The University Grants Commission has approved the draft regulations for a new policy to hire faculty called 'Professors of Practice', through which Universities and Higher Educational Institutions can soon hire distinguished experts from a field as a professor.

The policy is expected to be notified soon. Under this new policy, the expert who is to be hired need not have the proposed academic qualification and publication requirements but must have proven expertise (at least 15 years) in a specific profession/field.

Under the policy, experts from various fields, including engineering, science, media, literature, entrepreneurship, social sciences, and fine arts can soon be hired by higher educational institutions.

Such people hired should not be above 10% of the faculty strength in the Univ. or Higher Educational institutions. The hiring will be for a fixed term and will not affect the number of sanctioned posts or the recruitment of regular faculty members.

A source mentioned that this would not be applicable to those who are in a teaching position, either serving or retired.