Three universities in north Karnataka got new Vice-Chancellors after Governor and Chancellor of State universities Vajubhai Vala confirmed their appointment.
Hosamani S.B. on Tuesday became the new Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the Rani Channamma University (RCU) for a period of four years from the date of his assumption of the office or until the age of 67, whichever is earlier.
An official order was issued by the Raj Bhavan on Monday. The new VC took charge at the Vidya Sangama campus here on Tuesday.
Dr. Hosamani, who was serving as a Professor of Agricultural Economics at University of Agricultural Sciences at Dharwad, will be the second VC to head the RCU. The term of the first Vice-Chancellor, B.R. Ananthan, ended on August 16. D.R. Albal, the senior-most Dean of the RCU, was appointed as the acting VC. The appointment of Dr. Hosamani was based on the recommendation of the Search Committee.
The appointment of a regular VC comes after a gap of almost 10 months, following delays in constituting the Search Committee and in the committee going slow on submitting its recommendations. Prof. Ananthan’s term was marked by a series of alleged irregularities. An inquiry was conducted and its details are yet to be revealed.
The faculty and students at the RCU and its affiliated colleges of the university hope that Dr. Hosamani would strive hard to improve the image of the university and focus his energy towards raising the academic standards and promote research activities. A senior member of the faculty, who welcomed the appointment of the regular Vice-Chancellor, requested anonymity while suggesting that the latter should be watchful of the coterie with vested interests.
Eradicating corruption
Subhas Mangoli took over as the second Vice-Chancellor of the Vijayanagar Sri Krishnadevaraya University on Tuesday.
Dr. Subhas was a professor in Kousali Institute of Management Studies, Karnatak University, Dharwad, prior to this appointment. He took charge from S. Jayanna, Vice Chancellor (in-charge) for a tenure of four years.
The post of the VC was vacant since August 18, 2014 when the tenure of the founder Vice-Chancellor Manjappa Hosmane came to an end.
In an informal chat with presspersons after taking charge, Dr. Subhas said he would strive hard and planned to make the university a model one with cooperation from his staff.
“I am a no-nonsense person. My top priority is to eradicate corruption besides providing a clean and transparent administration. On the academic side, in consultation with the subject experts, curricula would be modified to suit the present day needs for human resource development and also to ensure good placements.
“I will also chalk out a plan of action involving all stakeholders including staff, with regard to development of the university and also on mobilising resources from government, University Grants Commission and from private businesses and industrial houses,” he said.
Dedicated teaching
Pramod Gai assumed charge as the 16th VC of Karnatak University, Dharwad on Tuesday. The university is getting a full-time VC after nine months. After taking charge from acting Vice-Chancellor S.S. Hugar on Tuesday, Prof. Gai said his priority would be to improve the academic and research standards of the university.
He said he would try to achieve the goal by motivating the teachers to indulge in dedicated teaching, and put together high quality advanced research with the help of international collaborative projects and relevant outreach programmes.
He promised that efforts would be taken to ensure transparency in the affairs of the university. Steps would be taken to publish monthly expenditure on the varsity website, he said.
Prof. Gai said the administration of the university would be streamlined by ensuring meaningful coordination between the central administrative machinery and the different wings of the varsity through e-governance. He said the examination system would be overhauled and steps would be taken to announce the calendar of events in advance.
Prof. Hugar took over as acting VC of the university after H.B. Walikar, the then Vice-Chancellor, was suspended on the penultimate day of his retirement following a Lokayukta inquiry against him with regard to alleged irregularities in the university. However, the probe order against Prof. Walikar was subsequently quashed by the Karnataka High Court.
