For the very first time in the country’s history, the process of appointing vice-chancellors in public universities is being conducted through an open notification.
A total of 68 professors have applied for the vice-chancellor positions at two public universities, with 48 applying for the vice-chancellor role at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) and 20 applying for Barisal University (BUB).
On June 5, the Secondary and Higher Education Department of Ministry of Education published a notification inviting applications for the vice-chancellor positions.
Sources indicate that the search committee formed to appoint the vice-chancellors has shortlisted eight professors after reviewing the applications.
These candidates will be invited for interviews this week. Following the interviews, the search committee will make final recommendations for the appointments.
In May, a search committee was established to make recommendations for appointing vice-chancellors for all public universities in the country. This committee will also be responsible for recommending candidates for Pro vice-chancellors and treasurers. The education advisor has been appointed as the chairman of the committee, which includes four additional members.
According to a notification from the Secondary and Higher Education Department of the Ministry of Education, vice-chancellors for public universities (including general, agriculture, science and technology, and engineering) will be appointed by the President, who is the Chancellor, following their respective laws. The search committee is tasked with recommending three candidates from the applications received. The committee is chaired by education advisor CR Abrar, with members including UGC members Professor Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan and Professor Md. Saidur Rahman, Professor Saleh Hasan Naqib (Vice-Chancellor of Rajshahi University) and Professor Ferdous Azim of BRAC University.
The Ministry of Education's notification regarding the appointment of vice-chancellors for KUET and Barisal University states that interested candidates should submit their applications, including educational qualifications, experience and all relevant documents, to the Senior Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Department by 5 PM on June 26.
According to the notification, candidates applying for the position of Vice-Chancellor must possess a PhD degree. For the position at KUET, the PhD must be in engineering and technology. In contrast, Barisal University will accept a PhD from any recognized university.
Applicants are required to have at least 20 years of teaching experience or 15 years of teaching experience coupled with 5 years of research experience. In addition, candidates should have actively participated in various important areas of university administration, such as educational planning, financial management, student welfare, and academic activities. Those with experience in academic or administrative roles at international universities will be regarded as having additional qualifications.
Significant research and publication experience in international journals is also necessary. If the applicant has received scholarly recognition on an international level, this will be considered an advantage. The notification specifies that candidates must be at least 45 years old.
In this regard, an official from the Secondary and Higher Education Department of the Ministry of Education, who wished to remain anonymous, informed the Daily Observer, "We have shortlisted eight professors. A search committee has also been formed to appoint the Vice-Chancellor, and they will be interviewed this week. We will ensure that eligible candidates are properly considered. However, this recruitment process is occurring for the first time in this country."
