Mumbai University’s convocation ceremony: Governor Radhakrishnan emphasises on common exam for faculty recruitment in universities, colleges

Days after Maharashtra’s higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil said he will seek relaxation from the Governor on insistence on MPSC for faculty recruitment, Radhakrishnan on Tuesday reiterated the requirement of a common exam.

Stating that teaching is a sacred work and thus their appointment should be based purely on merit, the Governor said, “By transparent process of faculty recruitment, I mean that it should be based only on merit. All those candidates who are eligible should write a common entrance test so that opportunity is not denied to any qualified individual. The interview process and other steps can follow thereafter. I am suggesting an examination body like MPSC. But there are certain difficulties in that and we are working it out.”

Radhakrishnan noted that creation of a transparent process can take some time, which may delay the teacher recruitment. But insisting on selecting the right talent pool through a common exam, he said, “The next 30 years of education will be taken care of by those talented teachers who are selected on merit.” Radhakrishnan further pointed out that he will also study recently released new recruitment norms by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to look for an alternate conclusion.

“Shortage of teachers is a major problem. But we must harness the power of technology to tide over the shortfall,” he said.

Radhakrishnan also suggested all universities in the state to prepare an academic calendar and adhere to it so that all examinations are held on schedule and results are declared within a stipulated timeframe. Further insisting on early convocation, two months after the results are out, he said it will allow all graduating students to be part of the ceremony and students going abroad will not be delayed.

Secretary of Department of Science and Technology, Government of India professor Abhay Karandikar was the chief guest for the convocation ceremony, in which to 1,64,465 graduates (85,511 girls and 78,954 boys), including undergraduate and postgraduate, were conferred degrees.

Besides this, 401 graduates from various faculties were conferred with PhD degrees with highest (230) among them coming from the Faculty of Science and Technology. Additionally, 20 medals were awarded to 18 students, who excelled in various examinations of the university.