Hyderabad: What is it like to be a Vice-Chancellor (V-C) at a state university? According to many V-Cs, it often feels like standing at a busy crossroads, receiving pressure from all directions – the government, faculty, and students.
The government’s main goal is to ensure that students get jobs after graduation. Because of this, universities are now focusing more on teaching skills that help students find employment. They have also started special training programs to help students prepare for competitive exams, like civil service tests.
A senior professor from Osmania University said that students have responded positively to these changes. However, convincing faculty members to support these programs is not always easy. This challenge is not unique to Osmania University – it’s happening across many universities in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
At the same time, there’s division among faculty members. Some believe that universities should focus on building knowledge and research, not job training. They argue that getting a job should be a result of a student’s own efforts and academic success. On the other hand, others believe universities should help students build stable lives after graduation. Vice-Chancellors have the difficult task of balancing these two viewpoints.
A former V-C from a Telangana state university explained that the first year of their three-year term is usually spent understanding how the university works. During this time, they also review new and pending proposals from various departments like humanities, science, and engineering.
One of the biggest challenges V-Cs face is improving infrastructure. This includes building new hostels, classrooms, and labs, and upgrading sports and recreation facilities. Securing money for these projects from government bodies, funding agencies, and even alumni often takes a long time.
V-Cs also have to deal with non-academic issues, like campus politics and ideological divisions among students and faculty. While student protests often make headlines, the political and ideological leanings of faculty members are rarely discussed publicly.
Universities are supposed to be places for open discussion and debate. Ideally, faculty and students should engage in thoughtful conversations to find the best solutions through research, seminars, and study groups. Unfortunately, instead of discussions, some issues lead to protests and sit-ins.
A retired professor from a Telangana university, who was later offered a role in a central university, said he was tired of the politics during his time as a V-C. He now wants to focus on academic work and avoid the stress.
He believes that state universities need a change in culture. Everyone – faculty, students, and administrators – must work together to bring back strong academic practices. He also supports the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) proposal to extend the V-C term from three to five years. He says that meaningful change takes time, and only a few V-Cs have managed to make real improvements within a short term.
