Shared faculty plan gets govt nod, teachers can earn more

In a bid to address the acute faculty crunch cross the country, a 12^th Five Year Plan document has been approved by the government which will allow faculty members from one university and college to teach in another. The document also recommends that teachers can avail a six-month educational assignment in a foreign university. The document was approved at a meeting headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

These are some of the measures suggested to meet the expected faculty crunch - over 50% in the next four years - with the government aiming to increase the Gross Enrollment Ratio - the number of youth in higher education - from the present 17% to 25.3% by 2017.

"Without faculty development, achieving the target will be impossible," the 12th Plan document said reports Hindustan Times.

It also recommended setting up of a centre to facilitate faculty exchange programmes between Indian and foreign universities. The centre would look at opportunities for top Indian faculty members to work in foreign universities for a maximum of six months, and also coordinate in joint research programmes.

"One's salary should remain intact while teaching or doing research in a foreign university," the document, which has been accepted by the human resources development ministry, said.

Those who may not get an opportunity to teach abroad may be allowed to take up a second teaching opportunity within India.

"We have suggested reasonable restrictions to prevent its misuse," said an official of the University Grants Commission, which suggested the scheme.

According to the faculty sharing proposal, a maximum of five teachers from one department will be allowed to teach in the second institution. Although the basic salary of the teacher will remain protected in the parent institution, the second institution will have to provide a house and Rs 30,000 per month to shared faculty members.

"This can help in setting up or running institutions in educationally backward and far-flung regions," the Plan Panel document said.

The panel wants to introduce the accountability mechanism for faculty, based on student feedback and research work. It also wants new faculty members to be confirmed after five years, based on students' feedback and annual performance appraisal.