JOB FAIRS, PROFESSIONAL MENTORING, CAREER GUIDANCE, UPSKILLING AND MENTAL WELL BEING, BHU’S MEASURES FOR OVERALL GROWTH OF STUDENTS

VARANASI: Striving to realize its commitment to overall growth and wellbeing of students, Banaras Hindu University has taken a number of measures in this regard. The university now plans to actively engage students in a number of career oriented activities so as to better prepare them for professional and life challenges that lay ahead as they complete university education. For the purpose, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sudhir Kumar Jain has revamped the career, placement and student wellness mechanism, as per the needs and requirements of the students as well as the recruiters visiting the University for Campus Placements. The reconstituted units will be known as Career Guidance, Training & Placement Cell, Student Wellness Cell and Skill Development Cell. The cells besides providing career counseling, professional guidance and mentoring to the students, will also equip them with required skills and training, and take initiatives for their mental and psychological wellbeing.

The Career Guidance, Training and Placement Cell will assist students in deciding the best suited career path for them by offering orientation programs, training and career guidance sessions, interactions with professionals, industry experts, entrepreneurs, top recruiters and leaders of various areas. It will help them realize and polish their skills, abilities, potential and career interests and develop self-awareness. The cell will conduct activities to facilitate the career planning process for the students. Besides, it will also liaison with Alumni and organize interactive sessions to educate students regarding placement opportunities, skills required and expectations of employers among others. The cell will organize job fairs and host activities like mock interviews, group discussions, communication skills workshops, resume writing workshops and personality development classes for the benefit of students. Prof. V. K. Chandola, Department of Farm Engineering, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, has been named the coordinator of the Cell.

The Student Wellness Cell is mandated with providing counseling and mental health support services to the students. The cell will make efforts to help students cope with stress and work productively and fruitfully. It will encourage students to develop skills for stress management, self-care, mindfulness and meditation. The cell will organize workshops, Health talks, yoga camps, sports activities in order to ensure student wellbeing and holistic development. Sessions with experts, life coaches and mentors will be organized by the cell to help students realize their potential and strengths. Prof. Lalit Mohan Agrawal, Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, is the coordinator of the Students Wellness Cell.

The Skill Development Cell will endeavor to skill the students, equip them professionally and create in them the right attitude and the approach crucial for attaining broader goals of life and career. It will organize programs for upskilling and developing Entrepreneurial abilities in students. The cell will also conduct brainstorming sessions involving participants from the academic and the industry with an objective to understand the emerging job market trends. Prof. Hari Prakash Sharma, Department of Physics, Institute of Science, has been named the coordinator of the Skill Development Cell.