The amendments will facilitate the participation of academic professionals in the decision-making framework
OdishaPlus Bureau
The state cabinet approved a proposal on Saturday to amend the Odisha Universities Act of 1989, aimed at enhancing the autonomy of public universities in the selection of their vice-chancellors. This decision reverses the prior action taken by the BJD government, which mandated the inclusion of a government nominee in the committee responsible for appointing vice-chancellors at public universities.
The BJD had previously modified the Odisha Universities Act, 1989, through the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, 2020, to implement this change. However, this amendment faced opposition from the University Grants Commission (UGC) due to its non-compliance with established regulations, leading to a subsequent stay by the Supreme Court.
Following the meeting, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja provided a briefing to the media, stating that the proposed amendment seeks to tackle significant challenges encountered by universities while simultaneously enhancing their academic excellence, governance, and administrative effectiveness.
In discussing the amendments, he emphasized the intention to refine the recruitment process and grant universities greater autonomy, enabling them to make independent decisions while ensuring accountability is upheld.
The amendments will facilitate the participation of academic professionals in the decision-making framework, the reinstatement of the senate, and the establishment of both a building and works committee and a finance committee, among other initiatives.
The proposed amendment to the 1989 Act stipulates that the selection committee for vice-chancellors will include an esteemed educationist as the chairperson, one syndicate member from the university, and a representative from the UGC.
The BJD government, in its approval of the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, 2020, stipulated that the selection committee would include a nominee from the chancellor, a nominee from the UGC, and a nominee from the state government. This arrangement was at odds with the regulations set forth by the UGC.
According to Clause 7 of the UGC Regulations-2018, the selection process for vice-chancellors and pro-vice-chancellors must be conducted by a search-cum-selection committee consisting of three to five distinguished individuals in the field of higher education. These individuals must not have any affiliation with the university in question.
Ahuja further noted that the amendment will also integrate various elements of the National Education Policy 2020, such as multi-disciplinary education, skill development, and improved access to higher education through distance learning.
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