Kathmandu, June 8 -- The government has begun appointing vice-chancellors and senior officials at public universities and health science institutions through open competition, marking a shift towards a merit-based selection process.

The Ministry of Education and Sports and the Ministry of Health and Food Safety have issued procedures and invited applications through selection and recommendation committees after an ordinance removed vice-chancellors and other senior office-bearers from universities and health science academies.

The selection committee has published shortlists for vice-chancellor appointments at eight universities: Tribhuvan University, Purbanchal University, Pokhara University, Lumbini Buddhist University, Agriculture an...