Centre for Women’s Studies started functioning from October 1, 2005 onwards with financial assistance from the UGC. Being the first teaching department for Women’s Studies in Kerala, the Centre has offered MA Women’s Studies course from the academic year 2006-2007 onwards.
Speciality of CWS : Only Teaching Dept. of Women’s Studies in the entire state of Kerala
Motto of the Centre : To act as a catalyst for the empowerment of women,especially in Malabar
No. of Faculty : 4 (Reader – 1, Lecturers – 3)
Supporting staff : 5
Students Intake : 24
Name of courses offered at present :
.M.A Women's Studies
M.Phil. Women’s Studies
Ph.D in Women's Studies
Activities of Department of Women's Studies are focused in the following Areas:
A. Teaching
Four batches of students passed out their M.A Women’s Studies. Two batches of MA Women’s Studies going on.
Refresher courses in Women’s Studies are being organized at intervals in collaboration with the UGC Academic Staff College. Next Refresher course in Gender Studies due on 11-07-2012 to 310-01-2012.
Faculty handles classes on Women’s Studies components in the Refresher and Orientation Programmes organized by ASC and the in-service teacher education programmes organized by Government Colleges of Teacher Education.
Faculty regularly providing lectures on Gender Sensitization in educational institutions, Arts & Science, Teacher Education and Professional Colleges throughout the State.
B.Training
A series of five ‘One day Orientation Programme on Gender Related Interventions in Colleges: Skill Training for College Teachers to Serve as Mentors to Girl Students offered to senior teachers/ coordinators of Women Development Cells in 327 affiliated colleges belonging to 5 districts of the state. One programme each is organised in each district at a college where the faculties from all affiliated colleges of the district assembled.
Two batches of gender sensitization training conducted for teacher education from 30-07-2007 to 31-07-2007 and from 08-08-2007 to 09-05-2007 (80 teacher educators trained)
Training in handling Adolescence Education classes provided to Upper Primary School Teachers, High School Teachers, Higher Secondary School Teachers and Teacher Trainees of Teacher Education Colleges.
A five day UGC sponsored Residential SAM Workshop on capacity building of women Managers in Higher Education conducted o n 24th-28th May 2009.
A five day UGC sponsored Non- Residential SAM Workshop Women Managers in Higher Education conducted on 4th-28th May 2009
Faculty provide gender sensitization training to:
-Elected Panchayat representatives at KILA, Thrissur.
-Selected officers of Govt. department at IMG Thiruvananthapuram
Three day entrepreneurship training for rural women in preparing paper bags and cloth bags.
Faculty provided training during Flagship Programme of Gender/Awareness conducted by IMG Calicut to:
-Police Officers at 3 different levels (SI, CI, DYSP & DSP)
-Judicial First Class Magistrates
-Elected Representatives of LSG
-Protection Officers
-NGO’s
Faculty provided training during Flagship Programme of Gender Awareness to:
-More than 600 Sub inspectors of four northern districts of Kerala
Faculty provide training in Adolescence Education in collaboration with Block Resource Centres to:
-Upper Primary School Teachers
-High School Teachers
-Higher Secondary School Teachers
Faculty provide training in Adolescence Education to:
-Anganwadi Workers of several Panchayaths
Faculty provide training in handling awareness classes to mothers for ensuring safety of Girls to
-Anganwadi Workers of several Panchayaths.
C. Research
M.Phil and PhD programmes are commencing from 2012 onwards
Faculty has taken up several independent projects
Faculty constantly engaged in publishing research articles at regular intervals.
D. Networking
Effective networking and collaboration with:
-All other CWS
-National Commission for Women
-KILA
-All affiliated colleges
-State Women Development Corporation
-Social Welfare Department
-District Literacy Mission
-LSG at different levels
-Institute of Management in Govt.
-NGO’s like Sakhi Resource Centre,Anweshi Women’s Counselling Centre, Rasta, etc.
E. Other Notable Activities
1. Initiated the functioning of Women Development Cells in the affiliated colleges of the University and the CWS is serving as the nodal centre for monitoring the same.
Legal awareness classes on combating cyber crime organised for staff and students of the University campus.
2. Legal awareness class on Sexual harassment at workplace organised for staff and students of the University campus.
3. Health awareness class on Menopause and related issues to women employees, faculties and women in the neighbourhood of the University.
4. Research consultancy service provided to students of other departments, teachers of affiliated colleges and NGOs.
5. Meeting with elected representatives and leaders of Woman’s organizations to plan activities of the Centre with effective community participation are being organized at regular intervals.
6. Legal and Mental Health Counseling classes to rural women.
7. Celebration of International Women’s Day with several programmes every year
8. One day Awareness Class against Trafficking to students of the campus.
9. Adolescence Education Classes to Girls of various Panchayats.
10. Awareness Class to Mothers for ensuring safety of girls.
11. Effective Parenting classes to PTAs of several schools
12. To combat the ever increasing atrocities and violence against girls, frequent classes for boosting self confidence and adopting strategies of self defence to girls in various schools, colleges and Teacher Training Institutions are being organized.
13. In collaboration with various NGOs organised Seminars, workshops and round table conferences on various women’s issues like Domestic Violence, Sexual Harassment, Dowry issue, Health problems, Representation in media etc at various parts of the state.
14. Free legal and mental health counselling service provided to the needy girls, women and families.