Kolkata: The first phase of the selection process vice-chancellors for state universities will conclude on Monday. Candidates for Rabindra Bharati University’s permanent VC post appeared for the interview on Sunday. Three universities — Gour Banga, Kalyani and RBU — were slotted on Sunday. In all, around 100 candidates applied for RBU and around 17 were shortlisted for the interview.
At present, RBU is being run by the officiating VC, Subhro Kamal Mukherjee, a retired Justice of the High Court of Karnataka. However, the criteria mentioned in the advertisement published in July clearly stated that applicants should be distinguished academics with a minimum of 10 years’ experience as a professor in a university or 10 years’ experience in a reputable research or academic administrative organisation.
The current officiating VC was appointed by chancellor C V Ananda Bose in July 2023. Mukherjee told TOI, “I didn’t know that interviews were going on today. I only have the information that an expert panel was appointed by the Supreme Court for the VC selection. However, I am not interested in being appointed as permanent VC. I will leave after the permanent VC’s appointment.”
Two universities — Baba Saheb Ambedkar Education and Harichand and Guruchand — are slotted on Monday. The last phase of the interview, when universities like including Jadavpur, Burdwan and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad are slotted, will be from Nov 6 to 10.