The VC and the varsity - OrissaPOST : vimarsana.com

The VC and the varsity - OrissaPOST


The VC and the varsity
Dhanada K Mishra
Odisha made news recently for an unusual final test to choose vice-chancellors for several universities in the state. The shortlisted candidates – all presumably highly qualified, experienced and senior academicians – were handed over a question paper as they were waiting presumably for their interview with the Chancellor – the Governor. It was unusual on several counts and has rightly raised the eyebrows of many eminent academicians and intellectuals. The Chancellor was dealing with a personal tragedy and couldn’t attend to the scheduled interviews. Instead, an official conducted the test with four questions – “The universe is built on…?”, “The role of the university to build the universe?”, “You have work experience. The style of working? The spirit of working?”, “If God appears before you and asks for a boon, what will you like to ask for?” The questions were to be addressed in under 45 minutes in a physically proctored written test. Much has been written on social media on the merit or lack thereof of the questions for the purpose of selecting an academic leader. The much larger question, however, is the role of a vice-chancellor or for that matter any academic leader of significant institutions (say IITs and IIMs, etc) in achieving the true purpose of the organisation.

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