Lok Sabha Question No. 249 (STARRED), answered on 2017-03-20
Subject: Shortage of Faculty
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: CHANDU LAL SAHU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 249 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2017

## Shortage of Faculty

## * 249. SHRI CHANDU LAL SAHU:

- Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  reported  acute  shortage  of  faculty  in higher educational institutions across the country; (b) if so, the reasons therefor and the steps taken by the Government in this regard; (c) whether the Government has also taken note of the fact that there is lack of employable skills in our technical education systems; (d) if so, whether the Government has initiated any policy based on the identification of the skill gaps in different sectors, possible approaches, such as setting up of finishing schools and offering courses for enhancing employability; and (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) to (e) : A statement is laid on the table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 249 FOR 20.03.2017  REGARDING 'Shortage of Faculty' ASKED BY SHRI CHANDU LAL SAHU:

(a) & (b):  Although there are certain unfilled faculty positions in the higher educational institutions managed by the Central Government, the teaching programme is supported by research scholars, contract, adjunct and visiting faculty. As such, the teaching process is not adversely affected.

The recruitment of faculty is a continuous process and the vacancies keep arising due  to  retirement,  resignation  and  additional  requirements  on  account  of  enhanced students' strength. Besides, recruitment happens only when candidates of required merit and research experience are found.

In order to support the efforts for filling up the faculty positions, the Government has  decided  to  allow  the  faculty,  working  under  the  Central  Government  or  Central Autonomous Bodies, to join the newly set-up Central Educational Institutes on a longterm deputation basis.

(c)  to  (e):    In  order  to  improve  the  employable  skills  of  the  students  passing  from  the technical  institutions,  the  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  and  the  All  India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) have launched several initiatives such as:

I. National Employability Enhancement Mission (NEEM) for providing practical training  to  enhance  employability  of  a  student  either  pursuing  his  or  her graduation / diploma in any technical or non-technical stream or have discontinued studies of degree or diploma course.

II. Employability Enhancement Training Program (EETP) for providing employable skills for the engineering students currently studying.

III. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Kaushal Kendras in the colleges and universities.

IV. Career Oriented Courses (CoC).

With a view to further improve the employability of students passing out of the technical  institutions,  the  AICTE  Council  in  their  meeting  held  on  14 th March  2017 decided to make internships mandatory and also impart skills required for the industry before the students graduate out of the technical institutions.

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