One of the notable best practices of Kalinga University has been extension and outreach. The University’s philosophy of education emphasizes reaching out to the marginalized groups with special focus on research and extension. These are important manifestations of the University’s curriculum and faculty’s expertise. The institution firmly believes in the application of classroom training and instruction to the outside community for improving their quality of life which has been achieved by conducting numerous extension and outreach activities at both UG and PG level in the form of non-credit as well as credit-based instruction, technical assistance, applied research, distance instruction and technology transfer.
The students and faculty of different departments of the university came up with the following interventions:
Chhattisgarh Youth Entrepreneurship Summit This unique platform for dynamic learning was provided to the youth of near- by villages for making new connections to help take their expertise to new heights. The innovative companies that are leading the way with cutting edge technologies, processes and services presented the prospects of growth of youth in their company followed by ten minutes of questions from participants and business strategists. The university strives to create an environment that empowers innovators, particularly youth to take their ideas to the next level.
The University has adopted five villages (Kotni, Palaud, Kuhera, Parsada, Tandul) for secure access of the youth of these villages to employment/self-employment and engage themselves in pursuit of higher education. An awareness of clean drinking water, health and hygiene was given to the communities of the villages.The University has developed smart class rooms in the schools of all these five villages.
Kalinga University works to make quality healthcare accessible to its communities. Towards this, it creates healthcare facilities and also works at community level for improved health. With the conviction that preventive healthcare is key to good health, it stresses on health education and awareness in the villages adopted.
The University contributes to the Swachh Bharat Mission of the Government through supporting community, individual and institutional sanitation facilities in the nearby villages. By inviting people to participate in the drive, the university tried to create a sense of responsibility among the people through this Clean India Movement.
An important part of the university extension activity was save water program organized in the local community near the university campus. An awareness on water conservation and rainwater harvesting, renovation of traditional and other water bodies, reuse of water and recharging of structures, watershed development, and intensive afforestation was created among the nearby community.
Considering the manifold benefits of trees and to lessen the effects of global warming, Kalinga University generally organises tree plantation drives. Over the last one four years Kalinga University has planted more than 20,000 plants in and around the university campus. Our young volunteers, especially the team of NSS are actively involved in organizing tree plantation campaigns in the university.
The department of Law organises legal aid camps in the near- by villages. The prime objective of this camp is to provide legal clinic to the general public who are unable to approach the doors of justice. Under this legal counseling program of the litigant fellows was conducted without any fees. The prime objective of the legal aid camp is to promote legal education and protect the common interest of general citizen. And the mool mantra of this camp is ‘no one can be deprived of the natural justice’.
Kalinga University received ‘Auropath Global Award 2019” in the category of best in social and community services/ impact as a result of exhaustive participation in community. The youth entrepreneur summit empowered the students to pitch their ideas and build partnerships that helps in transforming the society. This summit served as a vital link between governments and the private sector. The adoption of the villages led to increase the employment in the village community, get the best education to the youth of the villages. Instead of travelling long distance for higher education, they got quality education in their zone. Many camps were organized in these villages and tremendous development is observed in terms of health, hygiene, cleanliness, environment, woman and child education. The residents of these villages became aware of the legal procedures. Thus the extension activities done by the university led to the holistic development of the nearby community.
Objectives : At Kalinga university, women work force constitute more than 44% of the total strength in terms of student strength, teaching and non-teaching staff and key positions in universities administration. The University keeps the following objectives as its prime concern while following this practice -
The Context : Kalinga University is one of the leading universities in India for imparting quality higher education. It caters to the diverse needs of students, society, and the country. The University believes that women education and empowerment are the indicators of development of modern India as by empowering women force this will ensure in the holistic and long- term development of the society in all the spheres. The University thus provides employment opportunities to women and scholarships to all the girl students who enrolls for any program in the University with an aim of increasing and improving access to high quality education for women candidates thereby ensuring women education and empowerment.
The Practice : The University has a policy of providing scholarships to all the girl students enrolling in any of the courses of the University. The University is located in a rural area where it has become a blessing for the girl students of nearby villages for whom commuting to far off places for higher education becomes difficult. Thus the University strives to promote women education. Apart from this, the university has employed female employees who are handling many key positions in the university in academics as well as administration. The university has women representation as workforce that includes Chief Finance Officer, Director IQAC, Dean, Students Welfare, Dean – Department of Science, Dean- Department of Education, Head – Human Resources, Director – Incubation Centre, In charge, In charge Young Indians, In charge NSS, Incharge Business Lab, In charge Entrepreneurship Cell, and In charge Library, ; thus ensuring empowerment of women. The University, as one of its extension and outreach program organizes ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign that aims to spread information about infanticide, child marriage and most importantly about girl-child education, Govt. Policiesand plans for the upliftment of girls and it also creates an awareness of women empowerment in nearby society.
Problems encountered : Managing scholarship programs are at times tedious and time-consuming for the administrators. When it comes to the process of matching the right applicant with the right award based on their academic merit, experience, and interests, there are few challenges on the way. Making a list of all students in the department and entering them into spreadsheets to check through them for their eligibility becomes time consuming. The women employees at times face challenges like balancing between paid employment and family care, work stress related health issues, tolerance of discrimination, mental pressure and safety problems.prejudiced and stereotyped thinking faced by working women. The university keeps on taking sincere measures towards gender sensitization to reduce these issues.
Evidence of Success : Kalinga University presently has around 35% girl students in all the courses of the university. The graph of girl student admission has increased in the last five years and is eventually increasing every year. The university employs more than 44% women faculty members and non-teaching staff in administration. The university was recognized in the state for this effort and was also awarded for exemplary work in its social and professional work during the national seminar on Hon’ble Prime Minister’s mission ‘ BetiBachao, BetiPadhao Jan Andolan’ held on 2nd March 2017 at the town hall, Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh.
Problems Encountered and Resources Required : Apart from an admission cell, a separate scholarship cell is required with more number of trained staff who will exclusively work in managing scholarship data. When a dedicated cell starts working for the same, the chances of error and consumption of time will definitely reduce. Few women employees were reluctant to balance their academic, professional and domestic work.The university is trying to attach support staff with then so that they could balance the same and also providing professional counselors to female students.
Other information relevant for adopting/ implementing the Best Practice : The university is in the process of developing a scholarship cell with a dedicated staff. The university is also in its way to strengthen its ERP system so that the university can go for a smooth and easy process of entering and maintaining scholarship data. The University is also on its way to execute properly the Gender Sensitization Plan and also to enhance the number of programmes related to Women Empowerment by involving student and staff volunteers to execute and organize events related to women empowerment and education, so that our country can witness equal representation of women in all the walks of life in the times to come.
Contact Person :
Name: Dr. Asha Ambhaikar
Designation: In charge Women Cell & DSW
Email ID: asha.ambhaikar@kalingauniversity.ac.in
Contact Number: 9229655211