The Lady Irwin College aphorism is VIDYA HI SEWA. The teaching learning transactions true to the motto Endeavour to inculcate a sense of knowledge to serve through carefully designed outreach experiences.

The College has always provided headship to other institutions in the nation in teaching, research and extension in Home Science, both at central universities and Home Science colleges with agricultural institutions.

Lady Irwin College has celebrated 83 years in 2015.The education in this college aims towards capacity building for entrepreneurship, improved quality of life and overall development of the students. It is a nodal and template institution for Home Science education in the country.

The academic disciplines in the college are artistic, creative, culturally rooted and contemporary. The programmes are scientifically planned which include education in textile technology, food processing, metabolism, environment, sustainable technologies, food safety, health and disease and human development. The focus of college is to have holistic education for the all round development of the students.

High standard of education is maintained in pedagogical strategies and course structuring by the faculty members. The curriculum is internationally competitive. The college hopes to improve the talent and nurture creativity among its students for playing positive role in the society.

Brief History

From a modest beginning with 11 students in 1932, Lady Irwin College has provided higher education for generations of women. Well into the ninth decade, the college now has over 1300 students on its records every year. From the initial teaching of a Certificate Course in Home Science, the courses have multiplied, keeping in tune with the times and the changing trends in higher education.

The college has an illustrious ancestry. It was established under the patronage of Lady Dorothy Irwin, by men and women concerned with national issues and the education of women. Among them were the Maharanis of Baroda and Bhopal, Sarojini Naidu, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Annie Besant, Kamala Devi Chattopadhyay, Margaret Cousins and Sir Ganga Ram Kaula to name a few. The college has been a template for over 200 colleges and schools offering the discipline of Home Science in India and neighboring countries, providing guidance in development of curricula, programmes and infrastructure.The buildings of the college campus have been classified and protected as heritage sites.

The college was run under the aegis of All India Women’s Education Fund Association till 1950. It was then affiliated to the University of Delhi and a B.Sc. Home Science degree course was introduced. The college started receiving financial assistance from the University Grants Commission and is continuing to do so. In 1969, the Lady Irwin College Society (Regd.) was established, commensurate with the requirements of University of Delhi to serve as the Governing Body of the college.

Over the years, the college has added bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, and facilities for community outreach programmes, inter-college and international exchanges and networking, workshops and seminars, public events, sports and recreation. Since its inception, the staff and students of the college provide research advice and community extension services in nutrition, resource management, human development, and textiles and clothing.