During the past few decades, attempts have been made to set up counselling centres at various universities.
Patna University is said to be the first institution in India to pay attention to the problems of college students.
In 1945, the Department of Psychological Research and Services was established with the dual purpose of providing counselling service to the students as well as conducting research in psychology. Counselling of college students was one of the projects of the university.
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In 1955, St. Xavier College, Bombay, started counselling students with an emphasis on religious counselling.
Later, in 1960, it shifted its emphasis to the personal and social problems o/students. The college also published a useful brochure—Success in College, — which gives guidance to the students for tackling varied problems which they might face in college life.
The credit for establishing the first full time counselling service for college students goes to the MS University, Baroda.
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In 1958, at the invitation of the University Grants Commission, the University of Baroda prepared a plan of a counselling center with full time staff to cater to the needs of its students.
The plan included practical service to students with educational and vocational problems, research related to guidance and counselling and training of guidance personnel.
The plan was approved by University Grants Commission and the Student Counselling Centre of the university was set up in 1959. This Centre did following commendable works:
(i) Conducted a study of student problems and developed an adjustment inventory on the basis of the study;
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(ii) Published a series of pamphlets devoted to typical case studies;
(iii) prepared some measuring tools like Family Attitude Test for use with children and young adolescents; the Gujarati version of Wechsler’s Adult Intelligence Scale; Abstract Reasoning Test; Selection Test for the Faculty of Engineering, etc;
(iv) Prepared a handbook for developing guidance and counselling for the in-service school teachers, and;
(v) Organised some seminars for teachers in small towns and villages.
The centre became well-known in India therefore; some consultants from USA visited the centre and often helped in its organisation and development.
In 1961, Allahabad University also organised a Counselling Centre for its students with the assistance of the United States Educational Foundation in India.
From 1961-65, the Foundation placed one exchange professor either on full-time basis or to be shared between the Departments of Education and psychology, with the specific assignment to help developing a student counselling centre.
The Foundation and the UGC collaborated in the noble venture. For example, if the UGC were to support one post of a counsellor, the Foundation would match it with another post entirely supported by the Foundation. Unfortunately, the centre was closed down in 1966 and very useful work done by the centre came to an end.
In 1963, Wilson College, Bombay set up a counselling centres for its students. Later, the college set up an office of the Dean of Students with a comprehensive programme of student services.
In 1964-65, Delhi University informally started a programme of counselling in the Department of Psychology under the care of a lecturer in Psychology.
A paper in counselling was also introduced as a part of the curriculum for the Master’s degree in Psychology. A survey of student problems, too, was conducted by the Department. Unfortunately, the work did not continue for long.
In 1965-66, Annamalai University also started a counselling centre for its students with the help of a Full-bright Professor.
But this did not succeed as the administration could not decide whether the counselling centre should be placed in the Department of Education, Psychology or philosophy.
The SNDT Women’s University, Bombay, has appointed a dean of students who is providing student personnel services on a modest scale.
In 1967, a student counselling centre was started for the students of the Panjab University, Chandigarh, on the recommendation of the Mental Health Expert Group of the Indian Council of Medical Research.
The centre undertook a study of mental health of failed students of the Panjab University. It was also hoped that the centre would fulfil a long felt need to attend to the psychiatric problems of university students. The centre offer: counselling facility to students in need of adjustment and also help» in the orientation and placement programme.
In 1952, the Vocational Guidance Association of Bombay was formed to help in the co-ordination of the work done by individuals in Bombay.
Later at the initiative of Dr. Barnette, effort was made to co-ordinate the individual work all over the country. Barnette brought all the guidance workers together in a seminar in 1952 in Central Institute of Education, New Delhi.
An opportunity was provided to guidance personnel to exchange ideas and problems with their colleagues and others interested in guidance.
Later, in 1954, another seminar was conducted which took the decision to form an All India Educational and Vocational Guidance Association. Two years later, in 1956, the association was formed during a meeting held at the M.S. University of Baroda.
Bombay was the next to give official recognition to guidance programme. The Bureau of Vocational Guidance, Bombay was set up in 1950. Since 1957, the Bureau has been renamed and is functioning as the Institute of Vocational Guidance, Bombay.
It gave a much wider interpretation to guidance, selection and training of guidance personnel and planned emphasis on collection and dissemination of occupational information.