RONO HILLS : The Rajiv Gandhi University Teachers’ Association (RGUTA) on Tuesday organised a welcome programme for the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), Prof. Shivaraj, at the university campus.
Prof. Shivaraj, an alumnus of Osmania University, completed his Master’s degree in 1983 and earned his Ph.D. in 1989. He served the university for 34 years, joining as an Assistant Professor in 1986 and later serving as a Professor for 15 years before retiring in September 2020. In 2018, he received the Telangana Government’s Best Teacher Award for his contribution to higher education.
The programme began with the felicitation of the Vice-Chancellor, followed by an interactive session during which faculty members shared their expectations and raised issues concerning the university.
Welcoming the new Vice-Chancellor, RGUTA President Prof. Tage Rupa Sora expressed confidence that his leadership would bring renewed optimism, fresh perspectives and a shared vision for the university’s growth.
She said Rajiv Gandhi University’s achievements were the result of the collective efforts of its teachers, non-teaching staff, researchers, students and alumni, and noted that RGUTA had consistently worked not only for teachers’ welfare but also for the overall development of the institution.
Expressing hope for the future, she said the university under Prof. Shivaraj’s leadership should continue to promote merit, innovation, research, participatory governance and an inclusive academic environment.
During the interaction, faculty members raised several issues, including implementation of pension schemes on par with Central Government norms, the pending Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) process, salary enhancement and equal treatment of faculty members. Concerns relating to campus infrastructure and other administrative matters were also discussed.
Responding to the issues, Prof. Shivaraj said his experience in university administration and teachers’ associations had given him a clear understanding of faculty concerns and assured that sincere efforts would be made to address them.
He informed the gathering that the CAS process had already been initiated and that recruitment under the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) would begin at the earliest. He also assured that the university would work to resolve longstanding issues, including water supply and space constraints on the campus.
Emphasising the role of teachers, Prof. Shivaraj said the true strength of any educational institution lies in its teaching community, which plays a vital role in shaping responsible and competent citizens.
Highlighting the importance of research, he described it as the backbone of a university and called for multidisciplinary research that addresses local challenges while maintaining national and international relevance.
Referring to Arunachal Pradesh’s rich biodiversity and natural resources, he encouraged departments to undertake collaborative research projects that would benefit society and enhance the university’s academic standing.
