NITs to impose curbs on recruiting own scholars

COIMBATORE: Following in the footsteps of leading world universities, National Institutes of Technology (NITs) would soon impose curbs on recruiting its own doctoral scholars and postgraduates as faculty members. The Draft NIT Faculty Recruitment Rules notified by the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry broadly advocates against “in-breeding” of faculty members. “Candidates who have obtained or are expected to obtain their most recent degree (PhD or MTech) from the institute will normally not be considered for recruitment, except where there is a three years’ gap (approximately) between leaving the institute and the expected date of joining,” the Draft Rules said. However, this rule would not be applicable to candidates who are already members of the faculty, either on regular rolls or on contract, and are pursuing a higher degree in the institute. In exceptional cases, a student including a doctoral scholar can be inducted as faculty provided the Board of Governance approves the same. “The reasons for making an exception will have to be explained. However, candidates with MTech degrees can be appointed as assistant professors, on contract basis and subsequently encouraged to complete their PhD. In case the NITs were to recruit those with substantial professional and R&D experience, they need not insist on a PhD degree. Also for candidates with good number of publications, the requirement of PhD can be waived. In all other cases, such a candidate may be taken on contract till he completes the PhD,” the rules said. The rules also mandate that a PhD degree shall be the minimum qualification for a regular faculty.