Representation of Professors, Employees and Student Organizations Removed from University Senates
Kathmandu — Through the “Ordinance to Amend Some Nepal Acts Related to Universities,” brought by the government, representation of professors’ associations, employees’ associations, and student organizations has been removed from the university senate, the highest body of all 18 universities operating in Nepal.
Earlier, in most university senates, elected representatives from professors’ or teachers’ associations, employees’ associations, and Free Student Unions had ex officio representation.
The new ordinance has removed that arrangement. Instead of representation from associations and organizations, one representative each from among all professors, employees, and general students will now serve in the senate. The authority to select such representatives has been given to the chancellor of the university.
Qualifications Set for Leadership and Selection Committees
The ordinance has also set clear qualifications for the appointment of university vice chancellors, rectors, and registrars.
For multidisciplinary universities such as Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu University, Purbanchal University, Pokhara University, Mid-Western University, Far-Western University, Nepal Open University, and Rajarshi Janak University, a person must have obtained a PhD in any subject and have at least 10 years of experience in teaching or research to become vice chancellor or rector.
For the registrar, the ordinance requires at least a master’s degree and 10 years of experience. However, even earlier, weak candidates in terms of qualification had not become vice chancellors in multidisciplinary universities.
For specialized universities, a PhD in the relevant field has been made mandatory.
Accordingly, to become vice chancellor or rector of Nepal Sanskrit University, a person must have a PhD in Sanskrit language or literature. For Lumbini Buddhist University, a PhD in Buddhist philosophy is required. For Agriculture and Forestry University, a PhD in agriculture, veterinary science, or forestry is required.
Specialized qualifications will also apply to Bidushi Yogmaya Himalayan Ayurveda University. For newer universities established in recent years, the qualifications for vice chancellor had already been determined earlier, and those provisions have been kept unchanged.
The ordinance has also specified the qualifications of the committee that recommends the vice chancellor. Earlier, when the Prime Minister, as chancellor, formed a three-member committee from among university senate members, there was a possibility that weak individuals could also be included in the committee.
Under the new arrangement, the coordinator of the recommendation committee must be a person qualified to become vice chancellor. Other members of the committee must include one person from among former vice chancellors, former rectors, and former registrars, and another person with 10 years of experience in academic management.
Organizations Oppose the Decision
Professors, employees, and student organizations have strongly opposed the removal of their representation from university senates.
Basanta Dhakal, president of the Tribhuvan University Professors’ Association, described the move made through the ordinance as the beginning of the government’s authoritarian journey and said the government is moving toward authoritarianism.
Chhatra Bahadur Karki, president of the employees’ association at Tribhuvan University, said the provision goes against the right to organize and the standards of the International Labour Organization.
He said representatives selected at the discretion of the government or the vice chancellor would not represent the feelings of employees.
“Until now, we had representation in the TU Senate, but not in the Executive Council. We had said that even the registrar should be from the employees’ side. It is unfortunate that this did not happen,” he said.
Similarly, Dipak Raj Joshi, the Free Student Union president of Central Campus, who was removed from the position of TU Senate member because of the ordinance, claimed that the move would turn universities into a shadow of the government.
He said it would create a state of academic emptiness in universities.
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