Bhubaneswar: With the appointment of regular vice-chancellors in Odisha's public universities after a prolonged delay, several institutions have initiated the long-pending recruitment process for faculty members. Ramadevi, Fakir Mohan, and Berhampur universities on Tuesday invited applications for the recruitment of professors, assistant professors, and associate professors. Each of these universities plans to recruit between 80 and 95 faculty members in the first phase.
Governor appoints VCs for 14 universities
Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, who is also the chancellor of universities, recently appointed vice-chancellors for 14 state-run universities, ending years of administrative uncertainty. The absence of full-time VCs stalled key academic and administrative decisions, including the recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff.
Over 1,400 faculty vacancies
According to official estimates, Odisha's universities are grappling with more than 1,400 vacant faculty positions, including posts of professors, associate professors, and assistant professors. Officials in the higher education department said that soon after the appointments, universities such as Berhampur University, Ramadevi, and Utkal University began issuing notifications to fill teaching posts across departments. Berhampur University alone has announced recruitment for 95 faculty positions in various disciplines, while Utkal University is also preparing to recruit professors, associate professors, and assistant professors in multiple departments.
Government fast-tracks recruitment
Higher education minister Suryabanshi Suraj earlier said the government is fast-tracking the process to fill around 1,400 vacant faculty posts in state universities. The Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, 2024, and the subsequent Supreme Court clearance also helped remove legal hurdles that delayed appointments for years.
Guest faculty managing current load
Commissioner-cum-secretary of the department Arvind Agarwal said the vacancies are currently being managed by guest faculty members. "As per UGC guidelines, qualified guest faculty members have been engaged in all public universities so that teaching-learning activities are not affected. Regular appointments will help improve research output," he said.
Officials said the recruitment drive is expected to continue in phases over the coming months. The vacant posts include 261 professors, 459 associate professors, and 710 assistant professors.
