Patna, Nov. 1: Nalanda University is likely to see a change of guard at the top as it is hunting for a new vice-chancellor.

The term of the current VC, Gopa Sabharwal, ends on November 24 this year. Advertisements inviting applications for the post have been issued by the university.

Sabharwal was the first VC of the university and had the backing of Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, who was the first chancellor.

According to university sources, the ministry of external affairs has so far not given any indication on giving an extension to Sabharwal, though she can apply for the post. "The university has invited open applications; anyone fitting the eligibility criteria can apply. The search committee, based on scrutiny of all the applications, will send three names to the Visitor (President Pranab Mukherjee), who, after going through the three names, will make the final appointment," said a Nalanda University governing board member who is also part of the VC search committee.

The university governing board had, in January this year, set up a five-member search committee comprising Chancellor George Yeo, Trinamul Congress MP and Harvard University professor Sugata Bose, former Rajya Sabha MP and ex-bureaucrat N.K. Singh, Professor Wang Bangwei of Peking University, Beijing, and Professor Wang Gungwu of the National University of Singapore.

"As the advertisement is open, if the present VC Gopa Sabharwal feels like applying again, she can. There is no restriction on her second appointment but neither will she get any preference for a second term. She will be treated on a par with the other candidates," added the governing board member, who spoke to The Telegraph under cover of anonymity.

Ever since the NDA government under Narendra Modi came to power in May 2014, several universities have seen a change at the top.

Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, got a new VC in M. Jagdeesh Kumar, who replaced Sudhir Kumar Sopory in January this year.

Sopory was considered close to the UPA. Similarly, Dinesh Singh, VC of Delhi University appointed during the UPA regime, was replaced by Yogesh K. Tyagi in May this year. Heads of many central universities have also rolled.

"In such a situation, it is unlikely that Gopa Sabharwal will get a second term even if she applies for one," said an Nalanda University official on condition of anonymity.

Sabharwal was a reader at Delhi's Lady Shriram College when she was appointed to the top job by then Chancellor Amartya Sen in October 2010. Her tenure was to end in November 2015, but she was given a year's extension.

Amartya Sen himself didn't get a second stint as chancellor, being replaced by George Yeo, a former foreign minister of Singapore, in July last year.

As of now, the university has three schools - historical studies; ecology and environment studies; and Buddhist studies, philosophy and comparative religions. There are around 225 students studying in these three schools, which together have a faculty strength of around 25.

Candidates with outstanding academic record, preferably in the field of Asian studies, having leadership qualities with demonstrated administrative ability and experience at a senior level can apply for the post of VC. The VC will be a full-time salaried position based in Rajgir and the appointment will be for a tenure of five years or up to attainment of age of 70 years, whichever is earlier. The post of VC carries a pay of US $80,000 (fixed) per annum and other allowances as per the norms of the university.