It is no longer required that autonomous colleges and universities ensure that no more than 10% of contract faculty members
Post Date – 10:45 PM, Sat – 4/15/23
file photo
New Delhi: Under the revised UGC norms, self-governing colleges will no longer be required to ensure that the number of contract teachers does not exceed 10% of the total number of approved teaching positions.
Affiliated colleges and constituent colleges can also approach the University Grants Commission (UGC) directly at any time of the year for academic and administrative autonomy without going through their alma mater.
The committee has notified the new rules under the UGC (Measures for Granting Autonomous Status to Universities and Upholding Standards for Autonomous Universities) Regulations 2023.
The guidance replaces older rules issued in 2018 to bring them in line with the National Education Policy 2020. The revised draft guidelines were first made public last October.
While the 2018 guidance stated that “the number of contract faculty in autonomous colleges should not exceed 10% of the total number of faculty positions approved by the college”, the revised guidance states that “all teacher/principal recruitment shall be Policy developments made by the UGC and State Governments from time to time apply”.
These universities will no longer need to submit applications through their alma mater. However, the University will have 30 days to review applications received on the UGC Portal.
“Review the Faculty’s application for self-government status on the UGC Portal and make a recommendation on the UGC Portal within 30 working days with reasons or justifications. If the alma mater is not on the UGC Portal within 30 working days Response, the alma mater shall be deemed to have no objection to the processing by the UGC of the application for the grant of autonomous status,” according to the revised norms.
Autonomous status would allow universities to design their own syllabi, restructure courses and set their own admissions rules. Faculties are also free to offer certificate or diploma courses without prior approval from their alma mater. Subject to approval by the Academic Board, the Faculty may also offer undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs as well as doctoral programs.
The award of autonomy will be based on institutional accreditation and assessment scores.
Under the new regulations, autonomous status will initially be granted for 10 years if the college is accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with a minimum ‘A’ grade and a score of 3.01 and above, or the National Accreditation Council (NBA) for at least three programs The minimum scores were 675.
“Accreditation status must be valid for at least one year at the time of application submission,” the guidelines say.
