THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Higher Education Minister R Bindu has informed that the upper age limit for the appointment of assistant professors in various universities and government-aided colleges in the state has been increased to 50 years. The decision has been taken based on the recommendation of the Higher Education Reforms Commission chaired by Shyam B Menon.

The new order is applicable for appointment of teachers in government-aided Arts and Science colleges, training Colleges, law colleges, Sanskrit colleges, Arabic colleges and various universities.

At present the upper age limit for appointment of a professor is 40 years. But the UGC norms applicable to teacher appointments do not prescribe an upper age limit. The decision was taken after considering the report given by the Director of College Education and the recommendation of the State Council of Higher Education to waive the upper age limit for the appointment of college professors.

The minister said that the universities have been asked to take steps to amend the university rules as per the UGC rules to avoid the upper age limit for direct recruitment to the associate professor and professor posts.

Candidates with PhD and post-doctoral fellowship are mainly considered for the post of Assistant Professor in universities and colleges. But Minister Dr Bindu said that may people are missing the opportunity to apply for the post as they need more time to acquire these higher degrees.

Changing the appointment age limit will also help in attracting highly qualified researchers in foreign universities to Kerala.