New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved the draft guidelines for engaging 'Professor of Practice’ in Universities and colleges, officials said on Tuesday, August 23. The decision came after the 560th meeting of the UGC and will be soon made public for feedback by stakeholders. The decision was taken as a measure to promote the National Education Policy 2020, which seeks to transform higher education by focusing on skill-based education to meet the needs of the industry and the economy.

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"For skilling of youth at the optimum level, learners are required to think like employers and employers are to think like learners. Towards this, the UGC has taken a new initiative to bring the industry and other professional expertise into the academic institutions through a new category of positions called 'Professor of Practice,' UGC Chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar told the media.

He added that the move will augment the faculty resources in higher education institutions (HEIs).

"This will help to take real-world practices and experiences into the classrooms. In turn, the industry and society will benefit from trained graduates equipped with the relevant skills," the UGC Chairman said.

The objectives of the draft guidelines include developing courses and curricula to meet the industry and societal needs and enable the HEIs to work with industry experts on joint research projects and consultancy services which will be mutually beneficial.

Another important objective is to bring distinguished experts from various fields such as engineering, science, technology, entrepreneurship, commerce, social sciences, media, literature, fine arts, civil services, armed forces, the legal profession, and public administration into the academic institutions.

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Those eligible to be engaged as Professor of Practice in universities and colleges include distinguished experts who have made remarkable contributions in their professions from various fields such as engineering, science, technology, entrepreneurship, commerce, social sciences, media, literature, fine arts, civil services, armed forces, legal profession, and public administration among others.