SNDT Women's University


SNDT Women's University, also called by its full name Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women's University, is a women's university in the city of Mumbai, India. The university headquarters are at Churchgate in South Mumbai, while the main campus is at Churchgate there are two other campuses one in Santacruz–Juhu area of Mumbai and another at Pune. The university has affiliated colleges in Maharashtra, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Surat and Goa, as well..
Since there are many colleges also making themselves popular, people do not understand difference of SNDTWU with SNDT Colleges. The University is a Public University based out of Maharashtra whereas Colleges are managed by local Management. University is a Government institution that controls and guides colleges conducted/affiliated by it.

History

The year 1896 marked the beginning of a new era in women's education in India when Dhondo Keshav Karve established an ashram for widows and helpless women at Hingne near Pune. He realized that to make these women self-sufficient, -reliant and -confident, schooling was essential. Karve launched a programme of schooling there, which became a regular school for girls and women. In a society governed by age-old customs and conservative attitudes towards women, the school was bound to face social and economic difficulties.
He had a dream of establishing a women's university. His friends sent him a booklet on the Japan Women's University in Tokyo. In December 1915 Karve, in his presidential address to the National Social Reform Congress in Bombay, announced his decision to shape his dream into reality. On 2 July 1916 the first college started with the enrollment of five students; it gradually took shape as a women's university. Karve did not wait for the government permission for funds.
In 1920 the university was named Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women's University. Mr.Vitthaldas Thakarsey donated ₹1500000 at that time in the memories of his beloved mother Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thakarsey, and so the name SNDT was given to the university.
In 1936, the headquarters was shifted to Bombay. The university continued to grow, providing higher education to more and more women. In 1951, the university was granted statutory recognition and was renamed Shrimati Nathibai Thackersey Women's University now popularly known as SNDT Women's University. The recognition came along with rare privilege of having a jurisdiction across the country.
On 5 July 2016 the university marked completion of 100 years of its existence. It was the first women's university in India and South East Asia.

Profile

Today, the university has an enrolment of over 70,000 students. It has three campuses at Churchgate, Santacruz-Juhu, Pune. The university has 39 university departments, 15 faculties. There are 174 undergraduate colleges and 8 institutions recognized for PhD degree. The university continues to manage three secondary schools for girls, which it inherited. The university is actively involved in teaching, research and extension. SNDT is the first university in Maharashtra to obtain a five-star rating from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council of India in the year 2000 and was reaccredited with A grade in 2015.

Collaborations

The university has collaborated with state and central governments, industry, national and international organisations to develop and conduct academic programmes, undertake research and work with the community. The partners include the government of Maharashtra, ministries of the government of India, University Grants Commission, UNICEF, British Council, Association of Commonwealth Universities and Swedish International Development Agency.

Colleges/university departments

SNDT Women's University has 39 departments, 13 institutions and 174 colleges as of 2016. Following are some of the departments and institutions of the university.
In the academic year 2015-16, the university offered 250 academic programmes from diplomas to PhDs. There are 5 faculties under which academic programmes are offered.
Faculty of Communication & Media Studies PG programmes are offered at Juhu and Pune campuses.
AT PV Polytechnic at Juhu Campus
Master's degree in Communication Media for Children off Karve road, Pune campus

Notable alumni