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OUSL opposes Presidential Secretariat's rejection of Vice Chancellor shortlist

08 Jun 2021

Strong opposition and alarm was expressed by the Joint Alliance of Unions of the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) with regard to the rejection of the Vice Chancellor shortlist of the university by the Presidential Secretariat. This was communicated through a media statement released by the joint alliance of unions today (08), which represents all academic, non-academic and student communities of the university. “As the term of the current Vice Chancellor ends on 23rd June 2021, the university began the process of identifying and selecting a successor almost 6 months ago. This process took place under the new Circular No 02/2020 issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) on 04th May 2020. It is under this circular that all current Vice Chancellor selections in state universities are taking place. This is a nationally advertised competitive selection process during which candidates are screened by two independent panels,” the Alliance stated. Explaining further, the Alliance highlighted that one panel consists of five members drawn from the academic community, state administration and the private sector. The applicants shortlisted by this panel subsequently make presentations in front of the University Council, and thereafter the Council nominates three names to the UGC which in turn sends these names to the President to make a final selection.  However, in this case, the Alliance alleged that the Presidential Secretariat has created confusion and crisis by informing the university through the UGC that all three names are rejected and that the position needs to be re-advertised. “The relevant section in the Universities Act of 1978 regarding the appointment of the Vice Chancellor gives no provision for such a rejection. This arbitrary act by the presidential secretariat sets an extremely dangerous precedent for the university system as a whole,” the alliance expressed. In light of this, it was mentioned that the Joint Trade Union Alliance believes that the system in place and the system under which the nomination list was selected needs to prevail.  “Our position is that the government needs to honour its own rules introduced last year and that the autonomous function of universities is ensured. Arbitrary executive interference with this system can lead to a chaotic situation where systems and processes of governance become irrelevant,” it stated. The Alliance urged the government to appoint a suitable person from among the list already sent by the council of the OUSL without wasting precious resources and time of the university by re-advertising the position.  “In a time of global crisis created by the Covid-19 virus, the OUSL should be able to serve its student population without spending its energy on issues of this nature,” it concluded.


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