BENGALURU: Shifting of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) campus from Bengaluru to Ramanagara seems to have had an impact on aspirants for the post of vice-chancellor of the university.
The university has received just 53 applications for the post of V-C, the selection process for which is going on now. As per data from the department of medical education, they had received 120 applications the last time.
An official from the department of medical education said, “We don’t know the reason, but this time we received fewer applications for the post. Generally, the competition is low for RGUHS compared to other universities as it is a medical university and only those associated with the medical field can apply. But this time it is too low. We were expecting at least 100 applications.”
Speaking to Express, a senior professor at Bangalore Medical College who was an aspirant of the post, said, “I wanted to apply as I’m eligible. But as the campus is shifting out of Bengaluru, it will be difficult to work and there are lesser opportunities for innovations. During my entire tenure, I will be developing the campus rather than pursuing academic or administrative activities. So I decided to not apply.”
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed authorities of RGUHS and district administration at Ramanagara to make necessary arrangements for foundation stone laying ceremony for the construction of a new campus at Ramanagara.
Search committee meeting tomorrow
The meeting of the search committee constituted for the selection of a new V-C is scheduled to be held on Monday. The V-C post has been lying vacant since July. Sources said of the 53 applications, many are not eligible as they have not completed 10 years as professors. Following this guideline, at least 10 per cent of applications will be rejected, said an official.
BU, UoM still awaiting V-Cs
Files regarding appointment of V-Cs for Bu and University of Mysore are still pending. Despite the submission of a panel of names by the search committee, the final appointments have been pending with the Governor for a month. BU got its third in-charge V-C recently. When the tenure of Prof B Thimme Gowda as V-C was over, Prof Jagadish Prakash was appointed in-charge V-C. After his tenure, Prof Muniraju was given charge, following which Prof H N Ramesh from UVCE was made in-charge.