(a) whether due to shortage of faculty in central universities
and other educational institutions run by Union Government, the
administration is resorting to engage visiting/guest lecturers
for conducting regular classes for the students;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the criteria laid down for engaging guest lecturers; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to fill the vacancies at
an early date?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. D. PURANDESWARI)
(a) to (c): Taking note of shortage of teaching staff, the
Central Universities have been resorting to engage guest/part-
time teachers against the sanctioned posts for conducing regular
classes for students. The criteria laid down by the UGC for
engaging guest/part-time teachers in pursuance of the
recommendations in this behalf made by the Sixth Pay Review
Committee envisage, inter-alia, that the qualifications for
guest/part-time teachers should be the same as those prescribed
for the regular teachers of Universities/Colleges in UGC’s
Regulations; selection procedure for appointing guest/part-time
teachers should be the same as for regularly appointed teachers;
and retired teachers may also be considered for appointment as
guest/part-time teachers. The guest/part-time teachers who
possess the minimum qualifications for the post of Assistant
Professor are paid Rs. 1,000/- per lecture subject to a maximum
of Rs. 25,000/- per month.
(d): While the power to make appointment to the teaching posts
in a Central University vests in its Board of
Management/Executive Council, the Government keeps on reminding
the Central Universities to fill the vacancies at an early date.
Further, the Government/UGC is taking the following measures
aimed at attracting the bright young people to adopt teaching in
higher education as a career vis-Ã -vis the opportunity available
to them in view of the emerging sectors of economy, thereby
managing the teaching positions at various levels:
# Enhancing rates of Junior and Senior Research Fellowships by
about 50%;
# Strengthening science based education and research in
Universities;
# Disbursement of grant for presentation of research papers in
international fora/conferences;
# Enhancing the quantum of research grant to Universities
aimed at encouraging research;
# Introducing Ramanujan Fellowship to attract distinguished
Indian faculty serving in foreign Universities;
# Introducing Bose Fellowship aimed at strengthening research
background of the distinguished faculty serving in India;
# Allowing consultancy charges to be shared by the faculty;
# Revamping Academic Staff Colleges;
# Organising summer schools to train teachers; etc.
# Enhancing the retirement age of teachers from 62 to 65 years
as also retention of the re-employed teachers upto the age
of 70 years