Race for V-C posts in 5 univs begins

Ahmedabad: Parliamentary elections are over and the mandate has been very clear. Also, there have been no two minds about the prime minister candidate.
However, closer home the race for top job in universities across Gujarat is hotting up. There are several vice-chancellors in-waiting as tenure of V-Cs in five universities will end by July this year.
According to officials in state education department, candidates mostly professors and deans of various colleges are vying for this plum post in Gujarat University, Kutch University, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, Bhavnagar University and Sanskrit University.
"The competition has become fierce with news of V-C's salary increased to Rs 80,000 from initial Rs 30,000. This is apart from other perks like a palatial bungalow and an official vehicle," says a senior official from state education department.
"Three-member search committees appointed for each of these universities have called for bio-datas from prospective candidates and also sought advice from corporate bigwigs and high-ranking academicians of premier institutes to help draw up a list," the official says. He adds that the search committee has already sent names of three candidates to government for selection of V-C of the Sanskrit University in Somnath.
According to AU Patel, former V-C, Gujarat University, "This is the first time that V-C posts will be lying vacant simultaneously in five universities of state. If candidates miss the bus this time, they will have to wait another two to three years."
"It is like a lottery now. Lady luck can smile on anybody. Like PM in-waiting, there are many who hope to be V-C in-waiting," says an educationist.
"In the past, an RSS leader from Saurashtra was instrumental in selecting V-Cs in various universities," he says. "Fortunately, now state government looks after the selection process and appointment of V-Cs," he adds.