Under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Institute of Women’s Studies, Lucknow University has come up with three new papers on gender studies. At the board of Studies meeting held on Wednesday, these three co-curricular courses were proposed to be started at the undergraduate level in LU. Giving an impetus to Mission Shakti, these vocational courses will add practical value, enhancing students' skillset thereby opening more avenues for their employability.

As a co-curricular course dealing with issues and topics on Gender, Violence and Mental Health, these papers will be a part of the syllabus in the third semester at LU. In addition to this, two vocational courses will be added in the fourth semester of graduation. This includes Women and Entrepreneurship Skill Development and Women, Leadership and Management.

With the aim to introduce the idea of entrepreneurship and its processes and add avenues for women entrepreneurs, the courses will add practical value to all students, irrespective of their gender. These papers will help students by widening the scope of specialisation in gender-based violence studies and counselling. This in turn will open up an array of employment possibilities for all.

While talking to Knocksense, Professor Poonam Tandon, Student Welfare Dean (LU), emphasised how these courses will prove to be beneficial in creating more awareness in youngsters.

"Apart from pushing forward the agenda of women empowerment, these new courses will help in improving gender sensitisation among the students. With these courses, not just women but men will also get an upper hand in dealing with real-life challenges and changes," added Professor Tandon.

The vocational course will amp up the employability skills of students by developing their understanding of leadership and management. Moreover, it will also help students who wish to seek job opportunities in Non-Government Organisations that work to generate women-led employment.