Prof without a PhD

Free Thinker *

From this Durga Puja or Panthoibi Puja onwards PhD degree is no more required to become a Professor. PhD is now irrelevant for becoming a 'Professor of Practice.

Who is a 'Prof of Practice? As per the latest UGC guidelines, experts with remarkable contributions in their professions from various fields, with proven expertise in their specific profession with at least 15 years of experience may be engaged as 'Prof of Practice' in the institutions of higher learning.

You may become a Prof if you are brilliant in a particular field. It is just like the lateral entry into the Civil Services as Joint Secretary. If you are a specialist or an expert in a subject or field you may still become a Prof or a Civil Servant. These are innovative ideas that are beyond the colonial mindset and conventional thinking – this is indeed out-of-the-box thinking.

Once upon a time, I thought of teaching at a University. Then because of various circumstances like failure after failure, I started doing many things for my livelihood. Despite my several attempts to become a speaker, I still remain a listener. Finally, today under the able leadership of the country, I may have an opportunity to become a Professor without a PhD degree. This is really great.

Suppose you are an expert in making flying bikes, you don't need a PhD in automobile engineering or robotics or physics or Computers – just you have to be in the field for 15 years. My query is, if a person wins a National Sahitya Academy Award by simply writing a book in two years (his first book) and his educational qualification is only BA - will he be disqualified to become a Prof of Practice in literature?

Some may argue that as they want to induct their own people into the places of higher learning they are creating this post of Prof of Practice. I don't think that is the case. If a person is really capable of delivering things his or her services must be utilized for the betterment of the country.

The Union Education Ministry is perhaps trying to implement the vision envisioned in the New Education Policy which talks about reforms in higher education promoting holistic and multidisciplinary education and integrating academia with practical experience.

Now a person may become a Prof (Professor of Practice) in any University or College or institution if he/she is deserving of the post despite lacking the redundant educational qualification.

According to the guideline for the post of 'Professor of Practice, a formal educational or academic qualification is not mandatory; if you have that is fine otherwise it is not essential. However, the candidate must be really good in his profession or subject. The candidates are supposed to be experts or distinguished persons in their professions.

Once you are selected or appointed as a Professor of Practice in an institution or University, you can work there for four years; the maximum duration of service at a given institution is three years extendable by one year in exceptional cases and the total service should not exceed four years under any circumstances.

It all depends on one's capabilities and equations. Hopefully, Professors of Practice will also get a full salary. Here, I am not sure whether Honorary Professors of Practice are entitled to some pecuniary benefits.

The institutions or colleges or Universities can have 10 percent of Professors of Practice; I am not very sure whether it is within the sanctioned post or over and above the given sanctioned post. Suppose the institute has 100 sanctioned posts of Professors – 90 should be regular and 10 can be Professors of Practice. It appears that the Post of Prof of Practice will be within the already sectioned post.

It is indicated that there will be three categories of Professors of Practice. First, Prof of practice to be funded by the industries; second, Professors to be funded by the institutions and Universities themselves; the third category is perhaps for providing free service, which is on an honorary basis.

It is reliably learned that the UGC has written to the industries bodies, and Trade Commerce bodies regarding the engagement of Prof of Practice. The area for a selection of Professors of practice is extremely wide-ranging, starting from Science, Technology, Social Sciences, Media, and Armed Forces to many other fields.

But the applicant must have at least 15 years of excellent experience or practice in a particular field. I really don't know whether politics is also a recognized area. If so, the competition will be extremely tough.

The selection panel consisting of the VC or Director of the Institute along with 2 Regular Professors and one external expert will recommend a candidate's name so that the statutory bodies of the institute would decide on the appointment. Professors of practice will be appointed for one year but his/her subsequent engagement would be based on performance and buttering.

From now onwards Prof of Practice may be termed as POP. I don't know when Prof Loken will make me a POP.