The job that pays the bills is great, but seeking a meaningful career that allows you to reflect your education and knowledge to the upcoming generations is more rewarding than a paycheck. If you think about it, every person, at a certain point in life wants to become a teacher. The compatible strengths and skills required are strictly based on your passion, a promising job, meaningful career and a work of value. Basically, professors are individuals who have mastered the art of resourcefulness and last a legacy by teaching students those same experiences. But, it’s not all easy to become the ‘guru’. Here’s a compact little guide for aspiring professors in India.
Getting Started
If you are still in school, the first thing you need is a stream (Science, Commerce or Arts) that interests you. Don’t pick the subject because you are good at it, pick because you would love to learn more about it. Enroll yourself in a college that offers a course of your interest in the same field and complete your graduation and post graduation.
Colleges, typically in India, require a doctoral degree but depending upon the subject area, post-grads and professionals are also considered for teaching positions. Also, note that the Government of India has made it mandatory for universities to hire only PhD candidates for the post of Assistant Professor from 2021.
National Eligibility Test (NET)
College professors who teach in a professional faculty are required to take the state level test to be considered for the position. The UGC conducts the examination twice every year and is divided into two qualifications:
NET qualifiers: Those who qualify for the position can apply for the position of lecturer all around India.
SET qualifiers: Those who qualify SET can only apply for a lecturer position in the same state they took the examination in.
16 Skills That Every Aspiring Professor Should Develop
- Classroom Organization
- Classroom Management
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Curriculum Knowledge
- Delivery of Material
- Develop Lesson Plans
- Directing
- Disciplinary Action
- Leadership
- Positive Attitude
- Positive Role Model
- Relationship Building
- Supervision
- Time Management
- Understanding
Can a Professional with Industry Experience Become a Professor?
Yes, of course. In India, there are certain businesses or professions that train people with particular skill sets. In a Journalism college, the photography course is a subject that can be best explained by someone who owns an experience in the field. If you are a professional with 5+ years of industry portfolio, you can teach that specific subject that revolves around your strengths. So, if you are a person who earns by doing the same work for years, your knowledge is pretty much gold for the students.
Experience and Expertise Required to Become a Professor in India
To get a break into a top-class college or university, start with teaching as early as possible. If you are still in college, help out your fellow classmates with group sessions or talk to the local coaching institutes to work there as mentors. For example, if you are very good at biology, ask around school students if they want lectures after school to help out with their syllabus.
Also, with the advent of technology today, you can sign up as a tutor for online classes too.
Salary and Responsibilities of a Professor in India
The national average salary for an Assistant Professor is ₹5,40,282 in India according to Glassdoor. In private colleges, the pay scale is higher but adds another multitude of responsibilities along with teaching.
The following are some of the responsibilities that are to be fulfilled by the teaching professionals:
- Develop curricula for students.
- Teaching within the quality assurance framework of the college.
- Provide with student admissions and assessments.
- Assess examinations and works.
- Work with the college research strategy.
- Supervise student projects.
- Help students engage in critical discussions and rational thinking.
- Develop team spirit and team quality.
