AICTE raises limit for industry professionals as professors in engineering institutes to 20%

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has updated its guidelines, allowing engineering institutions to hire up to 20% of their faculty as Professors of Practice (PoP), an increase from the previous 15%. These positions can be filled by industry professionals with various qualifications. Since the introduction of the PoP initiative by the University Grants Commission, over 15,000 industry experts have been appointed in Indian universities. However, Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have only added 80 of these professors, while university departments have made the majority of appointments. The updated guidelines specify eligibility criteria for PoPs, including required experience and qualifications. Institutions can assess the performance of PoPs after one year to determine if their engagement should continue.