What it takes to become a good VC

Gursharan Singh

The position of a Vice-Chancellor is an exalted one, signifying utmost honour for the person holding it. There are enough instances when academicians or administrators  of impeccable integrity, who  had attained superannuation, were requested to become the Vice-Chancellor of a university. A request to grace this highest academic position was the recognition of the good work done by them. 

Times have changed and so has the criteria for the selection of a Vice- Chancellor. The contrary is happening now. Whenever either the position of a Vice-Chancellor falls vacant or one has to be appointed for a new university; there are hundreds of applicants. Some deserving candidates may not even apply, thinking it is all political business and merit will not prevail. There are examples of professors without any administrative experience being appointed Vice-Chancellors. The caste or son-of-the-soil tag may have its own role in the selection process. It was for this reason that during the tenure of Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister, the HER (Higher Education and Research) Bill for establishing the ‘National Council of Higher Education & Research (NCHER)’ was introduced by the Ministry for Human Resources and Development. Unfortunately, it could not be passed and was opposed even by the members of his own party. It was ultimately withdrawn by the NDA government in 2014.

A highlight of the Bill was a provision for a “Directory of Academics” who were eligible for appointment as vice-chancellors. This was to be maintained by NCHER, which was to recommend a panel of three names from the Directory for appointment of a Vice-Chancellor. This did not go well with the state governments, which felt their authority was being eroded. The nation lost a chance to have quality Vice-Chancellors for universities.   

Sometimes opinions differ about the background of a person to be appointed. Many may vote in favour of academicians only to be the chief executive of a university. As per UGC regulations, a Vice-Chancellor should be a distinguished academician with 10 years’ of experience as a professor. However, eminent  civil servants, judges and Army officers have been leading universities from the front. P.N. Thapar, a distinguished civil servant, was the founder and most successful vice-chancellor of the Punjab Agricultural University.  A diplomat, G. Parthasarathi was a successful Vice-Chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University. So was K.R. Narayanan, who went on to become the President of India. The current Vice-President of India, Hamid Ansari, too, was a hugely successful Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University. Similarly, Justice P.B. Gajendragadkar was appointed as Vice-Chancellor of Bombay University after retirement as the Chief Justice of India. Justice F.D. Oldfield was the Vice-Chancellor of Madras University. The present Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University,   Lt Gen Zameer Uddin Shah has shown administrative acumen of the highest order.  Thus, it would not be fair to confine the post of Vice-Chancellor to only academicians or professors. There is a need to look at the leadership and visionary qualities of the person under consideration. His/her ability to streamline university administration and raise funds should be the primary considerations. If Oxford University can appoint John Hood, a businessman, why should Indian universities restrict the choice only to academicians? 

Integrity and passion of a person to be appointed as Vice-Chancellor, is as important as his/her administrative and leadership acumen. Nothing works in the right direction if the one at the helm of affairs does not own up the institution he or she is working for. The Vice-Chancellor should never yield to political pressure and must be ever ready to put in his papers if the circumstances so demand. One such daring example was set by D.R. Bhumbla, who resigned from the position of Vice-Chancellor of Haryana Agricultural University just after a month, reacting against the inappropriate  demand of the then chief secretary  of the state. This earned him more appreciation than he would have earned by sticking to the position. 

The Vice-Chancellor of a university should know his business well and be morally committed to maintain the dignity of the position. He should be the one who salutes his work and not the bosses. P N Thapar, the then Vice-Chancellor of the Punjab Agricultural University was in the USA, studying the land grant pattern of education, when the university was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He refused in writing to make himself available for the occasion since his job in the US had not finished. Instead of cursing him, the visionary Chief Minister, Partap Sing Kairon appreciated his stand on the issue. 

Financial crunch in universities has become a big issue. Vice-Chancellors are often under pressure to raise funds from the internal resources. Such situations are the real test of integrity, concern and the vision of a Vice-Chancellor. Rather than framing any long-term policy to improve the financial status of the institution, probably many preferred to take the easy way of parting with a part of  immovable property to tide over the situation temporarily. We also have examples when the Vice-Chancellors resisted any move to spare land of the university for any other purpose than education. 

Where from does one get a Vice-Chancellor who is passion and commitment personified and has vision, wisdom and administrative skills.? Only if the search committees do their business well, things would improve. Rather than searching for the Vice-Chancellors from the lists of the applicants for the position, they need to knock at the door of the right person with the promise of no political interference and full financial support. Further, there must not be any second term or extension of term for this position so that the ones on the chair resist from pleasing their political bosses for any reciprocal rewards. It is high time that new government reviews the previous appointments and extensions of the Vice-Chancellors. New ones must be appointed only the basis of merit.

The writer is a former Dean of Postgraduate Studies, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Views expressed are personal