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| EDUCATION TRIBUNE |
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Pro-VC row: baby thrown out with bathwater Too many varsities impede HRD |
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Pro-VC row: baby thrown out with bathwater ON February 14 last year, the Haryana Government scrapped the post of Pro- Vice-Chancellor (PVC) from all state universities. Nearly a year later, on January 28 this year the Punjab Cabinet also decided to do away with the post of PVC from all state universities. Petty ego-clashes between the university VC and the PVC, ultimately, did an irreparable damage to the state universities — a damage which could have been avoided had anybody in the Governor-Chancellor’s office or the state Higher Education Departments cared to look around and see the university system in the neighbouring states. The key culprit in the Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh university statutes is the very clause that defines the procedure for the appointment of the PVC and holds him out as an independent entity on a par in status with the Vice-Chancellor. This led to bi-polarity in the university power structure and caused frequent clashes. In universities of other states, the situation is absolutely different and cannot, in any case, lead to a clash between the VC and the PVC. The malaise can be traced back to the Punjabi University Act, 1961 which has been adopted by Haryana and Himachal universities with slight variations. It states: “9-AA.(1) The Pro-Vice-Chancellor shall be appointed by the Chancellor on the advice of the state government.” (2) The Pro-Vice-Chancellor shall hold the office for a term of three years, which may be extended by the Chancellor, on similar advice, for such further periods not exceeding three years at a time, as he may deem fit. (3) The Chancellor shall determine the amount of remuneration and other conditions of service of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor.” The three sub-clauses above make the PVCs believe that they are on a par with the Vice-Chancellor and are accountable to the Chancellor – and Chancellor only. In contrast to this, study Clause 14 of the UP Universities Act 1973: “(2) The Vice-Chancellor, if he considers necessary, may appoint a Pro-Vice-Chancellor from amongst the professors of the university. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor appointed under sub-section (2) shall discharge his duties in addition to his duties as a professor. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor shall hold the office at the pleasure of the Vice-Chancellor. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor shall get an honorarium of Rs 300 per month. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor shall assist the Vice-Chancellor in respect of such matters as may be specified by the Vice-Chancellor in this behalf from time to time and shall preside over the meetings of the university in the absence of the Vice-Chancellor and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned or delegated to him by the Vice-Chancellor.” The Clause, I must say, clarifies the status of the Vice-Chancellor, who, undoubtedly, is the chief executive officer of a university. The word, pro-vice-chancellor, in letter and spirit, means one who acts on behalf of the vice-chancellor. The prefix “Pro” in Latin means “for”. Thus pro-vice-chancellor, in essence, means one who could act for, or on behalf of, the vice-chancellor. I have specifically chosen to quote from the UP Universities Act because the Act has been derived from the statutes of the University of Allahabad (established in 1887), the oldest university in the country after the three Presidency Town universities of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras, which were established in 1857. The statutes of the University of Lucknow (estd 1921), were lifted from the University of Allahabad and the two form the substratum of the UP Universities Act. In fact, the oldest living university in the world, the Oxford University (estd 1096 AD), has three pro-vice-chancellors, one for planning and resource allocation, another for academics and the third for academic services and university collections. The University Grants Commission, which has sent out the draft of the proposed “Model Act for Universities” to various universities seems to have taken the cue from Oxford University and suggested the post of Pro-Vice-Chancellor. The relevant clause of the draft reads as follows: “Pro-Vice-Chancellor: Senior academic with knowledge/experience of business/ finance, to take charge of resource generation and related aspects (particularly important in the present context of diminishing financial support from the government); Additional persons at this level, for other functions, if found necessary.” The UGC letter sent to various universities, enclosing the draft of the Model Act, has asked the universities and other stake-holders to specify whether there should be the position of Pro-Vice-Chancellor? “If yes, should their number be: (I) The same in all universities? (II) Linked with the university size? (III) Based on the functions to be performed?” Those of us who have grown up with the PVC-VC skirmishes and friction-ridden campus life in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh hardly know what an asset a dedicated PVC could be for the Vice-Chancellor. If you really want to see what difference a living example of PVC-VC amity can make, then go to Bundelkhand University, Jhansi where two right-minded and like-minded academics from Haryana are working miracles. The Vice-Chancellor is Prof Ramesh Chandra, who has his roots in Haryana, and the PVC is Prof O.P. Kandari, who has moved from Kurukshetra University to Jhansi. |
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Too many varsities impede HRD Besides, Haryana needed a university of life sciences. Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, was set up with this purpose. It, however, got converted into a multi-faculty affiliating university. This not only adversely affected Kurukshetra University, because it excluded the colleges of Sonepat, Rohtak, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Mahendragarh, Rewari and Bhiwani districts from its jurisdiction, but also ignored the very objective for which the new university had been envisaged. Later, Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar, was sought to be established as a multi-faculty affiliating university although it was initially conceived as an institute of excellence in the fields of management and technology. The character of this university was bound to hamper the growth of Kurukshetra University and M.D. University, Rohtak, because colleges of Hisar, Sirsa and Jind districts were excluded from the jurisdiction of Kurukshetra University and those of Bhiwani district from the purview of Kurukshetra and M.D. Universities and given to Guru Jambeshwar University. However, good sense prevailed and it was made a residential technical university. Last year Chaudhary Devi Lal University was set up at Sirsa as a multi-faculty and affiliating university on the plea that educationally backward districts of Haryana bordering Rajasthan needed it. Colleges in Sirsa, Hisar, Fatehabad, Jind and Bhiwani districts were excluded from the jurisdiction of Kurukshetra University and M.D. University and affiliated to the new university. As a result of the creation of these universities, the scarce resources of Haryana state have been divided among four university out of which, all except Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar, have the same multi-faculty and affiliating character and offer almost similar courses of study. This has led to unnecessary triplication of teaching departments and culminated not only in wastage of the limited financial resources, but also inadequate use of the teaching faculty. For optimum use of these resources, it would be ideal to restore the original character of Kurukshetra University as the only multi-faculty and affiliating university of the state. All three universities must give priority to introduction of job-oriented courses instead of investing in conventional courses, which have become obsolete. Guru Jambheshwar University has now rightly been made a management and technology university, it may help as a centre of excellence in these two crucial fields which have colleges affiliated to Kurukshetra University have been transferred back. The state government could also consider amendment of the Acts of the University of Haryana for restoring the autonomy of the universities by taking away the veto powers of the Director of Higher Education, the Education Secretary and the Finance Secretary in Executive Councils of these universities and for democratising the structure of these bodies. But for ensuring that the autonomy is not misused, the government could set up a commission for higher education on the pattern of the U.G.C. This commission could ensure optimum use of resources and improvement in the quality of education in the universities of the state. The state government should also ensure such persons are appointed as Vice-Chancellors who can provide the right type of leadership to teachers and students. Moreover, it should not permit any undue political interference in the working of the universities. The author is a former Dean, Academic Affairs, Kurukshetra University. |
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Agriculture Apr 5 Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Room No 226, Krishi Anusandhan Bhavan II, Pusa, New Delhi 110012 All India Entrance Exam (AIEEA-2004) (For 15% seats in UG Progs in State Agri Univs, Central Agri Univ, Imphal & 100 % seats in NDRI, Karnal for Bachelor’s deg in Agri & allied subjs 2004-‘05). Elig: 10+2 (60%) in PCB/ M/ Agri with Eng. Age: 17-23 yrs. Appln F: Send Rs 450/- by DD fvg "Deputy Director General (Education), ICAR", payable at New Delhi with unstamped, self-add env (12" x 10") with request to Controller of Examination (Educn Div), at above add, by 25 Mar. Forms also available at select Syndicate Bank Br up to Mar 30 (Cash at counter: Rs 400/-). Armed Forces Feb 28 The Indian Navy, PO Bag No 04, R. K. 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Law Mar 15 ’04 National Law School of India University, Nagarbhavi, PO Bag No. 7201, Bangalore 560072 (Kar) www.nls.ac.in 1) Integrated BA, LLB (H) (5 – yr) 2) LLM (2-yr) Elig: For 1: Cl 12
(50%). Age: Below 20 yrs. Selectn: Admission test (May 2 ’04 at B’lore, Chennai, Del, M’bai, Kochi, H’bad, Kol, All’bad, Ch’garh). Appln F: Send Rs 600/- by DD favouring "NLSIU" payable at B ’lore giving full add, pin code to the Registrar at above add. Superscribe name of course on env in bold letters. Pervin Malhotra, Director, CARING (www.careerguidanceindia.com), New Delhi Email: pervin-trib@.careerguidanceindia.com Details: www.careerguidanceindia.com |
THE university system in Haryana merits urgent attention because the quality of higher education needs to be improved. The proliferation of universities over the years has adversely affected the process of human resource development in the state. The small state of Haryana needed only one full-fledged multi-faculty and affiliating university. This predominantly agriculturist state also required an agriculture university. The establishment of Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar, achieved this objective.