Lack of a regular VC, faculty shortage hit MMU

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Bhubaneswar: Shortage of permanent faculty members and non-teaching staff has been plaguing the functioning of Maa Manikeshwari University (MMU) in Kalahandi district since its formation on Sept 1, 2020.
Its academic activities were further crippled after vice-chancellor Sanjay Kumar Satpathy died of cancer in Dec last year.
Now, an associate professor is in-charge VC of the Bhawanipatna-based university, which was carved out from Sambalpur University.
Siba Prasad Adhikary, former VC of Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, said it was strange that an associate professor was given charge of MMU. "When the former VC died, the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, 2020, was in force.
As per the Act, the chancellor may appoint any VC of a neighbouring public university as in-charge VC for a period not exceeding one year or until a regular VC joins, whichever is earlier. But it is not the case with MMU," he added.
According to the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, 2024, a senior-most professor from the university can become in-charge VC. "But Maa Manikeshwari University has a different appointee.
Due to the lack of a regular VC, policy decisions and teacher recruitment cannot be carried out. An in-charge VC can only do routine work," Adhikary said.
As many as 84 out of 112 permanent teaching posts are lying vacant in the university. It does not have a single permanent professor and only two associate professors. There are no permanent non-teaching staff out of the sanctioned strength of 87. A total of 67 guest faculty members are conducting classes.
"Guest faculty cannot guide PhD scholars or conduct teaching and research work like permanent faculty members.
It's not a college now. Stopgap management cannot work in universities," said Himanshu Charan Sarangi, a retired faculty member of the university.
He said quality should be maintained in teaching and research work. "A university cannot function without a professor. Ironically, a professor is not there who can become PG Council Chairman or in-charge VC," he added.
The university is still functioning from the erstwhile college campus in Bhawanipatna. It does not have a second campus for expansion. As the university does not have permanent faculty members in 75% of sanctioned posts, it cannot start new courses or departments.
"It is good to have permanent faculty members to manage the teaching, research and administrative works. As an in-charge VC, I ensure the university work continues smoothly.
We follow the Odisha Universities Act and UGC rules and regulations to make decisions," said Nibedita Nath, in-charge VC.
Higher education minister Suryabanshi Suraj recently said they amended the previous Act to bring reforms in higher education and solve the issues created under the previous govt. "The case against the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, 2020, stalled the faculty recruitment completely. We will start recruitment of VCs and faculty members soon," he added.
Bhubaneswar: Shortage of permanent faculty members and non-teaching staff has been plaguing the functioning of Maa Manikeshwari University (MMU) in Kalahandi district since its formation on Sept 1, 2020. Its academic activities were further crippled after vice-chancellor Sanjay Kumar Satpathy died of cancer in Dec last year.
Now, an associate professor is in-charge VC of the Bhawanipatna-based university, which was carved out from Sambalpur University.
Siba Prasad Adhikary, former VC of Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, said it was strange that an associate professor was given charge of MMU. "When the former VC died, the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, 2020, was in force. As per the Act, the chancellor may appoint any VC of a neighbouring public university as in-charge VC for a period not exceeding one year or until a regular VC joins, whichever is earlier. But it is not the case with MMU," he added.
According to the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, 2024, a senior-most professor from the university can become in-charge VC. "But Maa Manikeshwari University has a different appointee. Due to the lack of a regular VC, policy decisions and teacher recruitment cannot be carried out. An in-charge VC can only do routine work," Adhikary said.
As many as 84 out of 112 permanent teaching posts are lying vacant in the university.
It does not have a single permanent professor and only two associate professors. There are no permanent non-teaching staff out of the sanctioned strength of 87. A total of 67 guest faculty members are conducting classes. "Guest faculty cannot guide PhD scholars or conduct teaching and research work like permanent faculty members.
It's not a college now. Stopgap management cannot work in universities," said Himanshu Charan Sarangi, a retired faculty member of the university.
He said quality should be maintained in teaching and research work. "A university cannot function without a professor. Ironically, a professor is not there who can become PG Council Chairman or in-charge VC," he added.
The university is still functioning from the erstwhile college campus in Bhawanipatna. It does not have a second campus for expansion. As the university does not have permanent faculty members in 75% of sanctioned posts, it cannot start new courses or departments.
"It is good to have permanent faculty members to manage the teaching, research and administrative works. As an in-charge VC, I ensure the university work continues smoothly. We follow the Odisha Universities Act and UGC rules and regulations to make decisions," said Nibedita Nath, in-charge VC.
Higher education minister Suryabanshi Suraj recently said they amended the previous Act to bring reforms in higher education and solve the issues created under the previous govt. "The case against the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, 2020, stalled the faculty recruitment completely. We will start recruitment of VCs and faculty members soon," he added.

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