Not just alumni, former faculty members also make PU proud

Not just students and alumni, the faculty of Panjab University have also made the institution proud by making it to the top positions of various regional and national universities in recent years.

Within the last decade, as many as nine members of the faculty fraternity have been appointed as Vice Chancellors (VC) of various universities (on deputation).

Tankeshwar Kumar, who is the first on the list and represents Department of Computer Science, has the Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, VC since 2015. Earlier, he worked in the same position for the Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology (GJUST), Hisar.

PU’s former Dean Student Welfare (DSW), SK Tomar from the Department of Mathematics, is currently the VC of the JC Bose University of Science and Technology (YMCA), Faridabad, while Devinder Singh is heading the Dr BR Ambedkar National Law University, Sonipat. Formerly with the Department of Laws, PU, he was appointed recently on the post.

Another well-known figure from PU, Sanjay Kaushik, the former Dean, College Development Council (DCDC) and a faculty of University Business School (UBS), has also been appointed as the VC at the Gurugram University this year.

RK Gupta, who is heading Maharaja Agrasen University, Baddi (a private university) represents Department of Physics, while Karamjeet Singh is the Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, VC. The latter also held charge of the Punjabi University, Patiala, VC until very recently and also represent UBS.

PS Jaswal, the former chairperson of Department of Laws, is currently the VC of SRM University, Sonipat, and Nishtha Jaswal, who is currently serving a long leave, is the VC of Dr Ambedkar Law University, Jaipur. Previously, the latter held charge of Himachal Pradesh National Law University in Shimla. She is also a former chairperson of Department of Laws. Rattan Singh, representing the University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS), is serving as the VC of the Panjab State Open University, Patiala.

Besides, the list of the former VC of Central Universities include, DN Jauhar (Agra), RK Kohli (Bathinda), SK Mehta (Ladhak) and RC Sobti (Lucknow), while BS Ghuman (Patiala) and Veer Singh (Hyderabad).

Another Panjab University faculty, Parvinder Singh also at one point served as the VC of a private university, while JK Chauhan, who was also a well-known face on PU campus, remained former chairperson, Himachal Pradesh Subordinate Staff Service Commission, Hamirpur.

“It is a matter of pride that PU is providing seasoned academicians to head other universities as VCs and to contribute towards the growth of respective institutions by nurturing research and innovation, promoting academic environment, fostering stakeholder engagement, through effective administration and strategic planning,” said Renu Vig, the serving Vice Chancellor.

“This is a unique achievement. The varsity is now not only known from its alumni like former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh or former players who went on to represent the nation in Olympics, but also for the contribution of the faculty,” said Shilpi, a research scholar of university.