342 academics apply for 13 vice-chancellor posts

Time of India

4 days ago

Bhubaneswar: As many as 342 academics applied for 13 vice-chancellor posts advertised by the higher education department for state public universities. Scrutiny of the applications is underway, official sources said here on Monday.
Odisha govt on June 3 invited applications for the appointment of vice-chancellors of 13 govt-run universities. The last date for submission of applications was July 15.
The department received applications for the VC posts of 13 state public universities: Utkal University, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanjadeo University, Baripada, Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, Khallikote Unitary University , Berhampur, Shree Jagannath Sanskrit University, Puri, Rama Devi Women's University, Rajendra University, Balangir, Dharanidhar University, Keonjhar, Vikram Dev University, Jeypore, Madhusudan Law University, Cuttack, and Maa Manikeshwari University, Kalahandi.
According to the department, applicants were asked to apply for more than one university by clearly indicating their order of preference, with the most preferred university listed first. "Utkal University and Ravenshaw University were top choices of the candidates," official sources said.
Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview before a three-member selection committee. The venue and schedule will be communicated in due course, said department sources.
Official sources said the interview dates will be fixed for different universities on different dates, and applicants are required to attend the interview for each such university separately.
The Odisha Universities Amendment Act, 2024, clearly stated that a selection committee will be formed to recruit faculty members by following UGC guidelines. This committee will be chaired by the vice-chancellor of the university or his/her nominee.
This faculty selection committee will include an academician not below the rank of professor nominated by the Chancellor. It will have three subject experts selected by the VC from a panel of names recommended by the Syndicate.
Others will include the dean of the faculty or head of the department, along with an academician from ST/SC/OBC/women/minority/PWD as per the candidate present, to be nominated by the VC.
The committee will recommend three names for each university to the chancellor of the universities.
The Chancellor will select a VC for each university after holding interviews. The process will be completed within three months, official sources said.
Due to the lack of permanent VCs, universities were facing difficulties in making important policy decisions and holding faculty recruitment. VC appointment is necessary to start the process for the recruitment of faculty members at universities. Teaching and research work are badly affected due to the lack of faculty members.