The United Nations General Assembly’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) serve as a universal blueprint for achieving peace, prosperity, and environmental well-being for all. Integral University, Lucknow, fully recognizes the critical importance and urgency of these goals and is deeply committed to contributing toward their realization. The University’s dedication to the SDGs is embedded in its academic ethos, research initiatives, community outreach programs, and campus operations. Through various departments, research centers, and institutional units, Integral University actively promotes sustainability-oriented education, innovation, and social responsibility.

The following section highlights the progress report for SDG 1 - No Poverty, showcasing the University’s initiatives and measurable contributions toward eradicating poverty and fostering inclusive growth.

Research on Poverty:

SDG 1, which focuses on ending poverty in all its forms everywhere, is a foundational goal that underpins the achievement of all other Sustainable Development Goals. Eradicating poverty directly influences key aspects of human development such as inclusive economic growth, quality education, healthcare access, and gender equality. By addressing poverty, societies move toward greater human dignity, social cohesion, and environmental resilience. People who escape the cycle of poverty are better positioned to contribute productively to their communities and drive sustainable local development.

Integral University plays a committed role in advancing SDG 1 through active community engagement and academic research. The University has launched several outreach programs aimed at improving livelihoods in nearby rural areas, promoting entrepreneurship, skill development, and financial literacy among underprivileged groups. Furthermore, Integral University has contributed significantly to academic discourse on poverty alleviation, with nearly nine research publications exploring various dimensions of economic empowerment, sustainable livelihood models, and inclusive development strategies aligned with SDG 1.

Low-income students supported by financial aid:

Integral University is deeply committed to ensuring that financial hardship does not hinder any student’s access to quality higher education. In alignment with SDG1, the University emphasizes providing comprehensive financial aid and support to students facing economic challenges. This includes identifying and assisting those from low-income backgrounds, as well as extending opportunities to refugees, displaced individuals, and marginalized groups.

The University implements structured financial assistance programs such as merit-cum-means scholarships, tuition fee waivers, need-based grants, and endowment support, designed to ease the financial burden on deserving students. Beyond tuition support, Integral University also addresses basic living needs by offering hostel subsidies, canteen meal assistance, access to safe drinking water, and healthcare services.

To measure the impact of these initiatives, Integral University evaluates the Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) number of students benefitting from financial aid and related welfare schemes. This quantitative assessment helps ensure that every student, regardless of financial background, receives equitable opportunities for academic success and personal growth.

Bottom financial quintile admission target:

At Integral University, we are deeply committed to nurturing an environment that celebrates inclusivity, diversity, and equal opportunity. Our admission policies are designed to welcome students from a wide array of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, ensuring that talent and determination rather than financial means define access to quality education. We place particular emphasis on supporting students from economically disadvantaged groups, especially those belonging to the lowest income quintiles, through a range of merit-cum-means scholarships and financial aid initiatives. During the academic year 2023-24, Integral University provided scholarships amounting to ₹454.9lakhs, benefitting a total of 9,030 undergraduate and postgraduate students from low-income families. This ongoing initiative reflects our unwavering dedication to democratizing education, reducing financial barriers, and empowering young minds to realize their full academic and professional potential. By focusing on equity and social upliftment, the University continues to uphold its mission of transforming lives through accessible, high-quality education for all.

Bottom financial quintile student success:

At Integral University, our unwavering commitment to ensuring equitable access to higher education is reflected in our comprehensive inclusion framework that prioritizes students from the lowest 20% of Indian households. The University aims to empower these students by providing structured financial aid, academic mentoring, and holistic support throughout their educational journey. Beyond financial assistance, Integral University offers a range of integrated initiativesacademic support programs, personalized counselling, work-study opportunities, and emergency relief schemesto help students navigate academic and personal challenges effectively.

Affordable on-campus housing, peer learning networks, skill enhancement workshops, and robust progress evaluation systems further strengthen the University’s inclusive mission. Continuous monitoring and student feedback are key elements of our approach, enabling the timely improvement of support mechanisms. Through these efforts, Integral University seeks not only to remove barriers to college access but also to foster persistence, academic excellence, and personal growth for every learner, regardless of socio-economic background.

Low-income student support:

Integral University remains deeply committed to its mission of ensuring that quality higher education is accessible to every student, regardless of financial background. Upholding the spirit of inclusivity and equity, the University has established a comprehensive student assistance framework designed to support learners in overcoming economic challenges and achieving academic excellence. This holistic initiative extends beyond tuition aid to address essential aspects of student welfare housing, nutrition, mobility, healthcare, and legal assistance—thereby creating an enabling learning environment for all.

• Housing Support: Integral University offers a range of affordable on-campus housing facilities that provide secure, well-maintained accommodation. Priority is given to students from financially weaker sections, ensuring that they can pursue their education without the burden of housing insecurity.

• Nutritional Assistance: Recognizing the importance of adequate nutrition in academic success, the University facilitates access to subsidized meals through campus dining halls and meal plans, ensuring that no student’s performance is hindered by food insecurity.

• Transportation Services: To promote accessibility and reduce commuting barriers, the University extends transportation support such as discounted bus passes, shuttle services connecting nearby residential areas, and safe transit options within the campus.

• Healthcare and Wellness: Integral University also provides essential healthcare services through its on-campus medical center, along with mental health counseling and wellness programs to support students’ overall well-being.

• Legal Aid and Advisory Services: Students facing financial, housing, or personal legal challenges can seek counsel from the University’s legal aid cell, which offers free advisory and representation services to ensure their rights and welfare are protected.Through these multifaceted initiatives, Integral University reaffirms its unwavering dedication to fostering an equitable, supportive, and empowering academic environment for all learners.

Bottom financial quintile student support:

Integral University is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive academic environment where students from every socioeconomic segment can pursue quality higher education without financial barriers. The university’s Comprehensive Student Support Initiative focuses on financial, logistical, and emotional well-being to ensure equitable access and sustained academic success.

• Scholarship and Fee Concession Programs: Integral University extends various merit-cum-means scholarships and tuition fee waivers for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. These financial aids are awarded based on family income, scholastic excellence, and discipline-specific criteria to empower deserving learners.

• Affordable and Secure Accommodation: The campus provides cost-effective housing options equipped with modern amenities and enhanced security. Special concessions and priority allotment are offered to students belonging to the bottom financial quintile to ensure a safe, supportive, and conducive living environment.

• Transportation Subsidies: Recognizing the commuting challenges faced by financially constrained students, the university provides subsidized transport facilities, including discounted bus passes, on-campus shuttle services, and carpool assistance to minimize daily commuting expenses.

• Counselling and Wellness Services: Integral University’s dedicated Counselling and Mental Health Centre addresses the emotional, psychological, and social concerns of economically disadvantaged students. Professional counsellors conduct individual sessions, wellness workshops, and peer-support initiatives to promote mental well-being and resilience.

• Academic Monitoring and Mentorship:Regular academic progress assessments are conducted to identify students requiring additional support. Mentorship programs and remedial classes are organized to help low-income students overcome academic challenges and achieve consistent progress in their studies.

• Career Guidance and Skill Development: To improve employability prospects, the university also facilitates specialized training, internships, and career counselling programs targeted at economically weaker students, preparing them for sustainable professional growth.
  Through this holistic approach, Integral University remains steadfast in its mission to nurture educational equity, strengthen student welfare, and create an empowering ecosystem for all learners, regardless of their financial standing.

Low or lower-middle income countries student support:

Integral University remains steadfast in its commitment to inclusive education and social equity. Formerly recognized as the "University Scheme for Low Income Group," the initiative has evolved into a comprehensive support framework for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The University’s programs focus not only on financial assistance but also on fostering academic excellence, personal growth, and lifelong opportunities for all deserving learners.

• Equity Access Program: This flagship initiative ensures that students from low or lower-middle-income families receive equal opportunities for admission and academic advancement. Through fee waivers, academic counseling, and mentorship, the program works to bridge socio-economic disparities in higher education.

• Opportunity Scholarships: Designed to support meritorious students from financially weaker sections, these scholarships help recipients pursue their educational ambitions without the burden of financial stress. The scholarships are awarded based on need, academic performance, and dedication to learning.

• Financial Aid for All: This inclusive assistance scheme underscores Integral University’s vision that quality education should be accessible to every student, irrespective of family income. It provides need-based financial relief through tuition support, stipends, and emergency funding.

• Pathways to Excellence: This academic empowerment program focuses on helping low-income students achieve consistent academic success. It integrates personalized tutoring, skill enhancement workshops, and performance tracking to enhance learning outcomes.

• Access to Success Program: Embodying Integral University’s belief in education as a tool for empowerment, this initiative supports students at every stage of their academic journeyoffering mentoring, academic resources, and community engagement projects to ensure equal opportunities for success.

Together, these programs reinforce Integral University’s vision of “Education for All” by ensuring that financial barriers never hinder talent, dedication, or the pursuit of excellence.

Local start-up assistance:

Integral University promotes entrepreneurship and sustainable development within its surrounding community through its comprehensive “Sustainable Business Start-Up Support” initiatives. These programs aim to empower local entrepreneurs, foster innovation, and create long-term community impact. Key initiatives include:

• Local Business Development Training: The University conducts specialized training programs, hands-on workshops, and skill enhancement sessions designed to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with practical business knowledge in areas such as financial planning, marketing strategies, and digital business operations.

• Access to Institutional Resources: Members of the local community are offered access to Integral University’s knowledge ecosystem, including well-equipped libraries, online learning modules, research databases, and innovation labs, facilitating their professional and business growth.

• Mentorship and Advisory Networks: The University bridges the gap between experience and aspiration by connecting local start-ups with mentors drawn from academia, industry experts, and successful alumni. These networks provide continuous guidance on business strategy, product development, and scaling-up opportunities.

• Sustainability and CSR Workshops: Regular seminars and awareness sessions are organized on topics such as sustainable enterprise models, environmental responsibility, ethical business practices, and social impact assessments, promoting responsible entrepreneurship aligned with global sustainability goals.

• Collaborative Networking Events: By hosting entrepreneur meetups, start-up expos, and collaborative forums, Integral University creates platforms for knowledge exchange among local business owners, students, researchers, and potential investors to encourage partnerships and community-based growth.

• Community Outreach and Impact Programs: Through outreach surveys, incubation camps, and field engagement projects, the University continuously identifies local business challenges and designs targeted interventions to promote inclusive economic development.These integrated efforts reflect Integral University’s vision of nurturing a self-reliant entrepreneurial ecosystem that strengthens local economies while advancing sustainable and socially responsible business practices.

Local start-up financial assistance:

Integral Startups Foundation, Centre for Incubation and Entrepreneurship Development (ISF-CIED) is the innovation-driven business incubator of Integral University, Lucknow, recognized as an official Incubation Centre by Start-In-UP, Department of IT & Electronics, Government of Uttar Pradesh, through its nodal agency Uttar Pradesh Electronics Corporation Limited (UPLC).

Serving as a catalyst for entrepreneurial transformation, ISF-CIED is devoted to cultivating a robust innovation and startup ecosystem within the university and the wider region. The Centre provides comprehensive support to aspiring entrepreneurs, student innovators, and early-stage startups through mentorship, research guidance, strategic collaborations, and access to leading industry expertise.

Equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, modern co-working spaces, laboratories, and access to funding opportunities and investor networks, the foundation aims to transform innovative ideas into viable, scalable, and sustainable ventures. Through capacity-building programs, startup bootcamps, pitch sessions, and business acceleration initiatives, ISF-CIED nurtures creativity and cultivates an entrepreneurial mindset among youth and researchers alike.

ISF-CIED’s focus areas encompass emerging domains such as Industry 4.0, Life Sciences, Robotics, Agri-Tech, Med-Tech, Fin-Tech, Clean and Smart Mobility, Renewable Energy, and other disruptive technologies aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Centre places a strong emphasis on women-led entrepreneurship and inclusivity, ensuring equitable participation in the startup ecosystem.

Driven by its mission to strengthen the entrepreneurial landscape of Uttar Pradesh, ISF-CIED aligns with the Government of India’s vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat”—contributing to national development by fostering innovation, employment generation, and economic resilience.

Programmes for services access:

Integral University, through its Start-up Foundation Centre for Innovation, Incubation, and Entrepreneurship Development (ISF-CIED), is dedicated to nurturing a vibrant ecosystem that empowers innovators and entrepreneurs. By offering robust research assistance, modern laboratories, fully equipped co-working spaces, mentorship programs, strategic collaborations, and extensive networking avenues, the foundation aspires to build a dynamic community of changemakers committed to driving sustainable economic growth and technological advancement.

Emphasizing women’s inclusivity and leadership, ISF-CIED aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry by promoting entrepreneurial ventures in emerging domains such as Industry 4.0, Life Sciences, Robotics, Agri-Tech, Med-Tech, Fin-Tech, and Smart & Clean Mobility. The Centre also facilitates access to government schemes, venture funding opportunities, and capacity-building programs to translate innovative ideas into impactful enterprises.Aligning its efforts with the Government of India’s national vision for self-reliance and nation-building, ISF-CIED actively contributes to strengthening the entrepreneurial landscape of Uttar Pradesh, fostering innovation-driven enterprises that can create employment, enhance competitiveness, and contribute to the region’s socio-economic development.

Policy addressing poverty:

Integral University has instituted a comprehensive Scholarship and Financial Support Policy(In-place since 2020, Last Reviewed/ Revised in 2024, Next schedule review in 2027), that specifically includes measures to alleviate poverty and promote inclusive education. This policy aims to ensure that financial constraints do not hinder talented and deserving students from pursuing higher education. Through a structured system of scholarships, fee concessions, need-based assistance, and support programs for economically weaker sections, the University strengthens its commitment to social equity, accessibility, and sustainable development in line with national educational objectives and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

https://www.iul.ac.in/IQAC/Policy.aspx

Activity Report

ALIGNED ACTIVITY OUTCOMES WITH OBJECTIVES

GLIMPSES OF THE ACTIVITY