Education Community

Following the release of revised minimum criteria for the direct recruitment of assistant professors in universities and colleges on July 5, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a clarification on the matter. UGC Chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar took to Twitter to provide the necessary clarification. He stated that candidates with a Master’s degree must have qualified UGC-NET/SLET/SET for direct recruitment as an Assistant Professor. On the other hand, candidates with a PhD degree, awarded as per UGC Regulations, are exempt from UGC-NET/SLET/SET and eligible for direct recruitment to the position of Assistant Professor. After removing the mandatory criteria of Ph.D. for direct recruitment at the Assistant Professor level, the detailed eligibility criteria given in UGC minimum qualifications regulations 2018 will remain as they are making the following two criteria applicable: — Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar (@mamidala90) July 6, 2023 Kumar also mentioned that higher educational institutions have the flexibility to determine suitable criteria for Assistant Professor appointments based on the number of applications received in a specific discipline, as per the regulations provided. The UGC had previously issued a notification stating that NET/SET/SLET would be the minimum criteria for direct recruitment to the position of Assistant Professor in all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Furthermore, the UGC Chairperson tweeted that from July 1 onwards, a PhD qualification for Assistant Professor appointments would be optional. In the clarification provided by the UGC, it was mentioned that the general condition clause no. 3.10 has been amended, making PhD qualification mandatory from July 1, 2023. However, the detailed eligibility criteria for various disciplines remain unchanged, clearly stating that NET/SLET/SET is the minimum requirement for direct recruitment as an Assistant Professor for candidates without a PhD degree. Additionally, the UGC confirmed that PhD holders are exempted from NET/SLET/SET and are eligible for direct recruitment to the position of Assistant Professor.  

The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K) has introduced a Hindi publication division. The division’s primary goal is to bridge the language gap and make IIT Kanpur’s innovative initiatives more accessible to a wider audience. By offering technical information related to startups and innovation in Hindi, the division aims to provide non-English speakers with an easily comprehensible platform to access and understand technical knowledge. The Hindi Publication Division will serve as a dedicated platform for sharing information about SIIC IIT Kanpur’s innovative projects, advanced research, success stories of startups, and entrepreneurial endeavours. The objective is to connect with individuals across India and inspire them to pursue entrepreneurial endeavours, thereby promoting an inclusive ecosystem. The Director of IIT Kanpur, Abhay Karandikar, expressed that the Hindi Publication Division at SIIC IIT Kanpur aims to contribute significantly to the nation’s growth and progress by eliminating barriers, fostering collaboration, and igniting the entrepreneurial spirit among all individuals.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has explained its reasons for not conducting the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG twice a year. In response to a letter from the All India Student’s Union demanding biannual NEET UG exams, the NMC stated that all MBBS seats are already filled during the counselling process, making it unfeasible to hold the exam twice. The NMC highlighted the significant financial and resource requirements associated with conducting the NEET UG exam, emphasizing that holding it twice a year would impose an excessive burden on the government’s finances. As an alternative, the NMC suggested that candidates should apply for the medical entrance test in the following year. In other news, the NMC has withdrawn the recently issued guidelines under the Graduate Medical Education Regulations 2023. The commission has now invited feedback from stakeholders on new guidelines, including the Competency Based Medical Education Curriculum Regulations 2023, Minimum Standard Requirements for Establishment of New Medical College/Increase of Seats in MBBS Course Regulations 2023, and Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations 2023.

In the latest QS World University Rankings 2024, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has made significant progress by securing the 149th position, marking its highest rank ever and becoming the only Indian institution in the top 150. This achievement breaks an eight-year streak for Indian universities outside the top 150, with the last occurrence being the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore’s ranking at 147th in 2016. India has seen an overall improvement in its representation, with 45 universities making it to the rankings compared to 41 the previous year. This places India as the seventh most-represented country globally and the third in Asia. However, India has one fewer university in the top 200 compared to the previous year. Despite the positive overall trend, several Indian universities have experienced a decline in their rankings. IIT Delhi dropped from the 174th position to 197th, while IISc fell 70 positions from 155th to 225th, now standing as the third-highest-ranked Indian institution. Other reputable universities, such as IIT Kanpur and IIT Madras, also faced declines in their rankings. The QS World University Rankings 2024 revealed the following top-ranked Indian universities: 149th: Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) 197th: Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) 225th: Indian Institute of Science (IISc) 271st: Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) 278th: Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) 285th: Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) 364th: Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) 369th: Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR) 407th: University of Delhi 427th: Anna University The global rankings were dominated by prestigious institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Cambridge, and University of Oxford, securing the top positions. The QS Quacquarelli Symonds, a UK-based ranking agency, introduced three new indicators this year—sustainability, employment outcomes, and international research network—which collectively account for 5% of the ranking methodology. As a result, the weightage assigned to the academic reputation indicator has been reduced to 30%, the emphasis on faculty-student ratio decreased to 10%, and the weightage to the employer reputation indicator increased to 15%.  

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad has partnered with Bangalore-based healthcare startup DailyRounds to offer a specialized management program called the ‘Management Programme for Medical Professionals – Clinician X’ (MPM-Cx). Interested doctors can register for the program’s third batch on the official website marrow.com/mpm-cx. The upcoming academic session is scheduled to commence in September 2023 and will be conducted online by faculty from IIM Ahmedabad. The MPM-Cx course has a duration of six to seven months, which includes online classes, a two-day residential program at IIM Ahmedabad, and a three-day global immersion experience at the National University of Singapore (NUS). The program fees amount to Rs 6.25 lakh plus GST. A limited number of scholarships are available to cover a portion of the tuition fees. The program will accommodate a batch size of 50 students. Candidates will undergo personal interviews conducted over the phone, based on their registration details. The minimum eligibility requirement for the course is an MBBS degree. The primary objective of the program is to equip medical professionals with essential management skills, enabling them to assume leadership positions, tackle industry challenges, and develop innovative strategies to enhance healthcare accessibility and quality. The program also aims to bridge the gap between medical professionals and management experts. Upon completion of the course, graduates will have the opportunity to pursue various career paths, including managerial and administrative roles, establishing their own entrepreneurial ventures, working in healthcare policy and administrative positions, and more. The MPM-Cx program covers a wide range of topics, including finance, marketing, operations, policy-making, strategy, leadership, organizational behaviour, communication, as well as emerging areas such as data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and product management.  

During the G20 education ministers’ meeting in Pune, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education while acknowledging the associated challenges. In a recorded message, PM Modi urged G20 nations to collaborate and harness technology for the advancement of global education. The meeting served as a platform for accepting outcome documents that outline a roadmap for inclusive and high-quality education worldwide. The education working group, which met in Chennai, Amritsar, Bhubaneshwar, and Pune, focused on addressing global challenges through inclusive solutions and collective actions. Their key priorities included foundational literacy and numeracy, tech-enabled learning that promotes inclusivity and quality, capacity building for future job requirements, and fostering research and innovation through collaboration and partnerships. PM Modi highlighted digital technology as an “equalizer” that promotes inclusivity and expands access to education, emphasizing its role in adapting to future needs. He discussed the importance of integrating technology into learning to enhance the e-learning experience. PM Modi praised the Study Webs of Active-learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM), an e-learning portal offering remote access to courses from esteemed institutions. SWAYAM has achieved significant enrollment numbers, providing a wide range of courses from the 9th grade to postgraduate level. Additionally, PM Modi proposed that G20 countries undertake international skill mapping to identify and address gaps. He stressed the need for continuous skill development, re-skilling, and up-skilling of youth to prepare them for the future and align their competencies with evolving work profiles and practices. India is already engaged in skill mapping, and PM Modi encouraged other G20 nations to follow suit. The G20 education ministers’ meeting focused on collaborative efforts to tackle global education challenges and leverage technology, including AI, for the betterment of education worldwide.  

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has expressed that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has the potential to become an international board, particularly in the Global South, given its popularity in the region. He mentioned that CBSE schools in Singapore and Japan have garnered significant interest, with their teaching methods, particularly in mathematics, being highly sought after. Pradhan stated that the plan to establish CBSE as an international board had lost momentum in the past but is now gaining traction. In addition, Pradhan informed reporters at the G20 4th Working Group Meeting for education that the University Grants Commission (UGC) is in the process of finalizing norms to allow foreign universities to establish campuses in India, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP). He hinted at forthcoming announcements regarding Indian universities opening campuses abroad. Pradhan emphasized that India’s NEP is receiving close attention globally and could serve as a model for emerging economies. He praised the policy’s emphasis on experiential learning, which fosters a new generation of entrepreneurs. The Minister also highlighted the integration of technology-based interventions to assist students preparing for competitive examinations such as IITJEE and NEET. Regarding budgetary allocation for education, Pradhan acknowledged that India currently spends 4% of its GDP on education, falling short of the NEP’s target of 6%. He acknowledged the constraints of resources but reaffirmed the government’s commitment to increasing funding for education.

Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has announced the inclusion of cutting-edge courses in the curriculum of technical colleges in the state. Starting from the upcoming academic session, students will have the opportunity to study subjects such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, and Mechatronics Engineering. During a review meeting of technical institutions, Chief Minister Sukhu stressed the importance of staying at the forefront of technological advancements. As a result, the state government has taken a significant step by introducing a range of courses in various institutions from August 2023. The Government Hydro Engineering College Bilaspur will offer a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) program in Computer Science and Engineering, specializing in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. This program has received approval from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and Himachal Pradesh Technical University (HPTU). Additionally, Government Polytechnic institutions in Rohru and Chamba will now offer specialized courses in Computer Engineering and Mechatronics Engineering, respectively. These courses have also been approved by the AICTE. In response to the evolving demands of the industry, 17 industrial training institutes in the state will introduce other courses such as Mechanic Electric Vehicle, Technician Mechatronics, Fibre to Home Technician, Solar Technician (Electric), Internet of Things Technician, and Maintenance Mechanic (Chemical Plant). Chief Minister Sukhu emphasized the importance of practical training and urged collaboration with leading companies to provide students with real-world exposure. By fostering such partnerships, the government aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry, equipping students with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their careers. To ensure the highest quality of education, the government plans to deploy qualified staff members who will receive specialized training. The introduction of these new-age courses reflects the Himachal Pradesh government’s commitment to creating a favourable environment for technological advancements and generating abundant employment opportunities for the youth in the state.