In 1953, he served as a visiting faculty at Lokbharti Shikshan Sanstha which was an educational institution in Sanosara, Bhavnagar district, Gujarat. Umashankar Joshi also contributed to literary criticism of Gujarati literature. He wrote prefaces to works of many contemporary poets like Prahlad Parekh, Krishnalal Shridharani, Nathalal Dave and others. He tried to assess characteristics and traits of New Wave literature and historical context to that through his critical essays. In 1954 March, Umashankar Joshi was appointed as Member of the General Council and the executive committee of Sahitya Akademi from its inception. In June, he was appointed as professor of Gujarati Literature at Gujarat University. He was also appointed the head of School of languages in that university. Joshi continued to work in the same university till his retirement in 1972. In 1956, he toured America and England as a member of a committee sent by the Indian Government to study the activities of 'General Education' in American and some British Universities. In 1964, he became a member of a committee appointed by the Government of Gujarat for the establishment of South Gujarat and Saurashtra Universities. In 1964, Joshi presided convention of "Gujarat Sahitya Parishad" in Delhi. From 30 November 1966: he was Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat University and worked in this position till 1972. His early works have an influence of strong nationalism and Gandhian ideals of peace and non-violence. Although Joshi had a nationalistic background, his works also had themes of "Unity with the world and every human being". In 1956, there was a shift in his philosophy from Gandhian era and its principles to a disparity of modern life. His poem "Chinnabhinna cchu" (I am scattered) reflected this change in his philosophy. Desai considered that "Chinnabhinna cchu" and "Shodh" (The search) poems marks "mark a milestone depicting a sense of disintegration of the human personality and of seeking poetic beauty in words." Indra Nath Choudhuri proposed this "manifestation of notes of despair emerging from sense of helplessness" is part of a wider phenomenon seen in Indian poets from the mid-1950s like Faiz Ahmad Faiz (Urdu), Jibanananda Das, Navakanta Barua, Agyeya, etc. Although his literature from the post-1950s started expressing disparity it also possesses the values of unity of humankind and peace that he expressed in the early 30s.