PU to start Advanced Diploma in Child Guidance and Counselling
Programme to build skills of trainees to plan and undertake mental health activities in different situations
City Air News
Dec 11, 2025 11:18
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Chandigarh, December 11, 2025: Department of Psychology, Panjab University (PU) will launch an Advanced Diploma in Child Guidance and Counselling in collaboration with the Savitribai Phule National Institute of Women and Child Development (SPNIWCD) Regional Centre, Mohali.
PU and SPNIWCD, Mohali, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to mark the start of the partnership in the presence of PU Vice Chancellor, Prof Renu Vig, and Regional Director of SPNIWCD, Mohali, Dr Sunita Seshadari.
The duration of the RCI-approved course will be one year and will train learners to undertake mental health activities for children and families. It will include structured internships in schools, communities and child-care settings. The collaboration is part of the joint effort to provide academic enrichment and career opportunities to students.
Speaking on the occasion, PU Vice Chancellor, Prof Renu Vig, highlighted the urgent need to address mental health concerns and the Nasha Mukti Abhiyan and called for strategies to support students’ mental health and for creating peer groups for meaningful engagement. She appreciated the initiative of the department and stressed the importance of having a large number of trainees, who could also act as peer mentors in university departments, hostels etc.
Chairperson, Department of Psychology, Prof Seema Vinayak, suggested exploring the possibility of starting tele-counselling for the students, initiating research collaborations and creating internship opportunities.
Thanking PU for the collaboration, Regional Director of SPNIWCD, Mohali, Dr Sunita Seshadari, said the partnership would strengthen capacity building and manpower development in the field.
Senior officials including Director of Research Development Cell, Prof Meenakshi Goyal; Registrar, Prof YP Verma; Secretary to Vice Chancellor, Prof K.K. Saluja; Director Sports, Dr Rakesh Malik, and Mediator, Consumer Commission Chandigarh, Principal Dr Madanjit Sahita, were also present.
