University's search for VC continues

NASHIK: After Ahmedabad's executive chair of the National Innovation Foundation and professor at Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad - Anil Gupta, declined the Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University's (YCMOU) offer for the post of vice chancellor, the university will now ask for confirmation from its second coice - Satish Wate, the director of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) in Nagpur.
Gupta's name was finalized by a committee comprising the academic council, the management council and secretary of the governor at a meeting held recently.
However, as he declined the offer, their second choice - Wate's confirmation will be sought by Monday.
The meeting was held on March 4 where the council finalized Gupta as the successor of the former VC - late R Krishnakumar, who passed away on January 21. Since then Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) Arun Jamkar has been the YCMOU's acting VC.
The procedure for appointing the next vice chancellor started on March 4 and is expected to be completed within a fortnight.
The council has the authority to select the successor and their criterion for selection is that the candidate should be a representative of a national-level organization.
Prakash Atkare the YCMOU registrar, said, "After finalizing Gupta's name, we asked for his confirmation, but he said that it was not possible for him to take charge. In such cases, we ask for confirmation from the second choice. In a day or two we will ask Satish Wate for his confirmation. After receiving confirmation, we will send it to the governor for approval. Once we get the governor's approval, the new vice chancellor will take charge."