Kanyashree University planning more social science courses over next 5 years: VC

Kanyashree University, established in 2020 in Krishnanagar, Nadia district, is the second women-only university in West Bengal – the first being Diamond Harbour Women’s University. It began its journey with 300 students and has since grown to a strength of 1,200. Tapati Chakraborti, vice-chancellor, during a conversation with Careers360, spoke about the university’s progress, the challenges of functioning from a temporary campus, the lack of permanent faculty and hostel facilities, and the ongoing efforts to secure funding and approvals. Edited excerpts:

What is Kanyashree University's focus, and how has it evolved since its establishment?

Kanyashree University, in Krishnagar, Nadia district of West Bengal, is the second women-only university in the state. Established in 2020, it began offering academic programmes from the 2021-2022 session. Initially, the university offered postgraduate courses in just four subjects — English, Bengali, Education, and History. Over time, the number of subjects increased to 11, with plans to introduce more in the future. It is dedicated to empowering women through higher education.

What is the current student strength and from where do students come?

Kanyashree University began with 300 students, and the number has now grown to around 1,200. Students not only come from Nadia district but also from other parts of West Bengal, including Kolkata.

Are you offering programmes from a temporary campus?

Yes, the university is operating from a temporary setup. Academic programmes are being conducted from the Krishnagar Collegiate School campus, along with the university’s administrative building at Government College in Krishnanagar. Everything is still at a nascent stage. Discussions are underway to establish hostels in the near future.

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Where and when will the permanent campus be functional?

A permanent campus has been allocated in Krishnanagar itself, but it is still under development. There is no confirmed timeline yet for when it will be fully functional, but work is in progress.

Do you also offer science programmes?

Yes, the university offers science-related postgraduate programmes in Geography, Food and Nutrition, and Mathematics.

Are you working on collaborating with other institutions?

At present, the university is not in a position to enter into formal collaborations due to limited grants and faculty resources. However, the university plans to pursue academic collaborations once adequate funding and faculty support are in place.

How are placements?

So far, four batches have graduated from the university. While a few students do get placed, the majority prefer to appear for the National Eligibility Test (NET) and pursue higher studies. As of now, the university does not have exact placement data available.

Do companies or organisations visit the university for campus placements?
Currently, no entities are visiting the university for placement drives. Kanyashree University is still in a nascent stage, having been operational for just four years, two of which were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the university functioned without a permanent VC for two years. Now we have worked on the statute and are waiting for that to be approved. Without its approval, we are not in a position to initiate structured placement activities or pursue NAAC accreditation.

Is funding a challenge?
Yes, the university is entirely dependent on government funding. This limits our ability to expand infrastructure, recruit permanent faculty, and initiate new programmes or collaborations. We are continuously submitting proposals to the higher education department to address these needs.

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Are you satisfied with the current state of the university?
As the university is still awaiting its own campus, permanent faculty, and adequate infrastructure, it would be difficult to say we are happy. However, we are doing our best and actively working towards improvement by engaging with the higher education department.

What is your vision over the next five years?

I have taken up the responsibility of leading this women’s university with a strong mission and vision. Over the next five years, my goal is to expand the range of academic programmes, especially by introducing more social science subjects. We have also proposed the development of infrastructure, including well-equipped laboratories, and are working towards introducing sports education. All these proposals have been submitted to the Department of Higher Education.