Central universities in India have shown limited implementation of the University Grants Commission’s guidelines to appoint Professors of Practice (PoP) even three years after they were introduced, official data reveals. A significant proportion of these premier institutions still have not engaged industry professionals under the policy designed to strengthen teaching with real-world expertise.
UGC PoP Guidelines and Objective
The University Grants Commission issued guidelines on hiring Professors of Practice with the aim of bringing distinguished professionals into higher education. These experts are intended to contribute their professional experience to teaching and mentoring across disciplines including engineering, science, technology, management, media, social sciences, literature, entrepreneurship and public administration. Under the guidelines:
- Formal academic credentials are not mandatory if the candidate has outstanding professional practice.
- PoPs are exempted from regular eligibility criteria such as publications.
This provision was formulated to create stronger academic-industry linkages and enrich university teaching with practical insights.
Slow Adoption in Central Universities
Despite these objectives, the Ministry of Education data shows that nearly 80 % of central universities have not appointed a single PoP. Private and deemed universities have been more proactive, accounting for the majority of PoP engagements across the country. As of January 2026:
- A total of 1,841 PoPs are engaged in 349 higher education institutions nationwide.
- Tamil Nadu leads with 395 PoPs across 37 HEIs.
- Maharashtra follows with 193 PoPs in 36 institutions.
Central universities, however, represent a small fraction of the institutions that have used this scheme. In some reports, central institutions together employed only a handful of PoPs compared with dozens appointed by private and deemed-to-be universities.
Implications and Future Outlook
Experts say that slow uptake of the PoP scheme in central universities may reflect institutional hesitation, challenges in aligning professional roles with academic norms, or administrative bottlenecks. The scheme continues to be regarded as a tool to enhance the quality of classroom engagement and industry relevance in higher education. The UGC and Ministry of Education are expected to continue encouraging universities to adopt the PoP model. If broader implementation occurs, students across disciplines could benefit from expanded access to industry insights and professional perspectives within academic settings.