All prospective Vice Chancellor candidates aspiring for the key job in Kerala universities may have to now face a volley of questions from the search panel as part of the selection process.
The State Higher Education Department is considering a proposal to include the process of having a ‘conversation’ or ‘discussion’ with the shortlisted candidates a part of the selection process of Vice Chancellors.
This system was first tested for the selection of Vice Chancellor for APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University in September last (later annulled by Governor P. Sathasivam, who is the Chancellor of State universities and initiated again).
On Friday, the search panel had a similar conversation with the Vice Chancellor candidates for the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kalamassery. People close to the development said the new process was likely to be a common feature in the selection of Vice Chancellors of State universities.
The process of having a discussion or a conversation between the search panel and the shortlisted candidates remains a common feature for the selection of Vice Chancellor in all Central universities. While the University Grants Commission has outlined the role of the search committee, it is up to the search committee to decide on the methodology to be applied, they said.
As per the UGC regulations, the selection of Vice Chancellor should be through a proper identification of a panel of three to five names by a search committee through a public notification/ nomination/ talent search process or in combination.
‘Unreasonable’
The Visitor/ Chancellor shall appoint the Vice Chancellor out of the panel or names recommended by the search committee.
Terming the process of inviting applications and holding interviews as ‘unreasonable’ and a ‘bureaucratic approach’, academic R.V.G Menon said no self-respecting academician would take the application and interview route to become the head of a varsity. “Instead, the search committee should form a panel and invite noted academicians to take up the post,” he said.
Rajan Gurukkal, Vice Chairman of the Kerala State Higher Education Council, pointed out that the earlier process of the government inviting high-profile educationists had degenerated into a farce.
“The politicians started nominating Vice Chancellors on the basis of caste, community, and party considerations. In this context, the mode of notification for nomination as well as self application came in vogue. Now selection is transparent and to a great extent based on merit. The search committee consists of only the Chief Secretary, UGC nominee, and the university nominee (only one bureaucrat and two academics),” he said.