Ahmedabad: The process of appointing vice-chancellors (VCs) in Gujarat’s public universities may undergo a significant change with the introduction of the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) draft Regulation 2025. The proposed regulations suggest replacing the current five-member search committee with a streamlined three-member panel.
This new committee would include a UGC representative, a nominee from the governor, and a joint representative of the university’s executive and academic councils.
The move comes as part of broader changes under the Gujarat Common Public Universities Act and UGC’s efforts to overhaul academic appointment processes across the country. The UGC currently operates under 2018 regulations for appointing VCs and faculty members across universities.
Stakeholder feedback on the draft has been invited until Feb 5, with implementation expected in March.
The draft regulations also bring clarity to eligibility criteria for various academic positions like assistant professor and associate professor. For instance, PhD holders from before 2009 will be exempt from NET-SLET requirements for assistant professor roles. Tenures for key positions like principals and vice-chancellors are to be fixed at five years, with an option for a five-year extension for principals.
Further changes include mandatory qualifications for librarian appointments and strict compliance requirements for institutions. Non-adherence could lead to consequences like exclusion from UGC schemes, restrictions on awarding degrees, or other disciplinary measures.