The National Education Policy 2020 seeks to transform higher education by focusing on skill-based education to meet the needs of the industry and the economy.
Further, the NEP (National Education Policy 2020) also recommends integrating vocational education with general education and strengthening industry-academia collaboration in HEIs. For the skilling of youth at the optimum level, learners are required to think like employers and employers are to think like learners. Towards this, the UGC has taken a new initiative to bring the industry and other professional expertise into academic institutions through a new category of positions called “Professor of Practice”. This will help to take real world practices and experiences to impart education and also augment the faculty resources in higher education institutions.
In turn, the industry and society will benefit from trained graduates equipped with the relevant skills.
- To develop courses and curriculum to meet the industry and societal needs and enable the HEIs to work with industry experts on joint research projects and consultancy services which will be mutually beneficial;
- To bring in distinguished experts from various fields such as engineering, science, technology, entrepreneurship, management, chartered accountancy (CA), commerce, social sciences, media, literature, fine arts, civil services, armed forces, legal profession, community development, Panchayati Raj, rural development, and watershed development, public administration among others into the academic institutions;
- To enable the higher education institutions to formally associate with persons of eminence and encourage them to participate in experiential learning, research, training, skilling, entrepreneurship and extension and to play a mentoring role.
What is the objective behind introducing professor of practice in Indian universities? What will it achieve?
The objective behind introducing Professor of Practice is to enhance the quality of higher education by bringing practitioners, policymakers, skilled professionals etc. in to higher education system.
What is the maximum period one can serve as Professor of Practice?
The engagement may be initially for up to one year. The maximum duration of service of Professor of Practice at a given institution should not exceed three years and is extendable by one year in exceptional cases and the total service should not exceed four years under any circumstances.
What are the essential qualifications for the appointment of PoP?
The guidelines clearly say a formal academic qualification is not considered essential for this position if they have exemplary professional practice in lieu. People interested in applying for the post should be ‘distinguished experts’ in their respective fields, who have made ‘remarkable contributions in their professions’. In order to be eligible for the post, an individual should have proven expertise in their specific profession or role with at least 15 years of service/experience, preferably at a senior level. However, this new post is not open for those in the teaching profession – serving or retired. These experts will also be exempted from the requirement of publications and other eligibility criteria stipulated for the recruitment of faculty members at the Professor level.
How Professors of Practice can be engaged?
Professor of Practice can be engaged in any of the following ways
A. funded by Industries
B. Professor of Practice funded by HEIs from their own resources
C. Professor of Practice on an Honorary basis
This critically acclaimed idea will work provided Higher Education Institutes are ready to bring changes in their curriculum and pedagogy. Expecting professors of practice to fit into the existing academic structure might not be a good idea and it will not benefit them and also the students. Their expertise should be utilised in such a way that they give students an idea of how a lot of things are done in the industry. This means not just classroom teaching but taking students beyond the classroom and making them part of live projects.
So Institutes should be open to the Teaching Hospital Model that can give purpose to these industry professionals, strengthen industry-academia collaboration, and meet the needs of the industry and the economy.