Leadership Crisis in Indian Universities

Institutions – political, economic, or educational – provide direction for development in all spheres of life. But the success or failure of these greatly depends on the leadership, as leaders makes the centre around which all others congregate. Although the existence of outstanding leaders is extremely important for the success of all institutions yet, the criticality of leadership in universities is more pervasive as it acts like a pivot around which rotates the entire edifice. As being cornerstone of an institution on which learning communities function and grow, these can make or mar an university. What makes one an outstanding academic leader is the pertinent question? An outstanding academic leader is the one who:

  • is visionary and demonstrates energy & commitment to the vision/mission of the university continually;
  • displays high moral standards in all spheres of governance. Great leaders are found to have a selfless devotion to the institutional goals. Only such leaders are widely trusted and respected, thus able to inspire others to work for the greater good of the institution.
  • places a premium only on merit, performance and personal integrity and strives for excellence in everything they do.

What is the current state of leadership and governance in our universities? The NEP-2020 has categorically stated that the universities in the country have also been the casualty of suboptimal governance and leadership. As a consequence of poor leadership, our universities have failed to apply all the times highest professional and ethical standards, thus were unable to achieve excellence at par with the international standards. As per the QS World University Ranking-2021, none of the Indian Universities/ Institutes could feature in the top 100, a total of 8 Institutes have found their place in the top 500, all these are IITs & IISc Banglore. Such a gloomy picture is a reflection of poor performance of our universities at the global stage. The much talked about reason for such a gloomy picture has been the absence of outstanding and enthusiastic institutional leaders that cultivate excellence and innovation in their respective universities. Thus the question arises, “Do We Have a Dearth of Outstanding Academic Leaders”?  The fact is that India has  a flair of talent comparable with the best in the world but during the last few decades, ordinary people have been found occupying the chair of vice chancellors. Political interference in the selection of vice chancellors is being attributed to such a sad scenario. The rot mainly lies in the search committees which largely have failed to search and select the outstanding persons as vice chancellors, who not only are distinguished academicians but have a clear vision/mission and at the top of everything have a proven track record of administrative abilities and personal integrity and honesty.

   

It is sad to state that the ‘Academic Leaders’ who were known for their ethical conduct, professional ethics, and strong commitment to the greater good of the institutions, many of them are now found to have degenerated into monumental incompetence and corruption. Now it is common to see that the vice chancellors and top officers of the universities remains in the news less for the good they do, but more for the alleged corruption charges and other misdeeds. Very recent cases have been, the removal of Delhi University’s vice chancellor for alleged violation of administrative rules and regulations. As per the news report of Nov. 25, 2020 (Hindustan Times), UGC has formed a 4-member panel to probe into the allegations of financial and administrative irregularities against the vice chancellor, Jammia Hamdard University. Bihar’s new Education Minister, Mr. Mewalal Choudry had to resign hours after assuming charge for his alleged involvement in the corruption case when he was vice chancellor, Bihar Agriculture University. In 2019, in the conference of vice chancellors, Mr. Purohit, Hon. Governor, Tamil Nadu said that it was a blot on our civilisation to see vice chancellors and university professors being prosecuted for corruption. He further stated that vigilance raids on 2 former vice chancellors, the arrest of a sitting vice chancellor and the suicide committed by a former registrar in the last two years bears testimony to the worsening conditions of universities (Rohan Premkumar, 20th Dec. 2019, The Hindu). These are not isolated cases but the problems of corruption and other malpractices by top authorities in the universities are achieving serious dimensions day-by-day. The fact is that only a tip of the ice berg comes into the public notice. The misuse of powers and the irregularities committed by many vice chancellors does not come into public notice either due to their strong connections with the powerful politicians/ investigating agencies or people privy to their misdeeds fear to report their wrongdoings for one or the other reasons. More shocking behaviour on their part has been that many vice chancellors, contrary to their sworn duty to see that the provisions of the Act, the Statutes & the Regulations are faithfully observed, have been found themselves violating the rules and regulations at will.

The rot actually lies in the community of academicians, majority of whom are found to have lost ethical behaviour, and more importantly professional ethics. Nowadays you will find professors going to any extent to seek favours for getting appointed as vice chancellors or to some other top administrative position. Ironically even those who consider themselves as great scientists or researchers, are being found in the forefront in this rat race. Actually these so called great scientists or researchers, actually are not the scientists out of passion for research but involve in the conduct of research as a “Mere Means to an End Rather Than an End in Itself”. Lobbying by the professors to seek help from politicians and other power corridors has become the new normal for getting appointed as vice chancellors. As a result, the general belief in the academia is that unless and until one is politically connected or enjoys a favour of the lobbies, there is little or no scope to get appointed as vice chancellor regardless of one’s impeccable track record of performance and personal integrity. More shocking is that there are widespread speculations that the monetary considerations are nowadays involved in the appointment of vice chancellors. A study conducted by five former vice chancellors and 20 professors has revealed that over 65% of stakeholders believe that vice chancellor posts are filled on “Quid-Pro-Quo Basis” (75% of VCs Unfit to Hold Post: Study; Times News Network). If this is true, unfortunately, it reveals that the rot has infected the basic foundations of our universities which were considered ‘Temples’ of “Intellectual Curiosity, Honesty, Pity, Equity & Justice”.

It takes “Two to Tango” i.e. the senior academicians alone cannot be held responsible for the above sad state of affairs prevailing in the country. Equally responsible, for all this undesirable behaviour on the part of some senior academicians has been the selection procedures that are in vogue for the appointment of vice chancellors. Had the search-cum-selection committee members been conscientious of their sworn duties, no authority whatsoever would have been able to influence their selections. It is not only the problem of political interference but the more chilling fact is that the search committees have been found to have failed to discharge this crucial responsibility honestly and professionally. Number of times it has been seen that no scientific criteria is being followed while short listing the candidates, rather a pick and choose policy followed. In some cases, it has been found that short listing and final selection has been done merely on the basis of research output/ funding as if they are appointing somebody to conduct research when the fact is that the vice chancellor is only mandated to govern the administrative affairs by offering Leadership in Vision, Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork and Accountability & Transparency respectively. UGC directives also places significant premium on the persons proven leadership qualities, administrative capabilities and integrity & morals and less on teaching and research credentials. Actually gone are the days when the search committees were consisting of the distinguished persons known for public service and personal integrity. Neither anyone whatsoever would have dared to seek favours from them nor they would have shown any laxity in trying to search and select the most appropriate person for the post. But unfortunately, now search committees generally consists of the persons who are presumed to be ever-ready to profit from this opportunity.

The allegations about the political interference and irregularities in the appointment of vice chancellors are getting louder and louder every passing day. Besides, finding more and more vice chancellors and registrars embroiled in the cases of corruption and other irregularities, makes amply clear that the rot has badly invaded the universities. There are certainly issues of all sorts which are impairing the selection procedures for the appointment of vice chancellors. Persons appointed not on the basis of merit but by seeking favours, have been found to have either least or no value for merit and more importantly lacks commitment for the greater good of the institution. Such persons have been found to remain busy in taking care of their own interests and of their masters at a cost of institutional interests. A study has found that the lobbying by the professors for administrative positions has resulted in lowering the status of these offices. The autonomy which the universities were enjoying, has got eroded mainly for the reason that these less deserving VCs, on the one hand are respected less and on the other hand are lacking courage and the commitment to stand firm to protect the genuine interests of their institutions. In the past, prominent academicians were offered such coveted positions but now the academicians of all hues remains busy in lobbying to seek favours to become VCs.

It would be unfair to paint every academician with the same brush. There are very worthy academicians as well but the above mentioned study conducted by five former vice chancellors and 20 professors has revealed that the procedures being followed for the appointment of VCs acts as a disincentive for the worthy academicians who always prefer academic autonomy and self respect to money and public life. If we want to save these higher learning institutions from further decay, there is an urgency to see that only the most worthy academicians are appointed to the position of vice chancellors, otherwise the NEP-2020 which in many ways is path breaking, will fail to deliver the due dividends to the nation. The new policy has talked about the leadership crisis in the HEIs but has nothing concrete to offer to deal with this serious governance issue. Therefore, if we have to set these institutions of great prominence on the track of meaningful growth and development, the Hon. chancellors would need to immediately attend this pressing and distressing issue. This is the right time to rise above all considerations to save these centers of higher learning with which the dreams and aspirations of future generations are linked.

Author is Former Registrar & Currently Professor in the Dept. of Commerce  University of Kashmir.

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