Eleven universities currently do not have a single permanent teacher on their rolls.

Data from the Higher Education Department shows that 2,966 of the 4,475 sanctioned faculty posts were vacant and to address this, the state government approved the engagement of 3,299 guest lecturers for the 2025-26 academic year.

In at least 13 universities, the number of guest lecturers exceeded the total sanctioned faculty strength. While a permanent faculty member is required to teach 16 hours a week, those teaching hours are often distributed among multiple guest lecturers.

The dependence on guest lecturers is most pronounced in newer universities in Koppal, Chamarajanagar, Bidar, Haveri, Hassan, Kodagu, Bengaluru (Nrupathunga University) and Mandya. However, even some older institutions, including the universities in Mysuru, Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Bengaluru and Shivamogga, rely extensively on temporary faculty.

Academicians, however, warn that prolonged failure to recruit permanent faculty is taking a toll on educational quality, university rankings and research activities.

Kuvempu University Vice-Chancellor Sharath Ananthamurthy noted that guest lecturers cannot guide research scholars, limiting universities' academic growth and reducing their ability to attract private investment in research and innovation. "Many qualified guest faculty members with five to 12 years of experience are unable to guide research students. Vacant posts also negatively affect university evaluations," he said, adding that job insecurity often prevents guest lecturers from developing a long-term commitment to their institutions.

The growing dependence on guest faculty is also straining university finances.

"Since guest lecturers are paid from universities' own limited resources, funds that could otherwise be used for infrastructure and student facilities are being diverted towards salaries," A M Khan, Vice-Chancellor, Karnatak University, Dharwad, said.

Harish Ramaswamy, former vice-chancellor of Adikavi Sri Maharshi Valmiki University, Raichur, described the situation as the result of a policy drift spanning nearly two decades. "To reduce committed expenditure, universities increasingly opted for contract faculty instead of permanent recruitment," he said. Salaries and pensions account for 12-13% of university budgets, and successive governments have been reluctant to create long-term financial liabilities through regular appointments.

Former Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar said the Siddaramaiah government had initiated efforts to rationalise faculty requirements and approve the recruitment of more than 1,000 teachers in public universities.

"A committee headed by me had recommended winding up certain universities. We need a complete overhaul of higher education in the state, and I hope the government acts on those recommendations," he said.