Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
The achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls to reach their full potential is key to Goal 5. The realisation of this goal requires eliminating all forms of discrimination, violence and harmful practices against women, ensuring access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, and advancing gender parity in political, public and economic life. KL University continues to take determined steps to promote a gender-inclusive ecosystem through policies, programs and practices that uplift women, strengthen legal protection and foster equal opportunities across all domains of university functioning.
The University has also produced several research publications aligned with SDG-5: Gender Equality, with the number of SDG-5 related research publications generated over the past five years demonstrating its academic commitment to advancing gender empowerment
KL University upholds strong legal and institutional frameworks that ensure non-discrimination, equal opportunities and protection of rights for women, girls and gender-diverse individuals. The University maintains a robust policy of non-discrimination against women, reinforced through regular reviews to ensure its effective implementation. In alignment with inclusive practices, KL University also sustains a policy of non-discrimination for transgender people and conducts sensitisation programs to cultivate respect, dignity and inclusion within the campus community.
The University tracks women’s application and acceptance rates as part of its commitment to transparency. Gender-disaggregated admissions data are published regularly to monitor progress and ensure equitable representation. To further enhance participation, KL University is developing a comprehensive policy addressing women's applications and engagement across academic and non-academic domains.
No. of Female Senior Academic Staff reflects the University's commitment to women’s representation in high-level academic leadership.
KL University stands firmly against all forms of violence against women and girls by strengthening safeguards, awareness and institutional responses. The University actively participates in national campaigns focused on preventing violence against women and hosts seminars and workshops addressing safety, consent, cyber-protection and gender-sensitive communication. A secure reporting environment is fostered through a policy protecting individuals who report discrimination, supported by confidential and anonymous reporting mechanisms. The institution remains committed to documenting and reporting incidents of sexual assault with transparency and accountability to uphold a safe and respectful environment for all.
Aligned with global efforts to eliminate harmful practices such as child marriage and discriminatory gender norms, KL University integrates awareness campaigns, student-led dialogues, and expert lectures into its academic environment. These initiatives educate students about the long-term social and health consequences of early marriage, female genital mutilation, and gender-based restrictions, empowering young people to challenge harmful traditions and advocate for human rights.
KL University is committed to implementing workplace gender-equity strategies that advance women’s representation in leadership roles. Women are increasingly appointed as heads of departments, managers and senior administrators, and hiring processes include designated women-specific vacancies to ensure balanced representation. The University also works continuously to close the gender pay gap by ensuring equal pay based on experience and skill, with no gender-based disparities across teaching or non-teaching roles.
Women’s career progression is further supported through mentoring schemes, leadership development programs and women-centric scholarships. To increase participation, the University conducts awareness drives and strives to achieve more than 10% participation in mentoring schemes. KL University also introduces women's access schemes such as career guidance, skill-building sessions and leadership workshops.
Number of Staff Availed Maternity Leave highlights the institution’s strong support for work–life balance and female workforce wellbeing.
Recognising that unpaid care responsibilities pose significant barriers to educational and professional advancement for women, KL University offers on-campus childcare facilities, including day-care services accessible to students and staff. These facilities promote workplace flexibility and support working parents, particularly mothers. Plans are underway to expand childcare facilities and include infant-care services. The University also raises awareness about maternity benefits and ensures women facing career gaps due to motherhood are supported with re-entry opportunities.
The University maintains both maternity and paternity policies, reinforcing the shared responsibility of caregiving. Paternity benefits are promoted to encourage wider use among staff, fostering an equitable culture where domestic care is more evenly distributed.
In alignment with Goal 5’s emphasis on increasing women’s representation in public, political and economic spheres, KL University prioritises the leadership development of women across academic and administrative structures. Women are encouraged to take on governance roles, lead committees and participate in institutional decision-making. Leadership training programs, mentoring initiatives and targeted skill-building sessions support women’s advancement into higher positions.
KL University also tracks women's likelihood of graduating compared to men and implements gender-specific interventions where gaps exist, ensuring equitable educational outcomes.
The University upholds the principle that empowerment of women requires full autonomy over reproductive health and rights. KL University conducts awareness programs on menstrual health, contraception, consent and reproductive wellbeing, ensuring students have access to accurate information and safe channels of support. Counselling services are available for reproductive health concerns, and students are connected to partner hospitals for specialised care. These initiatives complement global efforts to enhance women’s decision-making power regarding health, bodily autonomy and sexual rights.
Bridging the digital gender divide is a key priority for KL University. The University promotes digital literacy among women students, facilitates access to technology and encourages women’s participation in STEM fields. Outreach initiatives target women’s applications in underrepresented subjects such as engineering, computer science and emerging technologies. KL University’s digital resource centres ensure equal access to devices, internet connectivity and technical support, fostering a technology-enabled environment where women can thrive.
KL University recognises that gender equality requires sustained investment. The University applies gender-responsive budgeting principles by tracking resource allocations toward programs supporting women’s empowerment, leadership, safety and wellbeing. Capacity-building workshops ensure administrators understand the importance of gender budgeting and implement it effectively. Transparency is maintained through periodic reporting of women’s admissions, participation and outcomes across departments.
KL University’s efforts toward achieving SDG 5 reflect a deep commitment to eliminating discrimination, empowering women and fostering equitable participation in academic, social and economic life. Through robust legal frameworks, proactive safety measures, leadership development, reproductive health initiatives, economic empowerment strategies, technological inclusion and gender-responsive budgeting, the University continually enhances opportunities for women and girls to reach their full potential. By integrating gender equality into every facet of institutional functioning, KL University contributes meaningfully to building a more just, inclusive and gender-equal society.
