Move to appoint Professors of Practice in govt. engineering colleges opposed

Opposition to appointment of Professors of Practice in government engineering colleges due to lateral entry and reservation policy violations.

Educationists and student organisations have opposed the announcement regarding appointment of professional subject experts as “Professors of Practice” in government engineering colleges. They say it amounts to lateral entry and violates State government recruitment rules. Besides, it is against the reservation policy, they argue.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in the Budget speech that Professors of Practice will be appointed in 16 government engineering colleges to imprat students practical knowledge and there by enhance the latter’s employability. Higher Education Department sources said steps have been taken to employ professional experts for about three to four years or for the full term.

The National Education Policy (NEP-2020) and University Grants Commission allow industry experts to teach full-time or part-time, even without a Ph.D or National Eligibility Test qualification, as Professors of Practice, through lateral entry in universities and colleges.

Ajay Kamath, State Secretary of All India Democratic Students Organization (AIDSO), said “The government, which has opposed NEP-2020, has constituted a commission to bring a ‘State Education Policy’, and the final report will be submitted in a few days. In such a situation, it is ridiculous that the Chief Minister has made the announcement regarding ‘Professors of Practice’. This only shows Congress and BJP are essentially the same.”

Educationist Shripad Bhat said the appointment of PoPs is against government recruitment rules. “There is no clarity on whether the appointment is for a short term or as permanent faculty. Roster policy is not followed in any appointments made through lateral entry. Therefore, such appointments are against the reservation policy,” he alleged.

He said, the government has opposed the draft UGC (Minimum qualification for appointment and promotion of teachers and academic staff in universities and colleges and measure for the maintenance of standards in Higher Education) Regulations 2025, which allows appointment of non-academic persons or industry heads to the post of Vice Chancellors through lateral entry and it passed a resolution against it. “Then, how can appointment of Professors of Practice through lateral entry instead of filling the vacant posts be justified?” he asked.

The principal of a government engineering college said instead of appointing Professors of Practice, faculty members already working in colleges should be given appropriate training in industries.