by Dasun Edirisinghe
The Association of Law Teachers, of the University of Colombo (ALTUC), too, has expressed its opposition to Dr. Kumara Hirimburegama being a candidate for the Vice Chancellor post and called for a more transparent and participatory approach to the selection process, as it believes time given for the submission of applications and the selection process is not enough.
Earlier, President of the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri frowned on Dr. Hirimburegama’s nomination.
The ALTUC Secretary Dr. Anusha Perera said in a statement to the media that his association had taken those two decisions unanimously at a Special General Meeting held last Friday (08).
"A Vice Chancellor of a university is the chief executive officer who acts as the representative of the institution and the officer who acts as the leader of the institution," the ALTUC Secretary said. "As such, the Vice Chancellor is called to provide vision, leadership and inspiration to the university community and assert, among other things, the autonomy of the institution."
Dr. Perera said that one of the candidates for the VC post was the spouse of the current chairperson of the University Grants Commission.
The UGC makes its own recommendation to the President as to who should be appointed VC out of three persons.
"The actual and perceived independence of a Vice Chancellor is essential for the autonomous functioning of the university," Dr. Perera said, noting that the UGC was the regulator of higher education in Sri Lanka and had to act independently from the respective university.
"The UGC makes determinations, among other things, regarding allocation of funds and appointments to university councils. The University Services Appeals Board is under the purview of the UGC. The independence of the university from the UGC therefore is essential. Therefore, either the candidate or the UGC chairperson must immediately withdraw from their respective positions."
Dr. Perera said the other thing was the call for applications or nominations and the time allocated for discussion and debate on the suitability of the candidates within the broader university community has been effectively eliminate. "The application deadline for the post of VC was February 28 and the candidates have been scheduled to make their presentations on March 11, she said adding a longer time period is desirable if the selection process is to be more participatory and transparent. Therefore, we request the Council to consider the issue of conflict of interest. Debate on the potential impact it could have on the process and reach an informed and carefully thought through decision on the matter."
When contacted, for comment, UGC Chairperson Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama denied that the UGC would nominate one name to the President out of three selected by the University Council.
"We are doing only the handing over the three names, which will be sent by the University Council, to the President," she said.
Prof. Hirimburegama said that it was a fundamental right of an academic, who had the requisite qualification to apply for the VC post.
Dr. Kumara Hirimburegama of the Colombo University’s Science Faculty, Prof. Laskhman Dissanayake of the Colombo University’s Arts Faculty and Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa of the Kotalawela Defence University have applied for the VC post, which fell vacant when Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama assumed duties as the UGC Chairman on February 01.
Courtesy: The Island 11/03/2013.
