Regulate Professorship appointments by Postgraduate Colleges

As a Senior Professor who has served in academic institutions, I am concerned about the appointment of Professors by Postgraduate Colleges in Sri Lanka. I refer your readers to an article in Wikipedia about appointing or awarding academic ranks in the universities in the UK. To my knowledge the postgraduate colleges like the American College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists or the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK or Australia do not award professorships but they award Honorary fellowships.

The award of Professorships is carried out generally by the Universities to deserving candidates based on their contribution to scholarship i.e. contribution to research (research publications, research grants and research supervision) + undergraduate & postgraduate teaching + administration in University and service to humanity.

The awarding body (the University) should have strict criteria that needs to be fulfilled by the candidate for appointment as Professor. These criteria should be vetted and approved by the University Council. I have been President and later Patron of a postgraduate college and can say that we did not have the provision or criteria for appointing Professors.

The scholarly work submitted by the candidate needs to be scrutinised by local/international peers. In many institutions a research degree of MD or PhD is mandatory. The report of two or three peers - usually one internal and two externals are reviewed by a promotion board which decides on the promotion. At times an interview is part of the process. Failure of such a strict criterion leads to people of mediocrity being appointed as Professors and will not promote good research by intellectuals that will benefit humanity. Others who are fit for such promotions would feel undervalued and may not perform well or leave the academic institutions as they have nothing to gain.

The postgraduate colleges, the Universities, the Sri Lanka Medical Council and the Health Department must get together and decide as to which bodies can award Professorships. If not, all the postgraduate colleges and even professional associations for sub-disciplines may proceed with appointments that would undervalue the respect and prestige associated with Professorship.

Professor Wilfred Perera (Past President SLMA & SLCOG & Past Patron SLCOG) Via email