For the first time in the history of Kathmandu University (KU), I would like to express my gratitude to the Prime Minister for encouraging us to start the process of selecting the Vice-Chancellor on the basis of academic merit and efficiency.
A three-member selection committee was formed with the founder vice-chancellor as coordinator. A procedural manual was also prepared within a short period of time. As it is mentioned in the procedural guidelines that the applicant should be a person who is not a member of any particular party, it was natural that he was excited to contribute in a purely academic field. In the guide, it was mentioned that the basis of selection is educational qualification, academic experience, leadership experience gained in the field of higher education, managerial skills and mobilization of national and international resources. Seeing that the selection criteria matched my qualifications, I also felt it was my duty to apply.
With enthusiasm, Makkah went towards collecting certificates, certificates of achievement and experience. Prepared thinking paper and strategic action plan and also participated in presentations and interviews. While publishing the list of 10 out of 20 people, some applicants were not included in the list and other applicants who were not expected were included, and the fairness of the selection process started to be questioned. Newspapers and television began to spread news that attacked the reputation of Kathmandu University. If the situation was normal, the names of three people should have been submitted to the Chancellor on the basis of merit within some time after the interview. There have been various arguments online about the reason for the delay in recommending names by the committee.
Meanwhile, the controversial opinion given by the coordinator of the committee through BBC media came out. His opinion, which is beyond the scope of the procedural guidelines, trying to recommend the name of a particular person, not only based on merit and should be a person who benefits the institution, raised the suspicion that the Vice-Chancellor selection process will not be fair and will be prolonged. Eight candidates for the vice-chancellor expressed their dissatisfaction in writing. The officials of the university also submitted a written request from the committee to send the Vice-Chancellor to the university soon on the basis of merit. I did not sign any such statement or letter because I was confident that the Vice-Chancellor would be selected on the basis of merit by the Prime Minister.
After a long confusion, Kathmandu University has got a vice chancellor. Congratulations to the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor for taking charge of the University as the fourth Vice-Chancellor.
I never hold back when the university needs my leadership and managerial skills. I decided to support the university officials in every difficult situation. What is the future of Kathmandu University? Having spent three decades at Kathmandu University, I am about to retire, and I do not want to tell future generations that the path I took was wrong.
That is why it is my humble request to the Prime Minister that the marks of the Vice Chancellor's candidates be made public. We will also be confident that this year's vice-chancellor has not been selected on the basis of political affiliation, Kathmandu University has not been involved in political parties, and that the vice-chancellor has been selected purely on the basis of academic qualifications and efficiency.
- Prof.Dr. Subodh Sharma
Former Registrar and Vice-Chancellor candidate
