UoH academic council approves the proposal for SWARG

University of Hyderabad (UoH) has launched a plan to leverage the category-I graded autonomy conferred upon by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to take the varsity to the next level of academic excellence while adhering to its core values of equity, social justice, and affordable higher education for the needy.

The varsity said the academic council approved the proposal and gave a nod for creation of a fund for Student Welfare, Academic and Research Grant (SWARG), provision of incentives for high-achieving faculty members through fast-track promotions, financial awards, and creation of new teaching positions such as research professor and distinguished professor.

SWARG, which is the centerpiece of the new proposal will be funded by additional revenues to be generated by the university.

Presenting the proposal at the academic council meeting, Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podile said the new steps for leveraging the graded autonomy granted by UGC would neither affect assistant and associate professors, whose promotion norms would continue to be guided by UGC guidelines.

He also said the new plan would not have an impact on the fee structure of the courses of study currently being offered by the university.

There would be incentives for high standard research work by faculty members, he said, adding that excellence in teaching would also be suitably rewarded.