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Tamil Nadu Leads Nation in 'Professors of Practice'
16 Feb
Summary
- Tamil Nadu leads with 395 industry professionals as Professors of Practice.
- Private and deemed universities appoint the majority of Professors of Practice.
- The Professor of Practice role offers temporary, honorary positions to experts.

Tamil Nadu has taken the lead nationwide in appointing Professors of Practice (PoP), with 395 industry experts now integrated into its higher education institutions. This initiative, launched by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2022, aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry demands. The state is followed by Maharashtra (193) and Gujarat (179) in this significant educational reform.
Across India, 349 institutions have appointed 1,841 Professors of Practice. Private universities (715) and deemed universities (699) are the primary drivers of this trend. In contrast, central universities have appointed a mere 15 PoPs, despite their substantial presence in the higher education landscape. This role is temporary, non-regular, and requires candidates to possess at least 15 years of professional experience.
The Professor of Practice positions are generally limited to three years, with a possible one-year extension, ensuring a maximum tenure of four years. This scheme encourages distinguished experts to contribute by designing industry-aligned courses, engaging in joint research, and mentoring students with practical knowledge, thereby strengthening academia-industry ties.



