Government Selects Chandigarh University To Promote Gender Equality In Science, Technology

The government selected Chandigarh University as Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) Charter Institution to promote gender equality in the field of science and technology.

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) with the support of the Ministry of Science and Technology selected Chandigarh University to promote gender equality. A total of 30 universities and institutions were selected by the DST for the GATI pilot project. Chandigarh University is the only private university to be selected.

Dean Research of Chandigarh University, Dr Sanjeet Singh said that “The project is aimed to improve the enrolment of female students in higher education institutions in the field of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM).” Dr Singh added that the project also aims in promoting female participation in scientific research, patents, and laboratories.

Chancellor of the university Satnam Singh Sandhu said that it was a “matter of great pride that Chandigarh University has been selected for the GATI pilot project”. Sindhu added that the university was dedicated to “improving the gender parity that exists specially in the field of science and technology ”.

Chandigarh University Registrar Dr S S Sehgal said that the university was already taking steps towards improving gender equality in all of the programs. Dr Sehgal added that “female enrolment in STEMM subjects is 46.9 per cent while the number of female faculty in STEMM subjects is already 51.4 per cent”.

The GATI project is a part of the Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN) division. The universities and institutions are selected after a selection criterion that includes:

1. Female to male ratio in student enrolment
2. Female to male ratio in faculty members
3. Contribution of female students and faculty members in research and entrepreneurship

Chandigarh University is also a partner Institution of DST under the central Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) program. The program aims to attract students from schools towards science.