Lumami | July 3 : The future Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University should be a ‘capable, efficient and professional’ person having high integrity and good credentials, ‘student-friendly, teachers of non-teaching staff friendly and college-friendly.’ This was the view expressed by almost all the section of the university and Naga civil society members who met the four-member Search Committee separately for the new Vice Chancellor of NU.
Incumbent VC Prof K Kannan is due to retire in August first week, and this is the first time that the search committee is meeting with representatives of Naga civil frontals such as the Naga Mothers’ Association and Naga Students’ Federation. Various students and teachers’ unions of the university and the Principals’ Forum of Nagaland met with the search committee and expressed their views about the next VC.
Prof Mrinal Miri (Retired VC of NEHU and UGC member) heads the four-man search committee. The members are Prof KM Bujarbruah (VC of Assam Agricultural University), Dr Darlando T Khating (VC Central University of Jharkhand) and Ramji Pandey (Under Secretary MHRD).
The committee patiently listened to the views expressed by the groups, and noted down their views and opinions. Prof Mrinal Miri disclosed that the committee would head back and meet later in Delhi to discuss the views noted down. The committee would nominate three names and give it to the President of India, the Visitor of the Nagaland University and the only authority to appoint a VC.
After meeting the committee, the delegation of Naga Mothers’ Association told media persons that the NMA suggested that the next VC be one who is ‘a good VC having high integrity, impeccable academic background and a tribal from the northeast; and one who has good public relations’. Appreciating the committee for inviting the NMA for the meeting, the leaders said that they suggested a tribal VC as ‘a tribal would know and understand the sentiments of the people.’
The Naga Students Federation (NSF), led by its president disclosed that they expressed their desire for a VC who has high integrity and who can redress the problems affecting the growth of NU.
Saying that they also expressed the desire for a tribal VC, the NSF leaders however said that they did not specify from which state, but simply a VC from among tribal Indians who is capable of coordinating with all the ‘stakeholders’.
The President of College Principals Forum, Nagaland Dr Lorin said that the forum expressed desire for a VC having strong academic credentials, with strong leadership qualities who can understand tribal problems. The forum wants a VC who is ‘student-friendly, teachers of non-teaching staff friendly and college-friendly.’
Leaders of the PGSU from the three NU Campuses and the Research Scholars’ Forum held a separate meeting with the committee. The president of PGSU (Lumami campus) Limameren said that they want an ‘experienced VC who has worked in the best universities in the country’.
PGSU officials said that they want a VC who can serve the university with integrity as an academician. Besides, they said that they do not want a VC who has ‘political bias.’ They also expressed some of the oft-repeated ills afflicting Nagaland University. One leader remarked, “We want a VC who can give hostel buildings without a crack!”
Local MLA Kheto and former deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland IK Sema also met with the committee members.
When asked to comment on the views expressed by the civil organizations, Prof Mrinal Miri said Nagaland University has not grown as they have expected. However, he added that the committee members have received very good suggestions, which have been ‘seriously noted down and would be taken into consideration’ while selecting the new vice chancellor.
Incumbent VC Prof K Kannan is due to retire in August first week, and this is the first time that the search committee is meeting with representatives of Naga civil frontals such as the Naga Mothers’ Association and Naga Students’ Federation. Various students and teachers’ unions of the university and the Principals’ Forum of Nagaland met with the search committee and expressed their views about the next VC.
Prof Mrinal Miri (Retired VC of NEHU and UGC member) heads the four-man search committee. The members are Prof KM Bujarbruah (VC of Assam Agricultural University), Dr Darlando T Khating (VC Central University of Jharkhand) and Ramji Pandey (Under Secretary MHRD).
The committee patiently listened to the views expressed by the groups, and noted down their views and opinions. Prof Mrinal Miri disclosed that the committee would head back and meet later in Delhi to discuss the views noted down. The committee would nominate three names and give it to the President of India, the Visitor of the Nagaland University and the only authority to appoint a VC.
After meeting the committee, the delegation of Naga Mothers’ Association told media persons that the NMA suggested that the next VC be one who is ‘a good VC having high integrity, impeccable academic background and a tribal from the northeast; and one who has good public relations’. Appreciating the committee for inviting the NMA for the meeting, the leaders said that they suggested a tribal VC as ‘a tribal would know and understand the sentiments of the people.’
The Naga Students Federation (NSF), led by its president disclosed that they expressed their desire for a VC who has high integrity and who can redress the problems affecting the growth of NU.
Saying that they also expressed the desire for a tribal VC, the NSF leaders however said that they did not specify from which state, but simply a VC from among tribal Indians who is capable of coordinating with all the ‘stakeholders’.
The President of College Principals Forum, Nagaland Dr Lorin said that the forum expressed desire for a VC having strong academic credentials, with strong leadership qualities who can understand tribal problems. The forum wants a VC who is ‘student-friendly, teachers of non-teaching staff friendly and college-friendly.’
Leaders of the PGSU from the three NU Campuses and the Research Scholars’ Forum held a separate meeting with the committee. The president of PGSU (Lumami campus) Limameren said that they want an ‘experienced VC who has worked in the best universities in the country’.
PGSU officials said that they want a VC who can serve the university with integrity as an academician. Besides, they said that they do not want a VC who has ‘political bias.’ They also expressed some of the oft-repeated ills afflicting Nagaland University. One leader remarked, “We want a VC who can give hostel buildings without a crack!”
Local MLA Kheto and former deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland IK Sema also met with the committee members.
When asked to comment on the views expressed by the civil organizations, Prof Mrinal Miri said Nagaland University has not grown as they have expected. However, he added that the committee members have received very good suggestions, which have been ‘seriously noted down and would be taken into consideration’ while selecting the new vice chancellor.
