No Vice Chancellors for nine universities, new Education Minister urged to take action
View(s):The Vice Chancellor post in nine universities, out of a total of 15 universities in the country, have remained vacant for months, pending fresh appointments, a senior University Grants Commission (UGC) official said.
When the newly appointed Education Minister Prof G. L. Peiris met the UGC officials on Thursday, the Minister was urged to take steps to ensure speedy appointments of Vice Chancellors as universities have re-opened for academic activities from this week onwards. As of now, eight Acting Vice Chancellors and a Competent Authority are instructed to carry out administration affairs until a Vice Chancellor was appointed by the President through a recommendation by the Education Ministry.
The UGC had introduced a new points-based system, based on academic and professional qualifications, for the selection of new Vice Chancellors, along with an interview.
So far, nominated names for three universities had already been sent to the Education Ministry, for recommendations prior to the appointment by the President.