Professors of Practice : The Need Of The Hour

“We do face a challenge in hiring as specific skill sets required for the industry are not currently easily available in the market,” said Yeshwinder Patial, director for human resources at MG Motor India. This quote might sound disconnected from the following paragraph. As you read on, you will understand the relevance.

If history in years to come categorizes the present era as the era of “I &I” – Ingenuity and Innovation, it would not be an exaggeration. We live in an interconnected globalized world. In the contemporary times there exists a societal demand for experimentation across domains, including higher education. Breaking away from traditional career classifications has been duly recognized by the apex body, the University Grants Commission (UGC). As an education counselor myself, I must really congratulate the forward thinking think tank / government for taking the bull by the horns. It is the need of the hour to address evolving challenges in education which necessitates roles that transcend conventional boundaries. Recognizing this need, the UGC introduced the designation 'Professor of Practice,' (POP) formalizing the opportunity for educational institutions to engage industry experts.  Essentially, if you possess significant expertise in a particular field but lack a formal academic qualification like a PhD, you remain eligible for consideration as faculty in any college or university in India.

In fact, all top league schools abroad like MIT, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Princeton have been engaging industry experts to provide industry-based education to students since long. While guiding students in writing their Statement of Purpose (SOPs), we counselors specifically ask them to highlight practical, relevant experience if any. As these POPs will also help students in securing internships, this will enable the students to elevate their resume exponentially. Instead of just theoretical concepts they will have practical knowledge to showcase.

The National Education Policy 2020 aims to revolutionize higher education by emphasizing skill-based learning to meet industry and economic needs. The policy recommends the integration of vocational education with general education and the strengthening of industry-academia collaboration in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Additionally, it contributes to the augmentation of faculty resources in higher education, ultimately benefitting both the industry and society by producing graduates equipped with relevant skills.

Change is never easy. There is criticism around the perceived power asymmetries created by Professors of Practice. This argument posits that the intellectual superiority of academic clashes with the experiential dominance of practitioners, leading to potential conflicts. I believe that such thinking may stem from default biases and a lack of exposure to collaborative dynamics. It's important to note that these criticisms primarily focus on power dynamics within professional groups rather than the intended enrichment of students. The only genuine concern may lie in the institutional readiness to implement such practices, ensuring integrity and adherence to eligibility conditions.

As William Arthur Ward, one of the most quoted writers of inspirational maxims said, ‘The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.’ It is high time we, as guardians of a noble profession, put the interest of the student first.