Srinagar Aug 04: The Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre (MMTTC), University of Kashmir (KU), commenced a two-week refresher course in Gender Studies at the Main Campus.
The course aims to strengthen the understanding of gender-related concepts and contemporary debates among teachers in higher education. It will cover themes related to gender, society, institutions, inclusion, representation and emerging issues in gender studies, with a focus on connecting academic perspectives with contemporary social realities.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Vice-Chancellor KU, Prof. Nilofer Khan, said that gender studies has an important place in higher education as it encourages critical engagement with social structures and questions of equality and inclusion.
“Gender studies enables us to examine how social institutions, cultural practices and everyday experiences shape opportunities and identities. Higher education has a responsibility to encourage informed and critical discussion on these issues,” she said.
Director, MMTTC KU, Prof. Nazir Ahmad Nazir, in his welcome address, provided the objectives of the refresher course and said that such programmes provide teachers an opportunity to engage with new scholarship, perspectives and approaches in their respective fields. He also highlighted the role of MMTTC in supporting continuous academic and professional development of faculty.
Dr. Humaira Showkat, Course Coordinator, briefed the participants about the course structure and academic schedule. She said the programme has been designed to facilitate discussion on key areas of gender studies through expert lectures, interactive sessions and academic engagement.
The two-week course is being attended by faculty members and participants from higher educational institutions across the country.
The proceedings of the inaugural session were conducted by Dr. Mohammad Ibrahim Wani, Coordinator, MMTTC KU, while the vote of thanks was proposed by Prof. Sumeer Gul, Deputy Director, MMTTC KU.
