Varsity faculty elated over second chance

Hyderabad: Kaleem Ahmed Jaleeli was scheduled to retire as assistant professor from Nizam College on Jan 31 (Friday), if not for the govt order released by state govt late night on Jan 30 (Thursday) extending the retirement age of professors by five years.
Kaleem, who joined as an ad-hoc faculty in 2001 and became a regular faculty in 2013, said he now has a chance to become a professor in the next five years and guide more PhD students over time.
"In 11 years, I guided six research scholars and all secured a PhD. I am very happy that the govt has enhanced the retirement age as I will be able to guide a few more students and help in the advancement of science," Kaleem told TOI.
The 60-year-old, who works in Physics department, said the govt has taken the right decision as senior faculty are needed to get funding, guide students, and improve rankings. " I was very anxious and was almost prepared to retire. There was a small hope as chief minister A Revanth Reddy made the announcement on Republic Day, regarding enhancement of the retirement age. I will make the best of this opportunity," he added.
Seconding Kaleem, P Saritha Rajender from Chemistry department, OU, who was also supposed to retire on Jan 31, said she will give her best in the coming five years.
"I joined the varsity very late in my career as I took a break for my children. Even when I resumed work, I initially joined private colleges near my residence so that I would be available for my family more. I am glad this opportunity came my way. Now, they are grown up and I can concentrate more on teaching and research," said Saritha, who joined OU in 2013.
Along with Kaleem and Saritha, one more faculty member from OU, two from Kakatiya University (KU), and one from Telugu University were also supposed to retire. This year, about 20 faculty members from OU were all set to retire.
The faculty who benefited from this move say that they are happy to continue rendering their services and added that this is much needed to maintain the quality of teaching and research in state varsities.
"Only OU has more than 1,200 sanctioned posts, but all state universities combined hardly have 750 regular faculty. If even these faculty retire, there will be no one to guide students or young faculty who will be joining varsities. To ensure there will be no gap, the govt should immediately recruit faculty so that they can be trained by senior faculty in the next five years, ensuring a smooth transition," said T Yadagiri Rao, vice-chancellor of Telangana University and a professor from KU.
Hyderabad: Kaleem Ahmed Jaleeli was scheduled to retire as assistant professor from Nizam College on Jan 31 (Friday), if not for the govt order released by state govt late night on Jan 30 (Thursday) extending the retirement age of professors by five years.
Kaleem, who joined as an ad-hoc faculty in 2001 and became a regular faculty in 2013, said he now has a chance to become a professor in the next five years and guide more PhD students over time.
"In 11 years, I guided six research scholars and all secured a PhD. I am very happy that the govt has enhanced the retirement age as I will be able to guide a few more students and help in the advancement of science," Kaleem told TOI.
The 60-year-old, who works in Physics department, said the govt has taken the right decision as senior faculty are needed to get funding, guide students, and improve rankings. " I was very anxious and was almost prepared to retire. There was a small hope as chief minister A Revanth Reddy made the announcement on Republic Day, regarding enhancement of the retirement age. I will make the best of this opportunity," he added.
Seconding Kaleem, P Saritha Rajender from Chemistry department, OU, who was also supposed to retire on Jan 31, said she will give her best in the coming five years.
"I joined the varsity very late in my career as I took a break for my children. Even when I resumed work, I initially joined private colleges near my residence so that I would be available for my family more. I am glad this opportunity came my way. Now, they are grown up and I can concentrate more on teaching and research," said Saritha, who joined OU in 2013.
Along with Kaleem and Saritha, one more faculty member from OU, two from Kakatiya University (KU), and one from Telugu University were also supposed to retire. This year, about 20 faculty members from OU were all set to retire.
The faculty who benefited from this move say that they are happy to continue rendering their services and added that this is much needed to maintain the quality of teaching and research in state varsities.
"Only OU has more than 1,200 sanctioned posts, but all state universities combined hardly have 750 regular faculty. If even these faculty retire, there will be no one to guide students or young faculty who will be joining varsities. To ensure there will be no gap, the govt should immediately recruit faculty so that they can be trained by senior faculty in the next five years, ensuring a smooth transition," said T Yadagiri Rao, vice-chancellor of Telangana University and a professor from KU.