HEC Tenure Track System (TTS) Associate Professor

According to the Model Tenure Track Process document, issued by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the criteria for appointment or promotion to an associate professorship differ from those for a professorship in degree rather than in kind. The candidate for Associate Professor should offer evidence of knowledge of developments in the field of expertise and a conscientious interest in improving teaching methods. It is expected that an Associate Professor shall already have shown a basic general understanding with regard to a large part of the discipline. This condition implies postdoctoral research or creative work sufficient to indicate continuing interest and growth in the candidate's professional field.

To be eligible for appointment or promotion to an associate professorship the faculty member is required to have a Ph.D./Relevant terminal qualification from a recognized and reputable Institution in the relevant field with either 6-years post-Ph.D./Relevant terminal degree or minimum of 4-years of post-PhD experience with at least 6 years of experience prior to the PhD. The experience to be counted is to be of teaching/research in a recognized University or a post-graduate Institution or professional experience in the relevant field in a National or International Organization. In addition 10 research publications (with at least 4 publications in the past 5 years) in Internationally Abstracted Journals, recognized for the purpose of appointment on Tenure Track by the Higher Education Commission, are required.


As a general rule, the length of service in the rank of Associate Professor before being considered for promotion to full professor is four years. Recommendations for promotion in less time should be carefully weighed and justified by the administrative officer making the recommendation.

Following are the Minimum Eligibility Conditions for Faculty Appointment (Associate Professor) under TTS, mentioned in the TTS performa:

Qualification: PhD Degree/ Terminal Qualification in the relevant field (from an HEC recognized Institution).

Experience: 6-years Post-PhD or minimum of 4-years of post-PhD experience along with at least 6 years of experience prior to the PhD. (The experience to be counted is to be of teaching/research in a recognized University or a post-graduate Institution or professional experience in the relevant field in a National or International Organization)

Publications: 10 research publications (with at least 4 publications in the past 5 years) in Journals recognized for the purpose of appointment on Tenure Track by the Higher Education Commission, i.e. research papers published in Journals that fall under the category W, X and Y for Social Sciences (till 30th June 2011) while for Science disciplines papers published in only W category (Impact Factor) Journals.

Tags: HEC, University, College

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