Lack of Female Candidates in the Race for Vice-Chancellor of Tribhuvan University

May 10, Kathmandu: Fifty applicants submitted their applications for the position of Vice-Chancellor at Tribhuvan University. Based on expert evaluations, the recommendation committee approved 43 of these applications. Among them, the shortlist of 10 candidates has already been announced. However, none of the shortlisted applicants are women.

In its 67-year history, Tribhuvan University has never had a female vice-chancellor. Questions about female representation at the university continue to be raised. Experts have described the absence of female applicants as a regrettable development.

“Having not a single woman is truly unfortunate. It fails to send a constructive and positive message,” said former dean Prof. Dr. Kusum Shakya. The complete absence of women on the shortlist is a matter of concern both for the university and female representation. In 2015 (2072 BS), Prof. Dr. Sudha Tripathi became the first female academic dean at Tribhuvan. After the term of then Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Teertha Khaniya ended, she assumed the responsibilities of acting vice-chancellor.

“I worked as rector and also managed duties as acting vice-chancellor,” she shared. At that time, Tripathi aspired to formally become vice-chancellor but did not receive support from the state. “I had enthusiasm, expectations, and the courage to perform, but it was not possible,” Prof. Dr. Tripathi explained. “There were behind-the-scenes games being played, which I did not understand.” She believes that being a woman is not the reason for not becoming vice-chancellor, but rather the state’s structures have yet to demonstrate the necessary political will.

“Being a woman actually helped,” she recounted. “When students came causing disruptions, if there had been male leadership, clashes might have happened, but I just opened my arms and stood firm. They couldn’t do anything and had to leave.” Some argue that patriarchal structures have impeded women’s ascension to leadership. Dr. Tripathi sees lack of political activism among women as a key factor. “It’s not that a woman cannot handle the vice-chancellorship, but the issue is women not engaging in political lobbying. Setting up to bring in preferred individuals happens,” she stated. “The state has not prepared women adequately, but if it wished, it is not impossible.”

This time, the government plans to select the vice-chancellor through a politics-free competitive process. Yet no female professors have applied. “Although the call was open, a perception that the selection would not be fair likely discouraged women from applying,” Prof. Dr. Tripathi analyzed. It is not only this time; in February 2024 (2080 Falgun 10), the government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ appointed Prof. Dr. Kesarjung Baral as vice-chancellor. Prior to this as well, open competition methods had been adopted.

At that time, Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty deans Prof. Dr. Kusum Shakya and Prof. Dr. Sangita Rayamajhi applied for the position. “I applied last time as well and was shortlisted, but could not become vice-chancellor,” said Prof. Dr. Shakya. She explained that once it became clear that a woman would not be appointed despite open calls, female candidates stopped applying. “If it’s not going to happen, why apply? I have gained experience. I thought other women might apply but no one did,” she added.

Absence of Women in Dean Positions
There are no women serving as deans in any faculty at Tribhuvan University. All faculties are led by male deans — including the Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Science, Forestry, Engineering, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Management, and Law. In December 2024 (2081 Mangsir), a merit-based dean appointment process was initiated along with the formation of an expert committee and a public call for applications, but ultimately dean appointments were made based on political consensus.

Low Number of Female Professors
The number of female professors at Tribhuvan University is significantly lower compared to their male counterparts. Currently, there are 7,966 faculty members, but exact figures for female professors are unavailable. However, professors acknowledge that female representation is low. Women attribute this disparity more to lack of opportunity and trust rather than qualifications. “It’s not that qualified women don’t exist; it depends on the state’s political will,” said Prof. Dr. Shakya. She noted that although meritocracy is discussed, in practice women are not given the expected opportunities.

A Challenging Leadership Role
Former Vice-Chancellor of Tribhuvan, Kedarbhakta Mathema, described the role as challenging. “Running a university is unlike managing a ministry; one has to simultaneously handle student movements, academic administration, research, and management,” he said. Mathema believes that improving the university environment is essential to bring qualified women professors into leadership. If strikes, closures, and investments in research and academic environments can be managed well, women could lead the university more effectively.

Movement for Women’s Leadership Among Professors
The issue of women’s leadership at Tribhuvan is not new. Seven years ago, female professors staged protests demanding 33 percent representation of women as campus chiefs. Today, several campuses are led by women, including Trichandra Campus, Maharajgunj Nursing Campus, Padma Kanya Multipurpose Campus, Bhaktapur Multipurpose Campus, Biratnagar Nursing Campus, Birgunj Nursing Campus, Pokhara Nursing Campus, and Nepalgunj Nursing Campus.

In January 2025 (2081 Poush), the appointment process for 24 campus chiefs was announced to follow merit-based selection, but no women were appointed at that time. Overall, women’s presence in leadership roles at department and campus levels remains minimal. Experts argue that leadership development should begin from campus levels to prepare women for the vice-chancellorship, as prior leadership experience at campus level would ease their role as vice-chancellor.

They also observe that female leadership tends to bring more transparency than male leadership. Former dean Dr. Shakya emphasizes the need for state policy arrangements to promote women to university leadership positions. “In the coming days, the government must initiate steps. Women are preparing to lead, but policymaking is necessary,” she said.

Low Female Representation in Other Universities as Well
After the government dismissed officials in all universities by ordinance, the shortlists for the vice-chancellor selection process in eight universities have been released. Female representation is low among these candidates. For instance, none of the ten shortlisted candidates at Purwanchal University are women, despite 38 applicants. Similarly, Sudurpashchim University’s shortlist of 10 has no women among 19 applicants. At Mid-Western University, one woman, Kalyani Mishra Tripathi, is shortlisted among 20 applicants. Pokhara University’s shortlist includes one woman, Nirmala Jamar Kattel, among 38 applicants.

No women are shortlisted for vice-chancellor at Rajarshi Janak University, where 27 applied. At the Agriculture and Forestry University, one woman, Kalyani Mishra Tripathi, is shortlisted among 15 applicants. Lumbini Buddhist University has three women shortlisted: Chandrakala Ghimire, Yashodhara Bhetuwal, and Sarada Paudel among 11 applicants. Overall, women’s presence remains minimal. The recommendation committee also noted that few women applied.

“Few women have applied; it is a challenge. Selection depends on qualifications, capability, and experience,” said committee member Reshu Aryal. “Women have historically been marginalized in education. It is now necessary to review the university promotion system.”