‘More Clarity, Smoother Decision-making Process’: UGC Chairman On New Rules To Hire Vice-Chancellors, Faculty Members – News18

Last Updated:January 09, 2025, 17:20 IST

The UGC Chairman said that these draft regulations are available in the public domain so that they can receive constructive feedback. If the state governments want to discuss and give us suggestions, they can do so till February 5

According to the UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment & Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025, released by the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday, industry experts or experienced professionals can be directly appointed as vice-chancellors (VC).

Furthermore, those with a post-graduate (PG) degree in ME or MTech with at least 55 per cent marks will be eligible for the post of assistant professor (entry-level post), without having to clear the UGC-NET exam, which currently is a mandatory requirement.

The draft regulations were approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Chairman Jagadesh Kumar said, “The 2018 UGC regulation also states the same thing the Governor/chancellor makes the appointments of VC. The only thing that is changed in this regulation is who will set up the committee. We are bringing more clarity here by doing this, this helps in making decisions smoother.”

“The instrument to make our country fully developed by 2047 is providing good education throughout the country,” added Kumar further stating that these draft regulations are available in the public domain so as to receive constructive feedback. “The committee will go through the feedback and suggest the commission. We are open to suggestions if the state governments want to discuss and give us suggestions we are open to it. There is time till February 5th to take feedback,’ he said.

The new regulations will apply to Central, state, private and deemed universities. All such colleges and universities will have to abide by the new norms within six months of the rules being notified. “I want to say that all must come together for the sake of students this regulation will make way for more quality education in the country,” Kumar told News18.

In regards to Anna University’s VC appointment still pending, the chairman said that the regulations aim to make sure there is no delay in the appointment of the VC in any university. “The draft regulations that we are bringing are inclusive and meet the needs of our country,” he said.

“Our regulations clearly say that shortlisting and selecting the faculty, the whole process must be transparent. Our regulations say that the chancellor will appoint the committee….the chancellor will appoint the VC… Many of the reforms that we are implementing are from NEP 2020,” he said.