Bhubaneswar: Odisha has initiated the process to fill up 1,353 faculty vacancies in 15 public universities under the Odisha University (Amendment) Act.
The recuitment process will be fast-tracked to address the long-pending faculty and staff shortages in state-run universities. The recruitment process will begin as soon as universities submit their requirements. The goal is to complete appointments within two months,” Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj informed after a meeting with vice-chancellors (VCs) of all the public universities at Utkal University here on Tuesday.
The Act received the assent of Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati on April 12 and came into effect on April 13, marking significant reforms in the state’s higher education system.
Suraj said that the universities have been asked to take immediate measures to begin the recruitment process pending since 2020. “None of the posts will be abolished but there will be rationalisation of teaching staff across higher education institutions to improve resource utilisation and ensure efficient delivery of education. The department is framing the modalities for the process,” he said.
The faculty recruitment will be conducted through committees, comprising educationists formed by the university concerned, and not through Odisha Public Service Commission. “This system will ensure that new professors assume their duties by April or May — coinciding with the retirement of current faculty — well ahead of the academic year,” he said.
He further stated that the universities will now have a recruitment timeline and no longer have to wait for retirement to appoint new faculty members. Positions can be advertised four months prior to retirements and at least once in a year under the new Act, said Suraj.
The Minister clarified that 2,000 non-teaching staff vacancies will be filled up following the existing laws since no amendments have been made to the old Act for recruitment to such posts through State Selection Board (SSB). “The V-Cs have been asked to complete the pending DPCs pertaining to promotion of junior assistants and send the requisitions for such recruitments at the earliest,” he added.
All universities are mandated to accelerate recruitment while ensuring transparency. They are expected to furnish detailed information on vacant non-teaching posts by May.