Rethinking Faculty Shortage, Selection Criteria and Interdisciplinary Challenges for NEP 2020

The implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 faces a significant challenge due to the alarming number of vacant teaching positions, according to the University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman. Speaking at a conference of Vice-chancellors from North-eastern and Eastern regions, hosted by Pragjyotishpur University in Guwahati, the chairman highlighted that some state universities have as many as 50 to 80 percent of their teaching positions vacant. This shortage poses a critical barrier to the effective roll-out of NEP 2020, urging universities to prioritize the rapid filling of these vacancies to ensure the policy's success.

In an interview, UGC Chairman MAMIDALA JAGADESH KUMAR highlighted that the National Education Policy (#NEP) 2020 is a visionary document designed to reform India's education system. He emphasized the introduction of a National Credit Framework, allowing universities to innovate and design curricula focused on freedom, flexibility, and choices. Prof. Kumar pointed out the need to break disciplinary boundaries to achieve a holistic, multidisciplinary education. He advocated for integrating academic governance with digital technologies to provide students mobility across courses, disciplines, and modes of education. He also stressed the importance of using advanced pedagogical methods to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and solution-providing skills in students. Kumar also underscored the internationalization of the curriculum to enhance global competitiveness.

The status of interdisciplinary education and infrastructure in India is evolving but still long way to go. While there are efforts to promote interdisciplinary studies through initiatives like the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, challenges remain. Universities and institutions are willing to transitioning from traditional, discipline-specific curricula to more integrated and flexible educational models but still lacks the execution, appreciation, openness and acceptance for interdisciplinary courses and faculties.

The eligibility criteria for the faculty selection is one of the reflection how universities and institute are unprepared for the interdisciplinary courses. Most interdisciplinary courses are run by faculty from core subjects, who tend to teach them as core subjects only. This reduces the interdisciplinary flavour and fails to inculcate the holistic learning and understanding that interdisciplinary courses are meant for.

Faculty selection criteria is still heavily based on the number of publications, impact factors and citations more or less, which is the most easiest yet not very wise approach to select the faculty. In order to develop a fruitful environment for the NEP, it is important to encourage and motivate interdisciplinary applicants in universities and institutes. Many interdisciplinary applicants are facing challenges to present their candidature; most of them get extracted out in the very first step of shortlisting of the application due to the rigid eligibility criteria which demands UG, PG and PhD degree aligned to a particular discipline. Some subjects like Environment and climate change are purely interdisciplinary in nature, but sadly, most of the vacancies strictly demand?Bachelors or Masters Degree in Environmental Science as a major subject. Environmental science has an essential social aspect of the studies, which is hardly or very superficially catered by the existing Environmental Science syllabus in most of the university curriculum. This creates a crucial lacuna in the overall understanding of the Environmental Science as a subject. Such is the case with various subjects. For example, if a Sociologist wishes to work in the interdisciplinary field of Environmental Sociology, they have a low chance of having their application accepted for faculty positions in Environmental Science. This discourages young interdisciplinary academics and researchers from pursuing interdisciplinary subjects. Such individuals work for some NGOs and ThinkTanks for low wages or else go for Post-doctoral opportunities abroad, which somehow doesn’t contribute to the national academia and also discourages the interdisciplinary and holistic learning environment which NEP suggests.?

With the transitioning educational environment, there is a pressing need to revise the faculty selection criteria, an issue that is often overlooked and under-discussed. The committee or panel responsible for selecting candidates must also receive training to understand the requirements of the evolving educational system and the process of internationalization. Priority must shift from emphasizing published research articles, citations, and impact factors to assessing teaching and research aptitude, vision, diversity, and perspectives. This process should begin at the initial step of shortlisting applications, conducted under the supervision of experts who can recognize the interdisciplinary aspects of each subject. This ensures that interdisciplinary applicants are given a fair opportunity to present their candidacy.

Additional policy and funding efforts are required to give the NEP vision room to thrive. The University Grants Commission of India need to be more agile in encouraging, monitoring and ensuring the interdisciplinary environment in the university or Institute. Reconsideration and reforms should also be assisted and incorporated in the eligibility criterias ensuring and encouraging more interdisciplinary faculty applications. UGC also need to play an important role in balancing the rhetoric of disciplinary/subject superiority in the Indian education system, which unfortunately catalyses the rigidity of disciplinary boundaries. The NEP 2020 will have a significant positive impact on pedagogy and learning approaches in the Indian education system, provided it is effectively implemented and widely accepted. Special attention must be given to filling vacant teaching positions to ensure adequate and efficient teaching strength nationwide.