In 8th March 1996, Shivaji University established the Centre for Women’s Studies and appointed Dr. Maya Pandit, a faculty member from the Department of English, as its first Coordinator,
followed by Dr. Akalpita Arvindekar, a faculty member from the Department of Biochemistry. The Centre was recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2000. Dr. Medha Nanivadekar,
a faculty member from the Department of Political Science, was appointed as a full-timeReader in Women’s Studies and served as the Director until her superannuation in November 2024.

      Dr. Medha Nanivadekar's research on women and politics was recognized by the United Nations in 2005 with her appointment by the UN Secretary-General as an Expert on Equal Gender Representation
in Decision-Making. She is the only university teacher in India who has testified before both the Parliamentary Committees on the Women’s Reservation Bill.

     The Centre for Women’s Studies has been offering a postgraduate degree (M.A.) in Women’s Studies since June 2014 and provides training to Internal Complaints Committees. It also organizes
gender sensitization programs periodically. The first academic outcome of the Centre’s action research was a four-credit PG certificate course on the “Prevention of Sexual Harassment at 
Workplace” introduced in 2013.

     The CWS has been very vibrant in organizing several orientation programs, training sessions, workshops, lectures, and hands-on practical on various themes since its inception. It has organized
orientation programs for women activists, training programs for newly elected Grampanchayat members, artisans from the Kolhapur leather industry, and self-help groups. The center has also 
conducted many workshops on gender sensitization, prevention of sexual harassment at the workplace, soft skills development, as well as health and literacy programs. Additionally, the CWS celebrates 
Women’s Day and Savitribai Phule Jayanti every year.

     The Centre produced its first Ph.D. in 2017. Dr. Manjusha Deshpande completed her Ph.D. thesis titled Health and Nutritional Status of Women Seasonal Migrants: A Study of Sugarcane Cutters 
in Kolhapur District under the guidance of Dr. Medha Nanivadekar.

     Currently, Prof. [Dr.] Nisha Mude-Pawar, Senior Professor and Head of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, has been working as the In-Charge Director of the Centre for Women’s
Studies since November 2024.