Tamil Nadu leads in hiring industry experts as professors of practice

Tamil Nadu has emerged as the frontrunner in appointing industry professionals as professors of practice (PoP) across Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), followed by Maharashtra and Gujarat, according to data from the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The UGC issued guidelines in 2022 to enable HEIs to appoint professors of practice with the objective of bringing real-world experience into classrooms and narrowing the gap between academia and industry. The position is strictly temporary and does not replace any sanctioned teaching post. Eligibility requires a minimum of 15 years of relevant professional experience, preferably in senior leadership roles.

UGC data show that a total of 1,841 professors of practice have been appointed by 349 HEIs so far. Tamil Nadu accounts for the highest number with 395 appointments — a ratio of about 1 PoP for every HEI in the state that has made appointments , indicating strong uptake of the scheme. Maharashtra follows with 193 PoPs, while Gujarat and Karnataka have appointed 179 and 170 professors of practice respectively.

When comparing the relative engagement of states, Tamil Nadu’s ratio of PoPs to participating HEIs is the highest among major states, while states such as Karnataka and Gujarat — though among the top four in absolute numbers — show lower ratios, reflecting either larger HEI bases or slower adoption in some institutions.

Private universities have taken the lead in integrating industry professionals into academic roles. Of the total appointments, private universities account for 715 PoPs, followed by deemed-to-be universities with 699. State universities have appointed 212 professors of practice, and colleges 200. In contrast, central universities have made only 15 such appointments, the lowest ratio of PoPs relative to the number of institutions in this category indicating limited adoption despite India having 56 central universities among its expansive higher education ecosystem of over 45,000 colleges and more than 1,150 universities.

Explaining the intent behind the initiative, a senior UGC official said the scheme aims to bring in distinguished experts from fields such as engineering , science , technology and entrepreneurship to help design industry-relevant courses, collaborate on joint research projects and provide mentorship and exposure to students.

The official added that a professor of practice can serve for a maximum of three years at an institution, extendable by one year only in exceptional cases, with the total tenure capped at four years under any circumstances. The scheme also offers senior professionals an opportunity to serve on an honorary basis and contribute to nation-building by sharing their expertise with the academic community.