Violations in appointment of teachers, award of PhD degrees will be checked: UGC

New Delhi, May 24 (IANS) The UGC has taken a decision to check violations in the appointment of teachers and award of PhD degrees in higher educational institutions (HEIs).

Jagadesh Kumar, Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC) told IANS on Wednesday about the Commission's decision taken at its 568th meeting. A standing committee to monitor the appointment of teachers and award of PhD degrees in HEIs was constituted.

According to the UGC Chairman, the Committee will meet at regular intervals, select a few institutions, collect information regarding the faculty appointments and award of PhD degrees, verify documents to ascertain whether the process of appointment of teachers and award of PhD degrees are in conformity with UGC regulations, and recommend appropriate actions, in case of violations.

"As the regulations prescribe minimum standards required to be maintained by HEIs, any violation of the regulations results in the inevitable decline of higher education standards. The UGC takes such violations very seriously and intends to take appropriate measures to control violations of UGC Regulations," Kumar added.

The role of higher education institutions in nurturing intellectuals and imparting knowledge to the nation's growth is well known. The UGC, with the mandate to promote and coordinate University education, notifies, among other things, regulations to ensure the quality of the teachers and the quality of research degrees from time to time. According to the UGC the quality of higher education, to a large extent, depends on the quality of those who impart it and the way research is promoted.

The regulations, which are currently in operation are UGC Regulations on Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and Other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education, 2018.

Another one is University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2022.

"Both regulations set the conditions for determining and maintaining standards in selecting candidates for the appointment of teachers and quality of research degrees awarded in HEIs and are mandatory. However, despite the regulations, complaints from stakeholders about violations are not uncommon," Kumar added.