Gender Equality

Women’s mentoring schemes
Year: 2024

Have women’s mentoring schemes, in which at least 10% of female students participate.

Up to three points based on:

• Existence of schemes – one point
• Evidence provided – up to one point
• Is the evidence provided public – one point

Mentorship as a Foundation for Empowerment

At Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), mentorship is not an add-on — it is the cornerstone of our student support philosophy. From the moment a female student accepts admission, she becomes part of a structured, compassionate mentoring ecosystem designed to guide, empower, and sustain her throughout her academic journey.

We believe that meaningful mentorship transforms students into confident professionals and engaged citizens, aligning directly with the goals of SDG 5: Gender Equality.

1. Institution-Wide Mentor-Mentee (Teacher Guardian) Program

Purpose and Structure

The Teacher Guardian Program ensures that every newly admitted student — particularly women — has an assigned faculty mentor from the first day of university life. The mentor serves simultaneously as a teacher, guide, and local guardian, creating a bridge between students, faculty, and parents.

• Objective: To assist students in adjusting to campus life, managing academics, and accessing emotional and social support.
• Scope: All first-year undergraduate students across professional programs are mandatorily enrolled.
• Beneficiaries: 100 % of newly admitted undergraduate women, with continued access for senior students needing extra support.
• Faculty Selection: Mentors are experienced faculty (minimum 2 years of service) trained in student welfare. Each mentor supervises 5 – 10 mentees, ensuring personalized attention.

Functioning

• At admission, students and parents are introduced to the program and assigned a mentor.
• Parents exchange contact details with mentors and are encouraged to maintain open communication.
• During the first six months, mentees meet their mentors at least once or twice per month, with frequency increasing as needed.
• Mentors report every four months to the Dean/Director of Student Affairs regarding student progress, attendance, health, and well-being.
• Any academic or personal concerns are escalated to the Dean or Student Welfare Officer for immediate support.
• Students facing academic challenges or personal distress can continue under mentorship beyond the first year upon request.

This structured process ensures that every female student is mentored, monitored, and supported, fulfilling the Impact Ranking’s criterion that at least 10 % of female students participate — in fact, at MAHE, participation is universal.

2. Specialized Women’s Mentoring & Empowerment Programs

While the Teacher Guardian scheme provides universal baseline mentoring, MAHE complements it with year-round women-specific mentoring initiatives focusing on leadership, safety, health, and empowerment.

Project Uttaryan – Women’s Safety and Health Mentoring Program

On 26 October 2024, members of the Network of Student Leaders and the Volunteer Services Organisation (VSO) launched Project Uttaryan, a peer-led initiative aimed at empowering women through mentorship on safety, health, and legal awareness.

• Focus Areas: Legal rights (POSH Act 2013, Domestic Violence Act 2005, Indecent Representation Act 1986), reproductive health, HPV vaccination, and self-breast-examination awareness.
• Participants: Female housekeeping staff, kitchen staff, and security personnel — a community often overlooked in formal mentorship networks.
• Format: Interactive mentoring circles, demonstrations, Q&A sessions, and open dialogues on gender safety.
• Outcomes: Participants reported improved understanding of legal protections and preventive health practices, creating ripple effects of awareness within the wider campus community.

Through Project Uttaryan, student leaders acted as mentors, guiding peers and community members toward knowledge, confidence, and self-advocacy — transforming awareness into empowerment.

3. Comprehensive Support Beyond Mentorship

MAHE integrates mentorship with broader gender-equity initiatives to ensure that women can thrive holistically:

• Gender Champion Workshops foster leadership and advocacy skills among women students.
• Counselling and Well-Being Services provide professional support for academic and emotional needs.
• Career Guidance Cells offer individualized mentoring for women entering underrepresented fields.
• Workshops and Seminars on leadership, STEM careers, and self-defence complement academic mentorship with practical life skills.

Together, these initiatives build a layered ecosystem of academic, personal, and professional mentoring for women at MAHE.

5. Why It Matters — The So What

Mentorship at MAHE is not merely advisory; it is transformational. By embedding structured mentoring into the fabric of university life and supplementing it with women-specific empowerment programs, MAHE:

• Reduces attrition among first-year female students through early integration and support.
• Strengthens confidence and leadership in women by exposing them to peer and faculty mentors.
• Creates a culture of accountability where teachers, parents, and students collaborate on well-being.
• Builds resilience and awareness in women across all strata — from students to staff — ensuring inclusivity.

This comprehensive approach enables MAHE to go beyond compliance and set a benchmark in gender-sensitive mentoring within Indian higher education.

MAHE’s women’s mentoring ecosystem demonstrates that mentorship, when designed intentionally, can bridge inequality, foster belonging, and empower women at every stage of learning and work. From structured faculty-student guardianship to peer-led initiatives like Project Uttaryan, every layer of the system reinforces MAHE’s conviction that empowered women empower communities.