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As per the addendum, in all technical programmes, institutions can avail the services of ‘Professors of Practice’ (with rich industry experience) to teach students against the faculty strength.
AICTE member secretary Rajeev Kumar said one of the important changes brought this year is to allow 20 per cent industry persons in the faculty and various categories including assistant and associate professors. (Image: Shutterstock)
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has allowed 20 per cent of the total faculty strength in technical institutions under its control to be ‘Professors of Practice’, including Assistant and Associate Professor categories, a major change announced in the addendum. Its approval process manual has been released for the 2025-26 academic session.
As per the addendum, in all technical programmes, institutions can avail the services of ‘Professors of Practice’ (with rich industry experience) to teach students against the faculty strength.
The addendum document states, “The maximum percentage of faculty members serving as POPs within the required faculty strength (cadre ratio) in Engineering and Technology is 20 per cent, including 5 per cent exclusively as female POPs/Associates/Assistants (on regular basis) “is reserved for.” Released earlier this month, it said.
It states that POP will be calculated in the student:faculty ratio.
Professor of Practice’ (POP) refers to a category of positions in educational institutions, referring to people from the industry, who can be appointed by higher education institutions to teach for a fixed period of time. The POP scheme was launched by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in August 2022 as part of the new National Education Policy (NEP) to bring industry expertise in educational institutions to improve the quality of higher education.
AICTE member secretary Rajeev Kumar said one of the important changes brought this year is to allow 20 per cent industry people in the faculty and to include various categories within it in degree and diploma courses including assistant and associate professors. Has been.
“We have also allowed supporting and supporting POPs this year with the view that young professionals are more technology savvy and ready to adopt new learning tools and methodology. “This will help in bringing diverse expertise of skilled professionals to the technical institutions,” Kumar said.
He said the addendum aims to streamline and simplify the approval process for technical institutions across India.
Also, Kumar said the approval process has been further simplified by opening multiple windows for institutions in different sectors in phases. “This has been done to avoid huge rush on the application portal at one time,” he said.
According to the addendum document, another important change brought about by the Council this year is the introduction of the hybrid mode of Expert Visit Committee (EVC) to “maintain transparency and accountability”.
The EVC is a panel of experts that visits institutions before giving final approval for functioning or renovation.
Last year was the first time that the Council had brought out the approval process manual for three years, which will be valid from 2024-25 to 2026-27. The changes brought in by the council this November are in an addendum to the existing handbook for 2025-26, which also includes a number of amendments.
Earlier, the handbook was released every year. This Handbook serves as a roadmap for all institutions seeking approval to run programs/courses falling within its scope.
Moreover, till last year the Council had allowed institutions to hire the services of ‘adjunct faculty’ (part-time faculty) up to 15 per cent of the required faculty strength, which has now been abolished.
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