Varsity to adopt UGC rules for adjunct faculty

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 19

Panjab University is all set to adopt the University Grants Commission (UGC) rules for empanelment of adjunct faculty in the university.

The research promotion cell (RPC) of the PU has submitted before Vice-Chancellor Prof Arun Kumar Grover that “the institutions can involve adjunct faculty drawn from research institutes, industry, NRIs, PSUs, working and retired officers of central and state civil services and even from NGOs. This has been done to improve employability of graduates, render training more relevant to the needs of industry and also to improve the quality and quantum of research”.

However, the issue will be sent to the Syndicate first for approval. The Central University of Punjab at Bathinda has already adopted these rules.

Prof Rajat Sandhir, Associate Director, RPC, said early adoption of these rules would enable the engagement of experts by the university departments.

As per these rules, the adjunct faculty will be appointed by the competent authority based on the recommendation of a committee. The period of empanelment will vary from six months to three years.

Any application for the adjunct faculty is first discussed at the department level. The department may forward the application with comments specifying the suitability of such candidate in the department-level academic activities.

If the department recommends a case for the adjunct faculty, the same should be examined by a committee comprising Vice-Chancellor, Chairperson of the department, Dean University Instructions (DUI) or Dean Research and an external expert, nominated by the head of the institution.

The strength of the adjunct faculty may not exceed 25 per cent of the sanctioned strength of faculty at any time. Besides teaching, the adjunct faculty will be involved in the counselling of students, developing new courses, pedagogical improvements and also in MPhil and PhD course work.

Research

According to the UGC rules, the adjunct faculty is expected to interact with and supervise research students in the area of their specialisation or professional proficiency.

“However, there should be preferably one core faculty member associated as supervisor or co-supervisor for smooth induction and coordination of academic procedures. The adjunct faculty may lack a traditional academic background in such a case, but they are not expected to contribute to the institution’s research and creative mission by participating in traditional scholarly activities (i.e. they are not expected to conduct independent research and/or publish in peer-reviewed journals),” said the rules.

Performance report

At the end of assignment, every adjunct faculty will submit a ‘performance report’ to the host university with a copy to the University Grants Commission (UGC). The performance report may be considered for his renewal of the next tenure.

Honorarium

The adjunct faculty will be provided travel cost, maximum six times per academic year. No reimbursement for hiring accommodation will be permissible. But they can be provided free stay at the PU guest house. The adjunct faculty will be provided an honorarium of Rs 1,000 per lecture to a maximum of Rs 4,000 per day of service subject to a maximum ceiling of Rs 80,000 per month. But those from the PU will not be paid.

Augment faculty resources: UGC

“The current massive expansion phase in higher education, mandating huge programmatic diversity, also requires that faculty resources be augmented by utilising the services of superannuated academics, reputed scientists, engineers, physicians, advocates, artists, civil servants, including skilled professionals, both serving and retired,” says the UGC.

Issue to be sent to Syndicate for nod

The issue of adopting UGC rules will be sent to the Syndicate first for approval. The Central University of Punjab at Bathinda has already adopted these rules.

Eligibility criteria

There is no age limit for adjunct faculty. They can be IAS, IPS officers or officials from Central and provincial services. Skill training providers recognised by the National Skill Development Corporation or the Sector Skill Councils will be preferred. Those from the unorganised sector can also be hired.