Professor Sankat in Western Odisha

Sambalpur, 15/12 (AMA AITIHA) : Professor posts are lying vacant in most universities in Western Odisha. New appointments are not being made as per the requirement or the posts are not being filled through promotions. As a result, quality education is being affected and research is being hampered. This is the main reason why higher education institutions like Gangadhar Meher University in Sambalpur are not getting fail grades, while the government says that it is bringing the higher education sector to the fore; but this basic deficiency of higher education institutions has become a matter of regret due to not paying attention to the problem.

There are 278 approved professor posts in various universities in Odisha, but only 38. Out of this, the number is very low in universities in Western Odisha. The Odisha Open University (OSU) headquartered in Sambalpur has 9 approved professor posts, but not one here. The Maa Manikeswari University in Kalahandi had 16 approved posts, but all are vacant. While there are 18 approved posts in Rajendra University in Balangir, all the posts are vacant. All three new universities have professorships vacant. Out of 23 approved professorships, 2 are working in Gangadhar Meher University in Sambalpur. The situation is similar in Sambalpur University, the oldest higher education institution. There are only 6 professorships while there are 26 approved professorships. Not only professorships, most full-time professorships are also vacant. Many departments are running only guest professorships in the field. This is seriously affecting the university’s main objective of research, said a retired professor of Sambalpur University. The role of professors is especially important in the field of research. Their responsibility is to conduct basic research, design studies, collect data, publish papers, write books and guide PhD students. Apart from this, the work of a professor includes administrative and organizational responsibilities, leadership of the academic board, academic council, and policy making for the university, collaboration with industry or government and especially consultancy. Professor’s work in universities. The decline of professors in universities seems to be having a serious impact on the higher education sector. It is urgent for the higher education authorities to look into this.