As a "vice-chancellor" (commonly called a "VC") of a medical university, I am the chief executive of the university. Being an honorific associated with this title, allowing me to bestow degrees in absence of the chancellor. Strictly speaking, the VC is only the deputy to the chancellor of the university, but the chancellor is usually a prominent public figure who acts as a ceremonial figurehead only, whiles the vice-chancellor acts as the day-to-day chief executive. These are sometimes teaching academics or even research and development who take on additional responsibilities. There is an exception within our university: the charter of the Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Medical School provides for two vice-chancellors as basic sciences and clinical sciences to also use this title.