Reply on self-defence courses for women, UGC asks colleges

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has written to colleges and universities asking them whether they have introduced self-defense programmes for women and if they have taken initiatives for inculcating inclusive values among students -- both measures aimed at addressing contemporary concerns related to women’s safety and social strife.

The apex regulator has asked all the vice-chancellors to send their responses by February 19.

The secretary, UGC has also asked universities to specify whether the module for environmental studies in undergraduate programmes has been implemented or not and specify whether wi-fi facilities have been introduced in the campuses.

“All the universities have been asked to inform the UGC what steps they have taken to encourage and strengthen National Cadet Corps training at the college and university level.

At the same time, they have also been asked to submit a status report whether e-enabled classes have started in the university campus and if they have set up digital rooms inside the campus,” said a senior UGC official.

The commission decided to fund self-defense courses for women a few years back.

The Commission in 2016 had issued a notification stating that all universities could offer NCC as an optional subject to students.

UGC had also started Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and had developed more than 40000 videos in e-content for the same. These courses are initiated under Digital India programme.

The commission had last year asked the institutions to give details about the MOOCs courses conducted by them.