A government audit of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has recommended that the selection process of its Vice-Chancellor (V-C) should be tweaked to align with the appointment procedure followed by other central universities.
HOW AMU Picks ITS V-C
Unlike other centrally-funded varsities, AMU has a unique process to select its head. The university’s Executive Council shortlists a panel of five candidates and forwards it to the AMU Court. This panel in turn, selects three names and dispatches the list to the HRD Ministry. The President then appoints one of the three finalists.
How Other Universities Pick Their V-Cs
For most central universities, the V-C is appointed through a competitive process. Applications are invited via a public advertisement, and are then screened by a government-appointed selection committee. The committee usually shortlists a panel of three names and forwards it to the HRD Ministry. The President appoints one of these three finalists as the V-C.
What Does Ugc Audit Panel Say
The audit report, submitted to the UGC has suggested that AMU should no longer be an exception and follow the process adopted by its counterparts.
1. The committee has also called for more transparency in the university’s functioning.
2. The audit report has made close to 15 suggestions to improve the functioning of the university.
According to sources, the UGC hasn’t taken any decision on the recommendations as it is waiting for other audit reports to be submitted. The UGC has ordered an audit of 10 central universities, at the behest of the HRD Ministry, to probe complaints of financial, administrative and academic irregularities.
The higher education regulator set up five committees on April 25 to conduct an “academic, research, financial and infrastructure audit” of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and may other universities even down South and in far North-East.
