Boosting India's sports education

Bihar Sports University, with a 90-acre campus, a dedicated academy and state-of-the-art facilities, joins the league of sports institutions; is also looking to get NCTE recognition

- Pritha Roy Choudhury

Bihar Sports University (BSU), situated in a 90-acre campus in Rajgir, Bihar, has recently received recognition from the University Grants Commission (UGC). The institution which combines a sports university and an academy at the same location was inaugurated by chief minister Nitish Kumar on August 29, 2024.

Under the leadership of its newly appointed vice-chancellor Shishir Sinha, the university is currently establishing its academic framework. But Rajanikant, the registrar of BSU, revealed that faculty recruitment remains a challenge.

Talking to Careers360, Rajanikant said: “We need a dean. Only after the dean joins, we will be able to formulate a curriculum”. The university will also be applying for National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) recognition. “If we get the recognition, it will happen for the next academic year,” he added.

Rajanikant, an IAS officer who had taken voluntary retirement before joining BSU, continued with an additional charge of officiating as vice-chancellor till Shishir Sinha was appointed VC of the university on November 10, 2024.

Challenges

The university presently is facing challenges with staff recruitment. “The courses that we can start as per the University Grants Commission mandate can happen only if we get the teachers. We have asked the government to sanction faculty positions. Once these posts are approved, we will begin the appointment process,” Rajanikant said. The university hopes to get clarity within two months.