After persistent demands by the Tamil Nadu Self-Financing Arts, Science, and Management Colleges Federation, Bharathiar University has allowed the implementation of professor status in self-financed colleges, marking a significant academic upgrade.
Coimbatore: In a landmark move, Bharathiar University has granted approval for the implementation of professor status in private and self-financing colleges, a decision that came after consistent advocacy by the Tamil Nadu Self-Financing Arts, Science, and Management Colleges Federation. This development, announced on March 14, aligns with the University Grants Commission's (UGC) guidelines, facilitating the appointment of assistant professors, associate professors, and professors within these institutions.
Until now, faculty members in these colleges were limited to rising to the position of associate professor. The absence of a professorial tier had been a long-standing concern among educational circles, impacting the academic stature and research capabilities within the private sector of higher education.
The federation's efforts, including a petition filed on August 14, 2019, and subsequent legal proceedings, culminated in a court directive on January 3, 2020, instructing the university and the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary to facilitate this academic enhancement. Despite delays, persistent advocacy by the federation ensured the realization of this initiative.
On December 1, 2023, a syndicate meeting's resolution, supported by the Vice-Chancellor's Executive Committee, officially endorsed the UGC's 2018 guidelines for these appointments. Consequently, recognized self-financing colleges can now operationalize the professorial positions, significantly elevating the academic and research environment.
This approval notably allows a professor to mentor up to 8 Ph.D. students, compared to 6 under the associate professorship, thereby expanding research supervision capabilities. The federation, college administrators, and faculty have welcomed this change, expressing satisfaction over the enhancement of academic standards and research opportunities in private and self-financed colleges across Tamil Nadu.
Until now, faculty members in these colleges were limited to rising to the position of associate professor. The absence of a professorial tier had been a long-standing concern among educational circles, impacting the academic stature and research capabilities within the private sector of higher education.
The federation's efforts, including a petition filed on August 14, 2019, and subsequent legal proceedings, culminated in a court directive on January 3, 2020, instructing the university and the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary to facilitate this academic enhancement. Despite delays, persistent advocacy by the federation ensured the realization of this initiative.
On December 1, 2023, a syndicate meeting's resolution, supported by the Vice-Chancellor's Executive Committee, officially endorsed the UGC's 2018 guidelines for these appointments. Consequently, recognized self-financing colleges can now operationalize the professorial positions, significantly elevating the academic and research environment.
This approval notably allows a professor to mentor up to 8 Ph.D. students, compared to 6 under the associate professorship, thereby expanding research supervision capabilities. The federation, college administrators, and faculty have welcomed this change, expressing satisfaction over the enhancement of academic standards and research opportunities in private and self-financed colleges across Tamil Nadu.