competitiveness and contribute to national development, they must recruit the best talent and provide a supportive ecosystem for their professional growth, interdisciplinary collaboration, and recognition of diverse contributions in teaching, research, and entrepreneurship.

- Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar

Faculty members must further societal well-being by directing attention to socially relevant research, collaborating with industry to find practical solutions, and guiding students to evolve into socially conscious citizens.

Sadly, in the current system of Indian HEIs, faculty recruitment and evaluation prioritizes publications and ring-fences the applicants within strict disciplinary boundaries. The selection process reduces their academic contributions to the drudgery of numbers. Such a narrow and inflexible criterion dissuades potential applicants from applying for faculty positions. It prevents those already in the system from effectively contributing to teaching innovatively, research, industry partnerships, or community engagement.

There is an expeditious need for a balanced approach to faculty recruitment and evaluation. Faculty members will then be motivated to commit to a more comprehensive span of activities that benefit the university and society.

It is no surprise, then, that many Indian HEIs find it difficult to produce graduates endowed with the skills and competencies needed in today's workforce. HEIs must have greater freedom to select and promote faculty members who have the potential to adopt new pedagogical approaches, blend technology, introduce experiential learning conditions, and transform the education system.