Industry Experts in Academia: Bridging the Education-Industry Gap in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Gujarat are leading in hiring professors of practice in higher education, according to UGC data. These appointments aim to integrate industry expertise into academia. UGC guidelines demand candidates with a minimum of 15 years of relevant experience, aiming to enhance classroom environments with industry insight.

Tamil Nadu is pioneering the appointment of professors of practice within its Higher Education Institutions, as revealed by recent University Grants Commission (UGC) data. Following closely are Maharashtra and Gujarat.

The professors of practice program invites distinguished industry experts to teach and mentor, effectively bridging the gap between academia and real-world industry knowledge. According to UGC guidelines established in 2022, these roles are temporary and specifically designed not to replace existing sanctioned positions. Candidates must possess at least 15 years of relevant experience, ideally occupying senior roles.

Leading the charge are private universities, with 715 appointments, while central universities have only 15. A total of 1,841 professionals have been hired across 349 institutions, underscoring heightened engagement in academic enrichment. The maximum duration for a professor in this role is three years, extendable once in exceptional cases to a total of four years.

(With inputs from agencies.)