In a bid to address the shortage of teaching staff in government technical institutions, the Gujarat government has significantly increased remuneration for visiting faculty in engineering, pharmacy and polytechnic colleges.

Under the revised norms, visiting faculty in degree engineering and pharmacy colleges will now be paid Rs 750 per lecture, while those teaching in diploma engineering and pharmacy programmes will receive Rs 650 per lecture.

The Technical Education Department said the move is aimed at ensuring that students do not suffer academically due to a large number of vacant faculty positions in government institutions. Several engineering and pharmacy colleges have been functioning with a shortage of regular teachers for years, increasing the workload on existing faculty members and creating difficulties in subjects where no permanent teachers are available.

Officials said institutions were already permitted to engage visiting faculty, but the earlier remuneration of Rs 250 to Rs 350 per lecture failed to attract qualified candidates. As a result, colleges, particularly those in remote areas, struggled to find suitable instructors.

Following repeated representations seeking higher compensation, the Education Department has approved revised rates. Visiting faculty engaged in degree engineering and pharmacy courses will receive Rs 750 per lecture, while those teaching diploma-level programmes will be paid Rs 650 per lecture.

The department has also prescribed conditions for appointments. Candidates must possess the required academic qualifications, and colleges can engage visiting faculty only after distributing the regular academic workload among existing teachers. Institutions will be required to issue advertisements and invite applications before making appointments.

Payments to visiting faculty will be capped at Rs 45,000 per month, based on the approved lecture rates.