Mangalore University revises list of adjunct professors

MANGALURU: Mangalore University (MU) has revised the list of adjunct faculty appointed for various postgraduate (PG) courses. The appointment of adjunct professors is a mandatory requirement of the University Grants Commission, and it started at MU, when K Byrapppa was the vice-chancellor in 2015. However, the list was not revised since then, due to various reasons.
The syndicate meeting held last month, has approved the revised list of adjunct professors, and the same has been sent to the government. "This time we have followed UGC norms, while appointing faculty, and for other rules. The hiring of adjunct faculty aims to improve the quality of teaching, and give more exposure to PG students," said PS Yadapadithaya, vice-chancellor, Mangalore University.
As per the rules, an adjunct professor can visit the university, a maximum of six times a year. MU will pay for all their expenses, including travel. Yadapadithya said that based on the recommendation of each department head, the adjunct faculty list has been prepared.
"Adjunct faculty will include veteran professors, personalities, and scientists from foreign universities. UGC, highlighting the need for adjunct faculty in universities, states that its primary objective is to enrich the overall learning process, by bringing external perspectives to regular teaching.
Such interactions are expected to foster a trans-disciplinary approach, and synergise the outside real world experience, with the intellectual pursuits inside the varsity," he said.
Apart from teaching, adjunct faculty are also expected to actively participate in service-related activities, such as sitting on departmental committees, serving as advisors to faculty or undergraduate and postgraduate students, helping students network, and active collaboration with the industry or employer, providing internship and job opportunities. It is learnt that the current list has only a few new members.