Varsities told to establish student counselling system

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked universities and other institutes of higher education to establish student counselling systems. It has said that all institutions must have a mechanism in place to address the problems and challenges faced by students.

The counselling system will be interactive and target-oriented. Students, teachers and parents will be involved in the process of addressing students’ common concerns such as anxiety, stress, the fear of change or failure and homesickness.

According to the UGC, the system will bridge formal as well as communicative gaps between students and their institutions.

The Commission has directed teacher counsellors, who are trained to act as guardians of students at the college level, to remain in touch with the students allotted to them, cater to their emotional and intellectual needs, and provide them career guidance.

Teacher counsellors are supposed to coordinate with the wardens of hostels and exchange personal details regarding students, such as their academic records and behavioural patterns, so that pre-emptive or corrective action may be taken.

The commission has also asked for student counselling centres to be set up at all esteemed universities and affiliated colleges.

Students will be able to avail of the services of trained psychologists as and when required at these centres.