Odisha Universities Asked to Complete Faculty Hiring by November-End

Odisha Governor and Chancellor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati has directed vice-chancellors of state public universities to complete the recruitment of vacant teaching positions by the end of November.
The directive came during a review meeting on faculty recruitment held at New Abhishek Hall on the Lok Bhavan premises on Saturday. Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, Commissioner-cum-Secretary Arabinda Agrawal, vice-chancellors, registrars and senior officials of state universities attended the meeting.
Kambhampati said filling vacant teaching posts is the next major priority after the appointment of vice-chancellors in 14 state universities. He stressed that universities must establish clear deadlines and ensure that recruitment is based strictly on merit.
The Governor said maintaining academic quality should remain central to the recruitment process and that merit must not be compromised.

He also recommended that universities consider inviting all eligible candidates for interviews rather than conducting extensive shortlisting at the preliminary stage. According to him, this would reduce the possibility of eligible applicants being left out and provide selection panels with a broader pool of candidates.
The Governor further called upon universities to work towards obtaining green certifications. Referring to the platinum-level green certification secured by Odisha Lok Bhavan from the Indian Green Building Council, he said universities with existing green campuses could also pursue similar recognition with additional efforts.
Kambhampati also reviewed the accreditation initiatives being undertaken by universities and suggested a uniform tenure for vice-chancellors across state public universities. He noted that while some universities currently have three-year tenures, others provide four-year terms.
The Governor also encouraged universities to increase the use of solar energy on their campuses, either independently or through the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model.
Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj supported the suggestions and instructed the vice-chancellors to prepare specific timelines for completing the faculty recruitment exercise.
During the meeting, Commissioner-cum-Secretary Arabinda Agrawal presented an update on the progress of teaching faculty recruitment across Odisha’s state public universities.