Prof.(Dr.) Atima Sharma Dwivedi has bagged Women Innovative Leadership Award

Prof.(Dr.) Atima Sharma Dwivedi has bagged Women Innovative Leadership Award

• December 16, 2022

Prof. Atima Sharma Dwivedi is a dynamic academician with a wide, progressive vision and extensive experience of 44 years in teaching and administration in India and abroad. She is presently holding the prestigious appointment of Principal, Kanya Maha Vidyalaya, Jalandhar, the Heritage & Autonomous institution, a premier & pioneering seat of women education, where she has served for the past 15 years and under her leadership, the institution has touched unprecedented heights.  Prior to this she was selected as English lecturer by Public Service Commission in 1980 and she has served in Govt. colleges of Punjab as Lecturer and Principal.

An avid scholar of English literature, and an alumna of Harvard Graduate School of Education, USA, Prof. Atima Sharma is extensively travelled and she has been invited for her talks and academic engagements in various universities of US, Europe and Asia. An erudite personality, Dr Atima Sharma Dwivedi has written and edited 10 books and has been the Chief Editor of 3 International journals. She has published many articles, stories, poems and research papers in  various books and journals of national and international repute. Her areas of interest include women studies, Higher HR development, Academic Research, social issues and cultural studies.

Dr. Atima is the pioneer of many higher education reforms and new initiatives that she has started in her college. She is on National and State Committees and bodies for enhancing quality education and promoting the cause of women development.  Through multiple collaborations and partnerships with scholars and foreign universities of US, Europe, Asia & Canada, she has created a global community of academicians as partners for sharing best practices in education, understanding cultures and global exposure for students. Some of her innovative initiatives at KMV include introduction of Value-based programmes-Foundation Programme, Moral Education Programme, Personality Development or Gender Sensitization and Social Outreach Programme, Job Readiness, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Venture Development (which are compulsory for all students in each Semester). School for Personality Development, School for Communication  (Spoken English), KMV Entrepreneurship and Development Centre, Foreign Languages, Centre for Competitive Exams, Happiness and Peace with Self Programme, Critical Thinking and Creativity are some other exceptionally and colossally contributory initiatives which have been introduced by her at KMV keeping in sync with her motto  of pursuit for excellence.

An environment of energetic, progressive and futuristic education has been created through introduction of upscaled syllabi, new age programs and reforms in assessment and examination systems. 17 PG, 7 UG programs & 11 Skill-oriented programs were started by her in the college. A Skill Development Center with 7 programs (PG & UG) to empower women and provide them equal opportunities has also been established. She has collaborated with multiple agencies in Government, NGOs, Media & Entertainment, Public agencies, Art & Culture for organising events/competitions for young students. Under her leadership, KMV has acquired the status of Heritage institution of India, Autonomous College, Star Status college by DBT, UGC, ‘College with Potential for Excellence’ and ranked no. 1 college in various categories year after year by ‘India Today’ survey and by ‘Outlook Magazine’ and ‘Times of India’ group.

Community Services:

• Her commitment to community services and outreach has led to offering unique skill development/livelihood programs at Gandhian Studies Center, free of cost, to women who are survivors of social and domestic violence. Nearly 4000 women have benefited from this initiative. The work is ongoing.
• Adopted 5 villages under ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’ for developmental work, including skill development, women empowerment, hygiene, environment protection drives.
• Consistent support and education facilities provided to a girl child home for abandoned and orphan girls.
• Adopted a rural school for providing education facilities to underprivileged children.
• To empower women of remote rural areas of North-East India, she had innovated programs such a ‘Weavers’ Guilds’ and ‘Paramedic training’ of women with impactful results under Army-Civil program.
• Awareness & health care camps in villages of Punjab through NSS & NCC activities.
• Built Libraries in an orphanage and 2 rural areas for women and children.
• To provide social justice, funds have been raised to help students from disadvantaged/underprivileged sections of society. Significant financial help provided to deserving students for their education. Seed money given to women for entrepreneurial ventures.
• To provide self reliance among women, she has strengthened entrepreneurial programs and ‘earn while you learn’ initiatives.

Additional Appointments Held:

• Director, Women Studies Center, KMV (UGC sponsored)
• Chairperson, Gandhian Studies Center, KMV (UGC sponsored)
• Member, Arya Shiksha Mandal (Educational Society, running 5 education institutions).
• Member, Lok Adalat (Public Courts) as Jury Member for settling family and other disputes (non-criminal)
• Nominee on various selection boards in Academics
• Member, NAAC (National Accreditation and Assessment Commission) team for Accreditation of Colleges and Award of Autonomy to colleges
• Member FOGSI (an international organization) for Women Health
• Member, NARCHI (National Association for Reproductive and Child Health of India)

International Experience & Collaborations:

• Management and Leadership in Education’-Program attended at Harvard Graduate School of Education, USA (2014)
• Advancement Leadership Program-Harvard Graduate School of Education, USA (2018)
• Including Ourselves in the Change Equation : Personal Learning for Organizational Growth’- Project completed with Harvard University, USA  (2015)
• She has developed partnerships, collaborations and linkages with universities and scholars from across the globe for participation in my home institution’s academic activities/programs/conferences and teaching.
• Best practices of top universities have been carefully woven into our local environment. Student Welfare department of Boston University, USA, Harvard Thurman Center, BU have been role models for our institution.
• A College Writing Program with mentors of Boston University, US is starting in our institution from coming session. Best Practices of Boarding houses of Chatham Women University, Pittsburgh, US were studied closely by me for implementation at home institution.
• Native teachers are invited each year to teach foreign languages to our young women students and citizens of the surrounding areas.
• Student Exchange programs devised by me have benefited student visits to US universities, European institutions for research and internships and students of US and Hungary have come to KMV for their Project work.
• Her experience at Harvard Graduate School of Education, US in Professional Development Programs has been of immense learning value in education leadership for her home institution.
• Her visits to various universities of US and Europe as Invited speaker and to attend conferences etc. gave herexposure and understanding of various education systems of different cultural backgrounds and nationalities. It helps her to develop pathways in education for nurturing global citizens.
• Her awards and honours make a tally, both at national and international levels, including:
• Saahas Prerna Award-2020’ by WISCOMP-Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness, the Dalai New Delhi
• Best research content award for “Psychosocial Pressures on Women and the Ameliorating Impact: The Indian Context” by International Journal of Arts & Sciences’ (IJAS) at Harvard University, USA
• Invited in International Conference titled ‘Inclusion Beyond Borders’ Leeds Beckett University, UK in 2022
• Excellence in Education’ award on 26^th Jan parade by Civil Administration, Jalandhar
• Women of the Year’ award by ZEE Punjab on 8^th March 2019
• Lion’s Club honour of ‘Excellence in Social Work’
• Award of Excellence’ as President of Red Shield division Army Wives Welfare Association for services to this great organization
• Best Principal Award by National Science Olympiad; Award for exemplary contribution to women empowerment by Indian Medical Association on International Women’s Day in 2021
• Paryavaran Ratna Award by Indian Center for Wildlife and Environmental Studies in South Asia Region, Jaipur in 2022
• Honoured with Environmental Principal of the year 2019-20 by ICWESSAR, Jaipur
• Dronachariya Award Environmental Principal of the year Award by Indian Centre for Wildlife and Environment Studies in South Asia Region, Jaipur
• Times Achievers Award 2022 for ‘Excellence in Progressive Education’ by Times of India Group
• Achiever of the Millenium Award, Bangkok  (for global corporate achievement and social responsibility)
• Rajiv Gandhi Education Excellence Award, Best Principal Award by Science Olympiad International Organization
• Bharat Excellence Award by Friendship Forum of India
• Indo-Nepal Shiromini Award for Outstanding Achievement in field of Education and Asia-Pacific Achievers Award.
• Excellence in Education’ award on 26^th January parade by Civil Administration, Jalandhar
• Doordarshan award ‘Woman of the Year’ on 8^th March, 2014 (International Women’s Day)
• JMA (Jalandhar Management Association) award of ‘Excellence in Education’.
• “Best Principal” award bestowed by National Science Olympiad.
• Awards of Excellence by Rotary Club, 2019
• Nation Builder Award’ by Rotary Club, 2020