Koppal: Karnataka’s state universities are grappling with a severe staffing crisis, with 9,391 teaching and non-teaching posts lying vacant across 32 institutions, according to data accessed by TOI. The shortage has forced universities to depend heavily on guest lecturers and contract personnel to keep academic and administrative functions running.
The higher education department oversees 32 universities that cater to lakhs of students, including a large number from backward communities. While the govt continues to fund infrastructure such as laboratories and libraries, it has yet to initiate regular recruitment for key academic and administrative posts.
Of the 4,483 sanctioned teaching posts, only 1,477 have been filled, leaving 3,006 vacant. The situation is even more alarming among non-teaching staff, where 6,385 of the 8,989 sanctioned posts remain unfilled. Only 2,604 positions are occupied.
Karnataka University, Dharwad, tops the list with 1,253 vacancies, including 393 teaching and 860 non-teaching posts. It is followed by Bengaluru University with 1,090 vacancies (252 teaching and 838 non-teaching) and the University of Mysore with 850 vacancies (405 teaching and 445 non-teaching).
Other universities reporting significant shortages include Mandya University (300), Karnataka State Open University (387), Gulbarga University (460), Adichunchanagiri University (197), Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya University (131), Karnataka Sanskrit University (32), Karnataka Janapada University (28) and Dr Gangubai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University (34).
Kuvempu University has 507 vacancies, followed by Davangere University (142), Mangalore University (450), Maharani Cluster University (440), Kannada University, Hampi (151), Rani Channamma University (160), Akkamahadevi Women’s University (211), Bengaluru City University (269) and Tumakuru University (269).
The list also includes Bengaluru North University, Kolar (161), Dr B.R. Ambedkar School of Economics University (55), Koppal University (143), Hassan University (272), Chamarajanagar University (126), Haveri University (137), Kodagu University (46), Bagalkot University (188), Kittur Rani Channamma University-Haveri Campus (63), Visvesvaraya Technological University (272) and University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (341).
The shortage of permanent faculty is directly impacting the quality of higher education. Simultaneously, the lack of non-teaching staff has created an administrative vacuum, affecting the launch of new courses, maintenance of existing programmes and smooth day-to-day functioning.
To bridge the gap, universities have collectively hired 3,434 guest lecturers and 4,031 contract-based non-teaching staff. However, the arrangement has continued for years and remains a stop-gap measure rather than a long-term solution.
Prof Muniraju, vice-chancellor of Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya University, said the higher education minister recently convened a meeting of all vice-chancellors in Bengaluru to discuss teaching and non-teaching vacancies. He expressed hope that the consultations would help address the acute staff shortage.
With thousands of sanctioned posts still lying vacant, universities continue to rely on temporary staff, underscoring the urgent need for regular recruitment across the higher education sector.
