Prof P Raveendran appointed Calicut University Vice-Chancellor
Thiruvananthapuram: The Governor of Kerala, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar (Chancellor of Calicut University), has officially appointed Professor Dr. P. Raveendran as the Vice-Chancellor of Calicut University.
Dr. Raveendran, who served as the temporary Vice Chancellor for the past one and a half years, will now hold the post for four years.
Selection process and controversy
The appointment followed a meticulous process amid some controversy. The University Senate convened four times under the Chancellor’s instructions and the High Court’s directive to select a Senate representative. A three-member search committee then interviewed 35 candidates and submitted a five-member panel to the Governor. Unusually, all three committee members personally met the Governor to hand over the panel.
The state government challenged the notification for VC selection in the High Court. However, the court refused to stay the appointment process and adjourned the petition to 27 January. The Governor proceeded with the appointment, keeping the court decision in mind.
Academic profile of Dr. P. Raveendran
Dr. Raveendran holds a PhD from IIT Madras and has significant international academic experience:
- Postdoctoral Visiting Scientist, University of Göttingen, Germany
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of North Carolina, USA
- Scientist, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Japan
He joined Calicut University as a Reader in 2005 and has served as temporary Vice Chancellor since mid-2024.
Personal background
Hailing from Pulamanthole in Malappuram district, Dr. Raveendran’s wife, Prof. M.R. Rashmi, is the Principal of Pattambi Government College. They have two children: Lakshmi, employed at IBM in Bengaluru, and Goureeshankar, a student.
With this appointment, permanent Vice Chancellors are now in place for four out of Kerala’s 14 universities. The Governor has directed two other universities to appoint representatives for the selection of Vice Chancellors for Kerala University and MG University.