Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has appointed Bhola Thapa, former registrar at Kathmandu University, as the university vice-chancellor.

Thapa will serve for four years.

Oli, in the capacity of the ex-officio chancellor of the university. appointed Thapa, a professor at the Engineering Department in the university, from among the three candidates recommended by the Minister for Education Krishna Gopal Shrestha-led three-member search committee.

The committee had recommended incumbent Vice-Chancellor Ram Kantha Makaju and Bal Chandra Luitel, a professor at the university, along with Thapa to lead the university.

“I have been called to Singha Durbar to receive the appointment letter,” Thapa told the Post.

He will replace Makaju on Thursday.

Thapa is the third person to be appointed vice-chancellor of the university which was established three decades ago.

While Suresh Raj Sharma had six terms, Makaju led the university for two terms.

Thapa, who worked under Makaju as a registrar, had resigned in 2017 objecting to the vice-chancellor’s working style.

As many as 44 serving and retired professors from various universities had applied for the post.

Thapa’s appointment was announced just a day before Makaju is completing his tenure.

The three-member committee formed to recommend the vice-chancellor candidates on January 5 had asked for curriculum vitae from the aspirants.

The 88th senate meeting of the university on December 29 had formed the committee, led by Education Minister Shrestha, to find Makaju’s successor.