Hyderabad: Are candidates with MCA and PhD qualifications being treated unfairly in faculty appointments at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad (JNTUH)? There are growing concerns that these individuals are not given the same opportunities as others when applying for teaching positions in private engineering colleges affiliated with the university.
A major question arises regarding whether JNTUH’s committee, responsible for approving faculty qualifications in unaided private colleges, has the power to override the norms set by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Many believe that JNTUH is not recognizing MCA-PhD holders as eligible to teach Computer Science, which has led to college management dismissing many qualified faculty members.
AICTE has clearly defined the qualifications required for teaching positions in technology institutions. According to a 2016 notification, candidates with MCA, MSc in Mathematics, Physics, Electronics, or Computer Science, along with ME, MTech, or PhD in Computer Science or Information Technology, are eligible to teach Computer Science and IT courses. Despite this, JNTUH’s inconsistent implementation of these norms has created difficulties for MCA holders with PhDs in Computer Science.
Many of these professionals have over 25 years of teaching experience and expertise in key subjects like Programming Languages, Data Structures, Algorithms, and Artificial Intelligence. However, they are often overlooked for teaching positions in CSE and IT departments. Instead, candidates with MSc (Mathematics, Physics, or Electronics) and MTech (Computer Science) qualifications are preferred, even though MCA graduates receive more extensive training in computer science concepts.
AICTE has attempted to resolve this issue through notifications in 2018 and 2022, but discrimination against MCA-PhD holders continues. These individuals face professional humiliation and unfair treatment due to JNTUH’s policies on faculty eligibility.
Interestingly, JNTUH allows MCA-PhD holders to be appointed as assistant professors. However, when it comes to promotions, the university claims they are not qualified for professor positions, even if they have over 20 years of experience, including roles as associate professors and research supervisors.
Adding to the confusion, a candidate with an MCA from JNTUH or Osmania University who earns a PhD abroad can work as a professor in foreign universities. These same individuals are often invited to give expert lectures in India. Yet, JNTUH does not recognize them as eligible for professor positions within its own affiliated institutions. This inconsistency raises serious questions about the fairness of the university’s policies.
