There is only one private university in the country with its own flying club and licensed airstrip and it is the all-women’s Banasthali Vidyapith. Established in Tonk, Rajasthan, in 1935, it is one of the world’s largest fully-residential universities for women and enrols over 12,400 students in a year.
Its aviation school, set up in 1962, has produced hundreds of pilots, including the first woman fighter pilot to fly a supersonic jet solo, Flying Officer Avani Chaturvedi.
Banasthali Vidyapith is one of 16 all-women universities in India. Rajasthan has three and Tamil Nadu, two. The oldest is Smt. Nathibai Damodar Thackersey, or SNDT University, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, established in 1916. But nine of the 16 universities were established in the new millennium and three are private.
Some of the oldest of women’s universities, SNDT for example, were born out of social reform and women’s rights movements. Banasthali was set up by the grieving parents of Shantabai, who passed away at just 12.
Today, these universities run courses in general disciplines, of course, but some of them have kept pace with the mainstream, co-educational universities, introducing programmes in the emerging fields of science and technology. They work on women’s empowerment in general and some have also established business incubators and entrepreneurship cells.
Educating women
“Our goal is not just to impart education, but to empower every woman who enrols with us,” said Shashikala Wanjari, Vice-Chancellor, SNDT Women’s University. “Our aim is also to ensure every student gets employment. For that, along with regular courses, we offer add-on courses.” Because its women students may have been marginalised in their families and schools, SNDT launched Mission Shashi in 2017. Under this, they train women in self-defence and build their confidence.
This story is from the March 2020 edition of Careers 360.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 2020 edition of Careers 360.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A university dying a slow death
Darjeeling Hills University has students but no permanent vice chancellor, teachers, administrators or a campus
What state universities are doing with their autonomy
Lucknow University is planning new courses, online and offline, but Madras University is grappling with funding problems
MIT Art, Design & Technology University
MIT Art, Design, and Technology University: We Dare to Dream and Care to Achieve it | MIT Art, Design, and Technology University: Achieving Excellence Through Diversity for All Mankind | MIT Art, Design, and Technology University: A Community of Lifelong Learners, Responsible Global Citizens, and Champions of our Own Success | MIT Art, Design & Technology University: Successfully pioneering Holistic Development, Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Fewer offers, slimmer packages
Like in engineering colleges, placements at top arts and commerce colleges are also facing a slump
The rot in research
Delayed fellowships, straitened resources, discrimination, exploitation, poor management Indian researchers have their backs against the wall
From maths to the wandering mind: What IKS centers are studying
Over 50 IKS centres have come up across education institutions and non-profits to lead research on Indian Knowledge Systems. Here’s what they are studying
EMPOWERING DIVERSE MINDS ACROSS VARIED DISCIPLINES
In the ever-evolving landscape of education, the paradigm has shifted from mere academic excellence to cultivating holistic development and innovation.
How 'Lady Kim Jong' is forcing Bengal's private teacher training colleges to fall in line
Embarrassed by a notification issued in Assam, the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Education University (BSAEU) cancelled affiliation of 253 private colleges for breaching regulations
ADIGHUNGHANAGIRI UNIVERSITY
Sri. Dr. Nirmalanandanatha Ginn turned the vision of Sri. Sri. Sri. Dr. Balagangadharanatha Mahaswamiji into a reality by establishing the Adichunchanagiri University for providing world class professional education to the rural population.
CUET: The other side
Delayed admissions, swathes of vacant seats and loss for local students what the CUET exam has meant for universities and why more are now pushing for alternative’ ways of admission