India to Get Its First University for Gender Studies. In Kerala.

The Kerala government is getting ready to open India’s first gender university. It will be located in Kozhikode district, in the campus of Gender Park – an autonomous institution promoted by the state’s Social Justice Department.

According to officials, the idea behind the proposed university is based on the model of similar institutions abroad. It will be dedicated to research based studies related to gender.

Picture for representation only. Source: danisabella/Flickr

Gender Park is an initiative of the government meant to create a platform where all its initiative towards achieving gender equality can be unified. The park, a 24-acre campus, aims to bring together the state, academia and civil society, on a common platform.

“Gender studies have begun in our country especially in Kerala at a high time. We had focused on industrialisation, health and other similar streams but did not show much interest in the area of gender equality earlier…Kerala government’s first brave step in this regard was the Gender Park. By setting up the Park, our aim was to bring changes in gender-related matters through effective policy interventions. We planned the South Asian Research Centre at the Gender Park as an extension of the plan and the Gender University plan is the latest in this regard,” Gender Park CEO Dr. PTM Sunish told PTI.

The South Asian Research Centre at the Gender Park will be developed into a full-fledged university by 2016.

For the gender university, the government is planning to collaborate with many global pioneers in the field of gender studies such as the London School of Economics. Exchange programmes with top institutions across the world are also being planned. Additionally, it has been reported that the proposed university will not follow traditional patterns for curriculum framework and syllabus. The Social Justice Department is planning an internationally-oriented academic practice. A high-level committee will be formed to discuss and finalise the syllabus and more.

A number of global agencies, including UN Women, have shown interest in entering into a tie-up with the Gender Park.

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