Khallikote unitary university is plagued by research setbacks owing to paucity of permanent teachers

Research work at Khallikote Unitary University (KUU) in Berhampur has been hit as the four-year-old varsity does not have any permanent professors.

Formed on Aug 1, 2021, KUU was promoted from the 148-year-old Khallikote College with 16 departments. The govt approved 112 teaching positions for the university, out of which 16 professors, 32 associate professors, and 64 assistant professors. But not a single professor has been hired yet. Just one permanent associate professor and 19 permanent assistant professors are working.

Presently, the faculty is being handled temporarily by 36 guest faculty members, one professor, five associate professors, and 30 assistant professors, but research work has taken a toll. "Despite UGC recognition under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956, the university has not been able to introduce its PhD programme owing to the absence of regular teaching personnel," vice chancellor (in-charge) Geetanjali Dash said.

Approximately 5,500 students are taking up postgraduate, undergraduate, and self-financing programmes. Students complained that even after the hiring of guest faculty, classes remain non-operative. "Our mathematics class was disrupted nearly every day since there was just one teacher in the department," said a Plus III (science) student. Complaints were raised by commerce students too.

Dash accepted the lack of teaching faculty. "We have requested the govt for the appointment of a minimum of 42 more guest faculty members to meet the crisis. We expect the govt to approve it," she said. Local MLA K. Anil Kumar intervened, "I have already spoken to state education minister Suryavanshi Suraj, who has assured that teachers will be appointed in a short while.