Former UGC chairman Hari Gautham on Monday lamented that the search committees set up for the selection of vice-chancellors to universities in the country were unable to appoint the right person to the important position.
“In the last 10 years, the committees comprising experts had not managed to find appropriate candidates to the key post,” he said, after inaugurating a seminar on ‘The structure and governance of universities’ at University of Mysore here.
Prof. Gautham said that being an eminent academician or a distinguished scientist should not be the sole criteria for selecting vice-chancellors since there are several other parameters. Unfortunately, this is not happening as the vice-chancellors are selected based on their bio-data, ignoring other facts essential for examination, he opined.
Arguing that the selection is tough in the present circumstances, the former UGC chairman said, “The vice-chancellor is the leader of the university. It’s sad that we are not appointing a leader to the post. If the VC is not a leader, he or she is not fit to hold the position.”
The seminar was organised by the Forum of Former Vice-chancellors of Universities in Karnataka.
Eminent jurist N.R. Madhava Menon, University of Mysore Vice-Chancellor K.S. Rangappa and others were present.
