Higher education system collapses in Odisha; 49 professors in 18 universities

August 3: Hundreds of faculty posts have been lying vacant in public universities of Odisha for years while several departments of various universities are running sans professors.
There are 232 approved faculty posts for 27 departments of Utkal University. However, it is running with only 114 faculty members while 118 posts have been vacant for years. The university has only 11 professors against approved posts of 44 and surprisingly 17 departments are running sans professors. This is the scary picture of the oldest varsity of Odisha.
Similarly, there are only 110 faculty members in Ravenshaw University against the approved posts of 267 for 23 departments. Only eight professors are teaching in the university while it has 29 approved posts and 16 departments have no professors.
According to data of the Higher Education Department, the state government has approved 1911 professor, assistant professor and associate professor posts for 18 universities, out of which 1187 posts are lying vacant.
And only 49 professors are working in these 18 universities while the approved posts are 274.
The faculty crisis situation is very similar in 13 medical colleges of Odisha. As many as 2269 faculty members are appointed against the approved posts of 3242.
Posts of 60 junior residents, 429 senior residents, 68 tutors, 148 assistant professors, 185 associate professors and 83 professors are lying vacant in these 13 medical colleges.
According to the UGC guideline, eight students can pursue their Ph.D under one professor, six under an assistant professor and four under an associate professor.
Professors play a major role in teaching and research work in universities. However, running of several departments sans professors has raised concern over research work in Odisha universities.