Tamil Nadu Leads the Way: Embedding Industry Expertise in Higher Education

Tamil Nadu is taking a significant step forward in the education sector by integrating industry expertise into its Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Leading this initiative, Tamil Nadu is followed by Maharashtra and Gujarat in hiring industry experts as professors of practice (PoPs), according to University Grants Commission (UGC) data.

The UGC released guidelines in 2022 for hiring PoPs, aiming to blend professional acumen with academic settings, thereby bridging the gap between academia and industry. The role, which requires at least 15 years of relevant experience and ideally senior positions, is temporary and does not affect sanctioned posts. Statistics reveal Tamil Nadu has appointed 395 PoPs, the highest among Indian states.

The concept has also gained traction among private and deemed-to-be universities, while central universities have been slow to adopt it, with only 15 appointments. The scheme's objective is to draw distinguished field experts for course development and research collaboration, contributing to the academia-industry integration and offering mentorship to students.