Over 14,600 Faculty Posts Vacant In Higher Educational Institutions Managed By Central Govt: Education Ministry

Over 14,600 faculty positions are vacant in higher education institutions (HEIs) under the Ministry of Education.

Over 14,600 faculty positions are vacant in higher education institutions (HEIs) under the Ministry of Education, Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.

Union Minister of State for Education Subhas Sarkar in response to a written question said the ministry has directed all central higher education institutions to fill up the vacancies in a mission mode.

"There are 14,606 faculty vacancies in HEIs under the ministry. "So far, more than 6,000 posts of faculty and non-faculty have been filled," Subhas Sarkar said.

"The vacancies arise due to retirement, resignation and additional requirements on account of enhanced students' strength," the minister said.

The institutions are taking measures to address faculty shortage in order to ensure that studies of students are not affected, "which inter-alia, include engaging research scholars, contract, re-employed, adjunct and visiting faculty," He added.

Earlier, In an exclusive interview to ABP Live, UGC Chairman Prof M Jagadesh Kumar said that filling the faulty positions is the responsibility of the individual universities, and it is a long process — right from issuing the advertisement to receiving the applications, shortlisting and conducting interviews and so on.

Prof said that one cycle may take anywhere from 4 months to 6 months. Even if you are doing this in the most efficient manner, you may have this faculty recruitment cycle twice a year.

While talking about the challenges in the recruitment process he said that choosing the right kind of person is very challenging because you need to select those people who have the potential to grow academically and do outstanding research. So, even though you advertise let's say 10 positions you may be able to fill only half of those positions, and then you have to go for the next cycle.

He further stated that we keep writing to the Vice-Chancellor of Universities, and we also monitor how many positions have been filled. This recruitment process will remain a challenge for all of us.

(With inputs from PTI)

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