PESHAWAR: Around 50 candidates have finally been called for interview for eight among the 16 vacant positions of vice chancellors of different public sector universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The panel interviews by the Academic and Search Committee for the purpose are scheduled to be held on November 17 and 18. These universities have been functioning without regular vice chancellors for more than a year. The eight positions were advertised in January this year and nearly 200 applicants had applied for the prestigious jobs. However, the process could not be completed even after nine months.
The issue echoed in the recent meeting of the provincial cabinet wherein it was revealed that 19 universities in the province have been working without regular vice-chancellors.
The interviews would be held for the appointment of vice chancellors of University of Peshawar, University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, Kohat University of Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology, Bannu, Bacha Khan University, Charsadda, University of Swabi, Shuhada-e-Army Public School University of Technology, Nowshera and Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan.
The positions of vice chancellors for some other universities, including Islamia College University, Peshawar, Fata University, Darra Adamkhel, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Chitral University, Buner University and Women University Mardan were advertised later through two separate advertisements.
The scrutiny process for those positions is underway, the sources said. The case of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar is unique as the current vice chancellor Prof Dr Razia Sultana has been serving as acting vice chancellor for the last two years. She was given the extension till arrival of new vice-chancellor in 2018 after the completion of her four-year first tenure.
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