Subject: Request for absorption/retention of TEQIP faculties (Assistant Professor) or

extension of TEQIP-III Project beyond September 2020.

Respected Sir/Madam,

This is to bring into your notice that National Project Implementation Unit (NPIU), on behalf
of MHRD- Govt. of India recruited Assistant Professors under the program of Technical
Education Quality Improvement Program (TEQIP-III) all over India in the year 2017-2018.
This project has appointed 1700 highly qualified graduates from IITs, NITs, and other premier
institutions of the country in existing institutions with special consideration for the low-
income and special category states.
These Assistant professors have been recruited through a rigorous national level selection
process held at 20 NITs across the country. The shortlisted candidates for the recruitment
process were graduates from IITs, NITs, and other Central Universities of repute. The
appointment process emphasized merit both in theory and practice.
The Faculty allotment has helped institutions to maintain required student-faculty ratio (SFR)
of 1:15 as prescribed by AICTE, New Delhi. Since joining their respective institutes, these
faculty members have immensely contributed in the paradigm shift of the teaching-learning
process, preparation of Self-Assessment Report (SAR) for NBA accreditation, student
internships, GATE & Employability skills training, laboratory upgradation, national
conferences, Faculty Development Programs, Procuring Digital Tools and research grants.

Under adverse circumstances, the TEQIP-III faculty have been working relentlessly, to
establish a standard of education at par which is sustainable and shall benefit the institute as
well as its students in the long run.

However, the term of TEQIP-III faculty is coming to closure in September 2020 and hence
creating a state of unrest among the colleges as well as the faculty members.
Challenges after TEQIP III project

• More than 400 TEQIP Faculties have enrolled for the Part time PhD under TEQIP at
various NITs. If the project ends in coming Sep 2020, those 400 enrollments will go in
vain. As it would be really difficult to continue the program once the sponsorship is
withdrawn along with our jobs.
• TEQIP Faculties have also grabbed approx. 395 CRS projects. The projects came to halt
due to COVID-19 for almost 6 months. None of the CRS projects have received their
3rd installment of the Grant, which was expected to be received after 2nd review of the
meeting held at 21st and 22nd Feb,2020. If the tenure comes to end by Sep 2020, none
of us will be able to complete the project within stipulated time. It will be very
unethical to transfer our project to the non-performing CO-PI of the project. As the
whole idea of the project and hard work was given by the TEQIP Faculties as PI.
• Many TEQIP Faculties are working as Guide and CO-Guide of Research Scholar
students. If the suddenly TEQIP Faculties are terminated, the whole research ideas and
guidance will be withdrawn from the students, which will hamper their future works
to complete their research.
• The faculty members were part of every major milestone that institutions achieved in
the project duration. Their absence will disrupt the newly developed teaching-learning
and research environment of institutions severely. Even the NPIU (National Project
Implementation Unit) is insisting the states to do their best in retaining such highly
skilled manpower to avoid disruption in the growth of technical education.
• The student-faculty ratio of the institutions is maintained with the number of Assistant
professors recruited in the project. This will get reduced beyond the prescribed limit if
the sanctioned vacant posts are not filled before the project end.

It has been known to us that continuous efforts have been put by MHRD to retain TEQIP
faculties. We all TEQIP faculties are eagerly waiting for a positive news as our hope
remains only on Ministry of Education.
There has been a lot of rumors of closure of the project by Sep 2020. Few of the copies of
rumors being attached here with the mail. Please find the attachment.