It’s our job to search for the diamonds: Hari Gautham
Former UGC chairman Hari Gautham on Monday said the search committees constituted to select Vice-Chancellors to universities in the country have not been able to choose the right persons to the key posts.
Speaking at the inauguration of a seminar on ‘The Structure and governance of universities’ at the University of Mysore here, Prof. Gautham said in the last 10 years, the committees, comprising academics and experts, have not picked competent candidates to the posts. He said being an eminent academic or a distinguished scientist should not be the criteria for the selection of the VC as there are several other parameters to mull over before selecting the candidate.
Unfortunately, this is not happening and VCs are selected based on their curriculum vitae, ignoring other factors necessary for examination, he said. The former UGC chairman heads the committee set up by the Ministry of Human Resource and Development to examine the functioning of the University Grants Commission (UGC). “The VC is the leader of the university. If the VC is not a leader, he or she is not fit to hold the post. The governance of a university will be good under an able vice-chancellor,” Prof. Gautham said. He suggested that the search panels must be given time to pick the best candidate. “It’s our job to search for the diamonds; the diamonds will not come to us.” Merit should be the sole criteria for zeroing on the candidate for the VC’s post, and the 10-year professorship criterion for becoming eligible for the VC’s post should go, he said.
Varsity teachers
Prof. Gautham proposed setting up of a committee to review the performance of university teachers once in five years. The panel should consist of at least three members from outside the State. “If the performance of the teacher is not satisfactory, he or she should be given a grace period of two years to improve. If they fail, they should be terminated without an inquiry,” he recommended.
The Vice-Chancellor is the leader of the university. If the VC is not a leader, he or she is not fit to hold the post
Hari Gautham
Former UGC chairman
Former UGC chairman Hari Gautham on Monday said the search committees constituted to select Vice-Chancellors to universities in the country have not been able to choose the right persons to the key posts.
Speaking at the inauguration of a seminar on ‘The Structure and governance of universities’ at the University of Mysore here, Prof. Gautham said in the last 10 years, the committees, comprising academics and experts, have not picked competent candidates to the posts. He said being an eminent academic or a distinguished scientist should not be the criteria for the selection of the VC as there are several other parameters to mull over before selecting the candidate.
Unfortunately, this is not happening and VCs are selected based on their curriculum vitae, ignoring other factors necessary for examination, he said. The former UGC chairman heads the committee set up by the Ministry of Human Resource and Development to examine the functioning of the University Grants Commission (UGC). “The VC is the leader of the university. If the VC is not a leader, he or she is not fit to hold the post. The governance of a university will be good under an able vice-chancellor,” Prof. Gautham said. He suggested that the search panels must be given time to pick the best candidate. “It’s our job to search for the diamonds; the diamonds will not come to us.” Merit should be the sole criteria for zeroing on the candidate for the VC’s post, and the 10-year professorship criterion for becoming eligible for the VC’s post should go, he said.
Varsity teachers
Prof. Gautham proposed setting up of a committee to review the performance of university teachers once in five years. The panel should consist of at least three members from outside the State. “If the performance of the teacher is not satisfactory, he or she should be given a grace period of two years to improve. If they fail, they should be terminated without an inquiry,” he recommended.
The Vice-Chancellor is the leader of the university. If the VC is not a leader, he or she is not fit to hold the post
Hari Gautham
Former UGC chairman
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