The University Grants Commission (UGC) has now confirmed that all the doctoral degree holders from the top 500 foreign universities will be eligible for direct recruitment as an assistant professor in Indian universities.
According to the reports, the top 500 ranks will be decided on the basis of famous world university ranking system of:
- Quacquarelli Symonds (QS ranking)
- Times Higher Education rankings (THE ranking)
- The Academic Ranking of World Universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong University
“The direct recruitment eligibility of international PhD holders is applicable for the disciplines of arts, commerce, humanities, education, law, social sciences, sciences, languages, library science, physical education, journalism and mass communication” a senior University Grants Commission (UGC) official said.
Earlier, the candidates eligible for the post were required to have minimum 55 per cent marks in the master’s degree in the related subject from an Indian university or an equivalent degree from an accredited foreign university. The candidates were also required to clear the National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by the UGC or the CSIR, or a similar test accredited by the UGC, like SLET, SET.
While PhD degree holders from Indian university with the required percentage in masters’ are also eligible for direct recruitment, the minimum requirements related to masters’ programme have been removed for international PhD holders.
However, the exemption is only for the written test. The candidates selection will be based on the interview. “The direct recruitment eligibility only grants candidates an exemption from the written test but their performance in the interview will be a deciding factor for their appointment,” the official further stated.