What is Assistant professor
Assistant Professors are entry-level faculty members of colleges and universities who assist and support their supervising professors. They assist professors in evaluating assessments, instructing students, and developing lessons. They also perform research and supervise undergraduate students.
The duties and Responsibilities of Assistant Professors include:
- Mentor students in colleges and universities
- Conduct Research
- Teach courses
- Assessing student performance through assignments and exams.
- Prepare and deliver lectures
- Participating in institutional and departmental activities
- Helping recruitment, serving on committees, and mentoring new faculty members
- Attending workshops and conferences and collaborating with peers to make headway in their teaching and research goals.
Skills and Personality Traits
Interpersonal Skills: This is one of the most essential soft skills for an assistant professor, as they must collaborate with others for various tasks such as serving on committees and instructing students.
Writing Skills: This skill is crucial for many of an assistant professor’s day-to-day activities and duties. They need strong writing ability to publish their research studies, develop course content, develop writing intensive assignments, create online tasks, etc.
Speaking Skills: Good communication skills are essential for fulfilling many duties, such as presenting lectures, presiding over conferences, providing feedback to students, etc.
Course Development: As assistant professors are responsible for creating syllabi for their courses, course development is an essential skill for them. They either independently develop programmes or work with other departments to build course concepts, create instructional content, establish performance criteria, define learning objectives, etc.,
Besides these, Research, Organizational Behaviour, Professional development, and Digital Learning Management Systems will help assistant professors stay updated.
How to Become Assistant Professor without PhD in India
Pursuing a career in academia is quite appealing if you are passionate about teaching and interested in this field. Here are the steps to become an assistant professor without PhD:
- Earn Your Degrees
Start by pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field while deciding on a specialisation to advance your career. After your bachelor’s, it is important to continue your master’s degree. You can either immediately continue to earn your master’s after your first degree or work for some time and later return to finish your master’s.
- Gain Teaching Experience
Gaining relevant experience will help you prepare for the assistant professor post. Building a strong teaching portfolio by working as a lecturer, teaching assistant, or adjunct faculty member will strengthen your candidacy for the post. Demonstrating your passion for education and excellent teaching skills will also strengthen your candidacy.
- Build a Network
Build a network with professionals, especially those working in academia. This will not only help you learn about new opportunities but also give you access to professional development.
- Publish Research
Consider presenting at academic conferences or publishing in journals to contribute to scholarly research and enhance your research proposal. This engagement will demonstrate your value to institutions and potentially help you qualify for the assistant professor position.
- A Mentor
Look for a mentor in your field of work, especially someone who began their career without a doctoral degree. This way, you can get personalised advice on your career, which will guide you on the right path. Additionally, you may get access to your mentor’s network, which will help you learn about new opportunities.
- Teaching Fellowships
A few universities offer teaching fellowships, which are excellent opportunities for candidates without a doctoral degree to gain teaching experience. This will also hone their research skills, thereby paving the way to successfully pursue their academic careers.
- Maintain a Positive Reputation
A good relationship with your peers will help you gain a positive reputation. In addition, share your academic accomplishments and recent contributions in the field. However, be mindful and humble while presenting yourself to others. Engage in leadership roles like organising conferences, serving on committees, etc., demonstrating leadership within academia. This will improve your candidature for the assistant professor position.
- Update Your Records
Maintaining and updating your records as often as possible is crucial, especially if you are anticipating a promotion. Make sure to highlight your achievements, particularly those that showcase the prerequisites necessary for an assistant professor position without a PhD such as:
- You conducted collaborative work in academic settings.
- Data about students you mentored
- Records of leadership activities, service work and professional associations at the university.
- Proof of published works or citations that demonstrate your expertise
- Apply for Teaching-focused Universities
Apply to institutions emphasising excellence in undergraduate and master’s degrees over research productivity. These institutions are teaching-focused and give less priority to research credentials but value academic innovation and teaching experience.
UGC NET
A Ph D is not required for candidates who have qualified in UGC NET exam. It is a recognised eligibility criterion to apply for an assistant professor’s post in universities and colleges. However, a doctoral degree will provide additional rewards regarding research, career opportunities, and higher academic positions. UGC NET Exam is conducted two times a year (June and December). It is one of the most prestigious and challenging exams for those who aspire to become an Assistant Professor without Ph D in various universities across India. A master’s degree from a recognised university with at least 55% is eligible to write the UGC Net exam.
Salary of Assistant Professor without PhD
UGC’s 7th pay commission has revised salaries of assistant professors from 8 16 to 24 per cent according to the DA (dearness allowance) paid by the employer. The Pay scale for assistant professors under the UGC 7th pay commission is in the band of INR 15600 – INR 39100. There has also been a change in the grade pay, and assistant professors are under the grade pay – INR 6600. The pay scale of assistant professors has been increased from INR 56,480 to INR 68,900. Candidates with a Master’s degree will be entitled to two annual increments.
Conclusion
Individuals seeking a career as an Assistant Professor without a PhD degree must be dedicated and persistent. Set goals, be proactive and participate in opportunities that will positively enhance your professional development. Academic success is possible through factors such as relevant experience, a strong commitment to teaching and gaining expertise in the field.
FAQs on How to Become Assistant Professor without PhD
Is PhD important for becoming an assistant professor?
According to the revised notifications, a Doctorate is no longer mandatory for the post of assistant professor. Before being appointed to this post, an individual needs to clear the state, national, or state-level eligibility tests.
Is a part time PhD valid for assistant professor?
Yes, a part-time PhD candidate can become Assistant Professor.
What is NET qualification for assistant professor?
UGC has standardized the NET eligibility criteria for Assistant Professors. The basic eligibility is a Master’s degree from a recognised university and a score of at least 55% in the relevant subject.