Calicut University’s lifelong learning department churns out women entrepreneurs

KOZHIKODE: Calicut University’s Lifelong Learning and Extension department has accomplished its mission of empowering women. The 47-year-old department has been benefiting women from all walks of life and most of them have turned entrepreneurs and started their own business units.

Established in 1968 with a view to extending knowledge, the department’s main emphasis is on women empowerment programmes.

“Our students include working class women as well as a large number of housewives. We are offering 26 skill development programmes of 10 days duration to empower wo-men. Certificates are distributed to all the participants by the Calicut Uni-versity, said Dr Manojam E.M., Lifelong learning department head.

“During this financial year, workshops on ‘fabric painting’ and ‘saree designing’ have already been completed and a workshop on ‘paper cover making’ is going on. The upcoming workshops in September are on ‘mural paintings’, ‘curry powder making’ and ‘bakery items making’. The workshops are conducted only on working days. Besides the 10-day workshops, certificate courses of 3 months duration including beauty management, fabric painting and saree desi-gning, jewellery making and soft toys making is offered by the department,’’ added Dr Manojam.