Faculty Recruitment in Universities: Are Rules the Only Problem?
By Amita Sharma
Vacant faculty positions, delays in recruitment and the uncertain working conditions of contractual teachers are among the major challenges facing Indian universities. A webinar hosted by The Hindu brought together academics and university administrators who emphasised the need to simplify recruitment rules, ensure transparency and provide better facilities for teachers.
But are complicated regulations the only reason behind these problems? Inadequate funding, administrative delays and a lack of accountability may also contribute to the situation. Therefore, alongside simplifying rules, it is essential to ensure that sanctioned posts are filled on time and recruitment processes remain fair and transparent.
The webinar also raised concerns about excessive dependence on research publications and databases such as Scopus. PhDs and research publications are important, but a teacher’s competence cannot be judged solely by qualifications and publication counts. Subject knowledge, teaching ability and the capacity to guide students are equally important.
The insecure employment and low remuneration of contractual teachers are also serious concerns. Teachers who themselves struggle with employment uncertainty may find it difficult to pursue long-term research and devote adequate time to their students.
Reforming higher education requires more than simplifying regulations. Better salaries, research facilities, fair recruitment and institutional accountability must go hand in hand. The quality of universities should not be judged merely by the number of research papers they publish, but also by the quality of their teaching and the academic environment they provide for students