Children's Research University

About Us

Children's Research University, Gandhingar is a unique concept of a University conceptualized by Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendrabhai Modi, then the Chief Minister of Gujarat state. The Children's University caters to the holistic development of the children across the state, nation and globe. The University focuses on children from the womb of a mother to the age of youth. The University runs the Garbha Sanskar and Early Child Care and Education through its vision, mission and objectives. The University revolves around the 'Child' through its values and teaching courses.

Shri Gijubhai Badheka is an illustrious person born way back in 1885 in Gujarat. By profession he was a lawyer but he dedicated his life towards childhood development and Education. Shri Gijubhai was a distinct reformist, Educationist and an author in the field of Education for Children. He was an educator who assisted in introducing Montessori Education methods to India. Gijubhai had an experimenter’s scientific rigor, the urge to do and demonstrate something new, the perception to be able to find the sparks in the changing Educational system of that time, and above all faith. Guided by these, he embarked on his journey into the realms of Education, and left behind a legacy of work and writing to the knowledge system of India.

In accordance with National Education Policy 2020 School Education plays a crucial role in executing the Indian knowledge system. The leap and the changes offered by the policy will be incorporated through the thoughts, works, writings and philosophy of Shri Gijubhai Badheka.

The esteemed Gijubhai Badheka Chair, a collaborative endeavor between the Government of India's Department of Women and Child Development and Children's University, stands as a praiseworthy initiative dedicated to the propagation of the wisdom, knowledge, and philosophy of the distinguished educator, Shri Gijubhai Badheka. It is worth noting that the very vision of Children's University was originally conceived by Gijubhai himself in the twentieth century. The vision, mission, and works of Shri Gijubhai Badheka are regarded as revolutionary and reforming in the region and in the country, serving greater social and educational aspects. In light of this historical connection, Children's University seizes this moment to honour and pay homage to this remarkable educator. The chair will imbibe the assistance from the writings and practices of Shri Gijubhai Badheka. Through this the state and nation will draw inputs through its various innovative exercise and practices.

Objectives

To provide advanced Centers of learning, where Anganwadi Workers, Elementary Education Teachers, Child Care & Protection duty holders, scholars and students would enrich and advance studies and research to understand, assess, disseminate and implement the ideas and thoughts of Shri Gijubhai Badheka.
To engage in research and in turn contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the area of the study particularly in the discipline of Elementary Education, Holistic Child Development, Language, Child Rights, Philosophy, Human Rights, Sociology, Social Work, Law, and other disciplines.
To publish the outcome of the research studies in the form of scholarly articles in the peer- reviewed indexed journals from the UGC-CARE list and also as books published by the reputed national and international publishers having strong peer- reviewed policy.
To develop appropriate methodologies to translate and transmit Shri Gijubhai Badheka's ideas of elementary education and holistic development of children into practical propositions and policy instruments.

Functions

The Chair will serve as the Centre of learning and research subjects containing Gijubhai Badheka's works and philosophy. It will further elaborate on the present issues in elementary Education and early child care Education. In pursuance of the above objectives, the Chair will have the following academic function;

To conduct research on early child care and Education, organize lectures, seminars, symposia, workshops, and other similar academic activities pertaining to the Education of the children.
To engage in field research work related to the contemporary problems, issues and challenges in early child care and Education.
To initiate quality research to be reflected by publications in the form of scholarly articles in the peer-reviewed journals (indexed and/or in the UGC-CARE list) and books/ book chapters by the chair every year.
To supervise doctoral students in research in accordance with thrust areas of the chair.
To design and execute short-term awareness and capacity-building programmes for the teachers in early child care and Education on the objectives, including the thrust areas of the chair.
To coordinate and provide a think tank on the thrust areas of the Chair, drawing expertise and inputs from academic experts of other sectors like Government and National and International organizations including NGOs.
To provide a forum for research policy level dialogues, discussion, meetings.
To publish the proceedings of the lectures/seminars/symposia organized by the chair in the form of an edited book.

Prof. Bhanubhai Dhila

Director, Centre of Ed ucation Children's University, Gandhinagar

Past Events

“138 th Birth Anniversary Celebration of Shri Gijubhai Badheka” from 1 st to 15 th November 2023 through virtual mode.
Three Days workshop on “Shri Gijubhai Badheka Sahitya Punahmudran - Republishing of Shri Gijubhai Badheka’s literature Work” at Children’s Research University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat; from 6 th to 8 th November 2023
Three Days Workshop on “Gijubhai Sathe Vachanyatra – Re-reading Gijubhai Badheka” at Kocharab Ashram, Ahmedabad, Gujarat; from 6 th to 8 th October 2023
Two Days Workshop on ‘Bal Varta (children’s Story) Training’ at Shri Dakshinamurty Bal Adhyapan Mandir, Bhavnagar, Gujarat; from 28 th to 29 th August 2023

Upcoming Events

Publication of Book “Gijubhai Sathe ShikshanYatra” – a compilation of Shri Gijubhai Badheka’s Literature work for Teachers, Parents, and Children
Publication of Book on “Bal Varta (Children’s Stories)”, and “Bal Kavya (Children’s Poems)”
Review and Reprint of Shri Gijubhai’s Bal Sahitya