FORE School of Management director appointment raises questions over AICTE compliance

The appointment of Prof. Subir Verma as the Director of FORE School of Management has raised questions and concerns regarding compliance with AICTE’s (All India Council for Technical Education) recruitment guidelines.

According to the AICTE Gazette dated March 1, 2019, the candidate for such a position must meet specific educational and professional criteria.

These guidelines are not just bureaucratic formalities but are crafted to ensure that only the most qualified and deserving individuals lead India’s higher education institutions, which are responsible for shaping future leaders.

According to these regulations, an individual aspiring to be the director of an AICTE-approved institution must have a Ph.D. and a first-class or equivalent degree at either the Bachelor’s or Master’s level in a relevant discipline.

Additionally, the candidate must have supervised at least two successful PhD dissertations, have a minimum of eight research publications in journals approved by UGC or AICTE, and possess at least 15 years of experience in teaching, research, or industry, with three years in a position equivalent to that of a professor.

However, the case of Prof. Subir Verma presents a stark deviation from these established norms. According to available information, Prof. Verma did not achieve first-class in his Bachelor’s degree, a critical requirement stipulated by FORE School of Management recruitment advertisement published in TOI, Mint, Economic Times & Navbharat Times.

While he holds a second-class degree, the AICTE mandates that candidates must have at least one first-class qualification either at the Bachelor’s or Master’s level.

Furthermore, his research credentials fall short of the AICTE's expectation of a minimum of eight publications in recognized academic journals.

By the time of his appointment in 2023, Prof. Verma had only five such publications to his name, with additional paper being published in 2024—after his appointment.

This discrepancy suggests that, at the time of his selection, Prof. Verma did not fully meet the academic publishing requirement outlined in the AICTE Gazette.

Given these facts, it becomes necessary to ask: why was Prof. Verma chosen for this role despite these apparent shortcomings? Was there no other candidate who fully met the AICTE’s and institute's criteria or did the FORE School of Management have other reasons for favoring him over potentially more qualified candidates?

This situation points to a larger concern within India’s higher education system, where appointments may sometimes sidestep established norms, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.

The AICTE regulations are designed to ensure that only the most qualified candidates are appointed to such prestigious roles, with a focus on academic and research excellence.

Yet, the decision by FORE School’s management to appoint Prof. Verma despite these discrepancies has sparked questions.

This issue draws attention to the broader practice of appointments in educational institutions and the importance of adhering to national regulatory frameworks.

Prof. Verma’s appointment without fulfilling all the required qualifications not only questions the integrity of the selection process but also potentially violates AICTE norms, which could have repercussions for the institution’s accreditation and reputation.

The AICTE’s mandate for stringent recruitment processes emphasizes quality education leadership. Violations of these guidelines can lead to administrative and operational issues for the institution.

The FORE School management’s rationale behind selecting Prof. Verma, despite other potentially eligible candidates, has not yet been clarified, and this raises further concerns about the transparency of the hiring process.

This story could prompt AICTE and other regulatory bodies to look deeper into similar appointments and ensure compliance across institutions.

The question now arises: Will there be repercussions for FORE School of Business, or will this case lead to a reevaluation of recruitment policies in other educational institutions?