Guest Faculty in the Era of NEP 2020: Challenges and Opportunities in Odisha's Universities

The introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has generated new debates on the future of higher education in India, especially in terms of faculty recruitment, professional development, and institutional autonomy. Within this reformist framework, the role and condition of guest faculty who constitute a significant portion of teaching staff in Odisha's universities remain largely neglected. Despite contributing substantially to teaching, research, and mentoring, guest faculty often experience structural marginalisation, including low remuneration, absence of job security, lack of recognition, and unequal treatment by senior colleagues and authorities. This paper critically examines the challenges and opportunities for guest faculty in Odisha within the context of NEP 2020. Using a qualitative and descriptive approach, supplemented by case-based insights from Odisha's universities, it highlights the systemic neglect of guest faculty, explores their lived experiences, and assesses the potential of NEP 2020 to create space for professional dignity and academic recognition. The paper argues that while NEP 2020 provides opportunities for teacher training, research incentives, and pathways for better integration into institutional structures, the absence of concrete provisions for employment security risks perpetuating precariousness. Policy reforms at both the state and central levels are therefore essential to ensure that guest faculty, as indispensable contributors to Odisha's higher education system, receive due recognition, dignity, and stability.