Workload Crisis at Savitribai Phule Pune University: Professors Juggling Multiple Roles Strain University Operations
Pune, 20th March 2024: The workload across various positions at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), including the Registrar’s post, has significantly increased. Currently, 11 professors are handling responsibilities for 40 posts, with 4 professors tasked with overseeing more than 5 posts individually. This scenario paints a picture of SPPU grappling with an overwhelming workload.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the SPPU Budget is scheduled for the upcoming Saturday and Sunday (23rd and 24th March), with the agenda finalized for the meeting. Among the key items on the agenda is the presentation and approval of the budget for the next financial year. This budget is anticipated to allocate resources for student welfare initiatives, research expenditures, college schemes, and adjustments aligning with the National Education Policy 2020. Several resolutions have been proposed by AGM members, with Dr. Harsh Jagzap highlighting concerns regarding the burgeoning workload.
SPPU boasts 83 educational institutions housing 55 departments and 28 centers. However, the workload distribution appears imbalanced, with 11 professors managing 40 posts. Only seven professors have been appointed as heads, directors, or coordinators for 30 departments and centers. Given that some professors are overseeing multiple departments alongside their teaching duties, providing adequate time and attention to each role becomes challenging, potentially impacting the university’s quality standards.
Despite having over 200 professors at SPPU, the distribution of leadership roles remains limited, with only few professors appointed as directors, heads of departments, or coordinators for multiple departments. This limitation hinders the emergence of new leadership within the institution. Dr. Jagzap asserts that such concentration of power may lead to errors in academic, research, financial, and administrative decision-making within departments.
To address these concerns, Dr. Jagzap has proposed a resolution to curb the centralization of power at SPPU. The resolution suggests assigning one post to each individual to prevent power concentration. Specifically, each academic department should designate a full professor from within the department as the head of the center, promoting a more equitable distribution of responsibilities and fostering new leadership opportunities.
