Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) @ SR University

  • SDG 5 – Gender Equality
Advancing Equity, Safety, and Empowerment at SR University

SR University (SRU) is deeply committed to advancing UN Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality by fostering an inclusive, equitable, and empowering ecosystem for women students, faculty, staff, and transgender individuals. Through strong institutional policies, gender-responsive infrastructure, targeted support systems, and consistent tracking mechanisms, SRU ensures that every individual, regardless of gender identity, has equal access to opportunities, safety, and personal development. The University integrates gender sensitivity into governance, academics, research, campus life, and community engagement, reflecting its long-standing commitment to fostering an equitable society.

Institutional Policies and Governance for Gender Equity

SR University has implemented a robust set of policies and governance structures to ensure a discrimination-free and women-friendly environment.

Gender Equity Policy: A comprehensive Gender Equity Policy promotes equal access, non-discrimination, balanced representation, and fair treatment across all academic and administrative functions. The University enforces a strict discrimination-free workplace covering women, transgender individuals, and all vulnerable groups. This policy ensures protection from bias in recruitment, evaluation, appraisal, promotion, and campus interactions.

Maternity and Paternity Policy: To support young families, SRU offers maternity leave, paternity leave, flexible work provisions, and compassionate considerations—encouraging a culture that supports parenting without disrupting academic or professional progression.

POSH Committee and Grievance Redressal Systems: SR University maintains a fully functional Internal Complaints Committee (POSH) and Grievance Redressal Mechanisms for students and staff. These bodies ensure swift resolution of complaints, promote awareness workshops, and reinforce SRU’s commitment to a safe and respectful campus.

CCTV Surveillance and Women’s Security Personnel: The entire campus is monitored through high-resolution CCTV networks, ensuring round-the-clock surveillance in academic buildings, hostels, walkways, and public areas. Dedicated women security guards are deployed in key locations to ensure the safety and comfort of women students and staff.

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Tracking Gender Representation and Strengthening Academic Access

SR University systematically monitors women’s participation across all academic levels to ensure balanced representation and informed decision-making.

Monitoring Application, Acceptance, and Entry Rates: SRU maintains detailed annual statistics on women’s application rates, acceptance rates, and enrolment across programs. With female enrolment consistently ranging between 45–50%, the University uses these metrics to identify gaps and shape targeted interventions that promote equitable access.

Gender Audit: A formal Gender Audit, conducted once in two years, assesses gender parity across admission trends, faculty recruitment, promotions, leadership roles, research participation, and student outcomes. Audit insights inform policies, campus planning, and capacity-building initiatives.

Encouraging Women in Underrepresented Disciplines:

  • Fee concessions
  • Focused counselling
  • Motivation campaigns
  • Sessions with alumnae role models
  • Academic handholding

These measures ensure that women feel confident and supported in pursuing STEM fields and traditionally male-dominated disciplines.

Tracking Graduation Rates and Performance: SR University regularly monitors girl students’ retention, academic performance, and graduation rates to identify discipline-specific inequities. Mentoring, academic support, bridge courses, and counselling interventions are deployed to ensure that women graduate on par with their peers, often achieving higher success rates.

Support Systems, Scholarships, and Capacity Building for Women

SR University has established an extensive framework of support systems that strengthen women’s academic, professional, and personal development.

Scholarships and Financial Support: SRU provides special fee concessions, targeted scholarships, and structured financial assistance to female students to reduce economic barriers and encourage higher participation in higher education.

Mentoring and Leadership Development:

  • Academic performance
  • Research exposure
  • Communication and leadership skills
  • Career planning and industry readiness
  • Entrepreneurship development

Women are encouraged to take leadership roles in student bodies, research teams, clubs, student chapters, and institutional committees. Leadership positions are also offered and reserved for women faculty and staff.

Special Programs and Celebrations:

  • International Women’s Day celebrations
  • Bathukamma Festival
  • Workshops on gender awareness and legal rights
  • Seminars featuring women leaders from academia, industry, and public service

These programs foster confidence, cultural belonging, and socio-emotional well-being among women students and staff.

Psychological Counselling and Emotional Support:

  • Individual counselling
  • Group counselling
  • Stress and anxiety management
  • Emotional and academic adjustment support

Counsellors work closely with mentors to help identify early signs of distress and ensure timely intervention.

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Gender-Sensitive Infrastructure and Friendly Campus

Childcare and Daycare Facilities:

  • Trained childcare professionals
  • Secure infrastructure
  • Flexible timings
  • Proximity to academic spaces

This reflects SRU’s belief that parenting should not limit access to education or career advancement.

Safe and Inclusive Campus Environment:

  • Well-lit pathways
  • Emergency response systems
  • Transport for late-evening academic work
  • Secure hostels with biometric entry
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Holistic Empowerment, Gender Awareness, and Community Engagement

Beyond academic and infrastructural provisions, SR University promotes gender equality through experiential learning and community-focused initiatives.

Awareness Outreach and Sensitization:

  • Safe campus conduct
  • Gender identity and inclusiveness
  • Sexual harassment prevention
  • Rights and legal protections for women
  • Gender roles, leadership, and empowerment

Promoting Gender Equality in the Community:

  • Awareness on girls’ education
  • Health and hygiene
  • Nutrition for women
  • Workshops for rural women on digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and livelihood skills

SR University’s commitment to SDG 5: Gender Equality is reflected in its comprehensive policies, strong governance systems, gender-sensitive infrastructure, continuous data monitoring, specialized support schemes, and culture of inclusiveness. Through scholarships, mentoring, counselling services, leadership development programs, safety provisions, and family-friendly facilities, the University ensures that women and transgender individuals have equitable access to education, opportunities, and personal growth. By integrating gender equity into academic practices, administration, and community engagement, SRU not only upholds international standards but also contributes to building a more inclusive, equitable, and empowered society.