holds a unique position in the academic landscape of Central India, over the years developed into an ideal centre for the education of, “Common Sense and Consideration”, the motto of the college is lived out in its administration, curriculum design, and other aspects of campus life, The academic achievements of the staff are noteworthy. Of the Faculty strength of 201, about 60% (120) of the faculties hold Ph.D degrees. Four have completed major research projects and 18 have completed minor research projects. There are 7 ongoing major research projects and 12 minor research projects, In the period under review there was outstanding performance in sports., For the smooth functioning of life on campus, committees have been formed. Under the IQAC (Internal Quality Assessment Cell) of the college, every department undertakes an Academic Audit, The college Library has witnessed a great deal of improvement. A new digital library building supplements the existing one (which is a century old). The library has internet facilities and,
The vision of the college is a commitment to guide our students to achieve excellence through holistic education. Accordingly, the mission of the college is to mould students to be morally upright, socially committed and spiritually inspired, by Christian principles and to be responsible citizens of India and the world. The college also focuses on empowering students to be good leaders who will spread the light of knowledge, harmony and equality in all spheres of life. The activities of the college cater to these goals so that our students imbibe these value systems. The college was last accredited by NAAC in 2009 with GRADE ‘A’, having obtained a score of 3.14 on a four point scale. We are now moving towards our third cycle of accreditation. Adhering to our vision and mission and bearing in mind the recommendations of the NAAC Peer Team, the college has implemented various programmes to enhance the quality and mitigate the weaknesses present in the system. A summary of the criterion-wise analysis of the college in the last five years is given below, crit-1-A large number of our teachers assist in the University examinations as paper setters, moderators and evaluators, Crit-2-We are affiliated to the University of Mumbai and follow stated policies, but we try to provide student –centric learning. For effective implementation of the curriculum, the college deploys the following action plans: Each faculty member submits a syllabus plan at the beginning of the semester to the Principal. An academic calendar is prepared in advance and published in the college prospectus. At the end of the year a calendar mentioning the activities monthwise and department wise is also printed. Every department submits an activity calendar for the month. The activities enhance and supplement the syllabus planThe progress of the department is maintained through regular tests, presentations and semester end exams The Principal conducts a meeting with all faculty members at the beginning and end of every semester to assess the progress made by the institution. Time tables are prepared in advance and made available before the commencement of each semester. Remedial classes and tutorials are conducted for the weaker students. Two students sign a copy of the syllabus, for each paper, at the end of the year verifying that the portion is completed, Staff Advancement Programmes are conducted every year for Staff members. Teachers are encouraged to attend workshops and seminars to upgrade their knowledge and skills. Crit-3-As part of fostering research tradition in the college the institution has applied for a Research Centre in English. Seven teachers have received funds from UGC to do minor research.The college has organized 9 national and 2 international UGC sponsored seminar, crit-4- We have forty-seven clean and spacious classrooms, crit-5- To help and support students in their pursuit to become
responsible citizens, the institution provides welfare schemes /scholarships / free ships for SC / ST / OBC and economically weaker students. Some are purely government based and some are supported by the community or management. The Institution started providing training for competitive exams from the year 2012-13 to help students prepare for UPSC and MPSC examinations. Remedial classes are conducted for slow learners, learning disability and academically weak students. Various departments conduct educational trips to nongovernemnetal organisations and industrial visits to reputed institutes of learning/ corporate houses, RBI and Stock Exchange. The college plans and organizes extra and co-curricular activities all through the year to realize our vision and mission goals and provide students with a holistic development. The Counselling Unit was constituted at St Andrews College in 2010, and since 2013, the unit has a full-time counsellor. St. Andrew’s College follows an open door policy where students are encouraged to approach the class teachers, Heads of Departments, VicePrincipals and Principal to resolve minor issues. Grievance and Anti-ragingcells look after student complaints. Crit-6- The college Governing Body is a group of five trustees with Cardinal Oswald Gracias as its Chairperson. They have regular working committee meetings with the Principal. The Principal is also a special invitee at the Governing Body meetings. She plays a proactive role in the design and implementation of all academic policies promotes in-house research through the Annual Staff Seminar and also encourages staff to publish papers. .Opinions and suggestions of staff and students are sought at meetings with both staff and students. To ensure that our staff remains abreast of latest happenings in their individual specialised fields as well as in teaching techniques they are sent for orientation programmes, refresher courses and short term courses of soft skill development or any UGC sponsored course of interest to them. Through our value education and social outreach programme we foster thinking about and action for the upliftment of the poor and oppressed. The aim of holistic education is to prepare our students to meet the challenges of life besides attaining academic excellence Together, the Management, Principal and Faculty strive to facilitate the development of each student at St. Andrew’s to become individuals who are conscious of their role at home and in society. The leadership takes initiatives along with the staff to create academic and extracurricular activities that reflect the institution’s goals. Annual IQAC reports are submitted to NAAC. The IQAC has a constant on-going process of evaluation of requirements for better quality academic instruction and administration. The IQAC discusses, implements and reviews all aspects of the education process in the college including setting parameters. Every year we organise an Academic audit. A statutory audit is conducted by external auditors appointed by the college, namely Rao & Ashok, Chartered Accountants every year. The last audit was done for the year 2014-15 in June 2015.CRIT-7- To ensure convenience, safety and security on campus, the entire campus is fitted with High definition CCTV to enabled easy monitoring by the Principal and ensure greater security in all the areas of the campus., Our quality policy is enshrined in our vision and mission statements. It is embodied in every activity and every plan undertaken by the institution. Our college strives towards promoting and achieving excellence and works towards providing quality based education SWOC Analysis of the Institution Strengths 1. Good Faculty – Committed, approachable, sincere. 2. Good Infrastructure – Spacious, clean, airy classrooms. White boards and LCD projector in every class; well-equipped Conference Room, Examination Room, Computer Laboratories, Auditorium, Staff Rooms, Gymkhana, 3. Research undertaken by staff – Presenting papers, undertaking research projects, publishing articles. 4. Student research initiated with a journal – Lumière 5. Measures to reduce our carbon footprints and GO GREEN have been undertaken. 6. Focus on Value Education
and concern for the weak and underprivileged is manifested in our Social Outreach Programmes. 7. A concerted effort to spread peace and create harmony through activites of the Chair of Cardinal Paul Poupard Weakness 1. Only one post-graduate course offered. – M. Com 2. Not all staff members have a Ph. D 3. Have not been able to make the Alumni Association very vibrant. Opportunities 1. To collaborate with Industry 2. To have staff and student exchanges with foreign universities. 3. To encourage students to serve the country with dedication through Civil Services. 4. To encourage students and staff to undertake research in a planned and sustained manner. 5. To find means and ways to conserve our fast depleting resources and initiate programmes to save the planet. 6. To care for the marginalized and the differently abled through structured programmes. 7. To empower our girls to take their rightful place in the world Challenges 1. Syllabus framed by the university is oriented towards students scoring marks but not increasing their critical evaluation ability. 2. Examination system needs to be revamped. 3. Danger that the Arts faculty might have to shut down in the not too distant future. Unique Distinctions Dedicated members of faculty and support staff with an average experience of 8 years and average retention of 10 years in all the departments Well established state-of-the-art laboratories as per industry standard for all the departmentsGood number of MoUs with the industries for internships and projects Professional society chapters for every department with active participation Very effective teaching learning process with an excellent instructional design, delivery, supplemented by video presentation and open courseware Very active student support system ensuring good students progression through sponsorship for conferences, national design contests, technical training, placement training etc., Very active Alumni Association with its chapters in Bangalore and Chennai Alumni Association scholarships to the meritorious and deserving students through endowments Alumni helping the students in internships and recruitment to the various organizations Recuritment to the various organizations through Alumni SWOC Analysis Strength Autonomy for the institution, providing academic flexibility Recognition by UGC under sections 2(f) and 12(b) Permanent Affiliation to Anna University Accreditation and Reaccreditation for 6 UG and 2 PG programmes Funding from agencies like – AICTE, DRDO, DST, CSIR through FIST-INSPIRE, NSTMIS, EMR(II) Recognition as research department for all the departments from Anna University. Internal Quality Assurance Cell to ensure quality in academic administrative function Extensive industry interaction leading to employable graduates and recognition for industry interaction by Society for Educational and Entrepreneurship Center for innovation for multidisciplinary approach, leading to Best Innovative Project Award from ICT Academy of Tamil Nadu Central library with good number of books. Digital library and online materials Professional Society Chapters for every department High retention factors for faculty members across all the departments Entrepreneurship Cell to encouraging the Entrepreneurs Weakness Focus of student projects towards the societal requirements Opportunities To bring in center for non formal and continuing education to offer industry collaborative certificate courses Tie up with foreign universities for research and faculty exchange Challenges Sustenance of research culture with patents
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STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES I.I Strengths of the College Traditionally we think of them in terms of the Four Pillars of the College. (a) Pursuit of Excellence (b)Commitment to Social Justice, with a preferential option for the poor (c) Character formation (d)A spiritual vision of life, with emphasis on promoting a spirit of self-less service. PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE implies- (a) A robust work culture. All lectures/tutorials/labs are held. Work begins and ends on time. Students are accorded personal attention, based on need and willingness to be helped. (b)Commitment to total transparency in admissions and appointments. (c) An inspired sense of discipline (d)A holistic idea of education that emphasizes the development of the total person in respect of every student. This addressed through a large number of Societies, Clubs and Cells (40 in all) that organize high-quality co-curricular programmes all through the year which complements classroom transactions. (e) Educational Infrastructure. The College is architecturally majestic, though simple. Its façade is recognized globally. All classrooms and the library are air-conditioned to facilitate maximum efficiency. The infrastructure facilities have been renovated recently. (f) A beautiful and clean campus. Basic to the educational philosophy of St. Stephen’s is the insight that the learning environment needs to be both beautiful and clean. The College campus ambience is, hence, in perfect sync with the Prime Minister’s Swatch Bharat Abhiyan. (g)Excellent library and lab facilities. The facilities the College offers are among the best that any college offers in its category. COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL JUSTICE The dogma entertained in the sphere of higher education is that Social Justice and Pursuit of Excellence are incompatibles. St. Stephen’s believes otherwise. Social justice, as envisioned in the College, has two main components. First, is a ‘preferential option for the poor and the backward’. The freedom to give effect to this has been severely curtailed over the years by the compulsion to adhere mechanically to merit as indicated by Class 12 marks. This has serious problems. St.Stephen’s, thanks to its minority character, enjoys a small window to practise social justice in the selection process. The second aspect of social justice is the justice that reflecting social realities does to the idea of education entertained by the College. The socio-economic realities of the nation being represented in the learning milieu has immense educational value. An institution that allows itself to be a bastion only of social and economic privilege and elitism becomes an anaemic learning environment. Our experience is that the integration of social justice into the pursuit of excellence accounts for a great deal of our institutional dynamism. St. Stephen’s has been at the forefront of this national discourse in the recent years. CHARACTER FORMATION Character is understood in St. Stephen’s as the discipline of organizing oneself according to certain objective values, norms and principles. Students are encouraged to- Be responsible, regular and punctual at work Develop the capacity to think objectively and discuss freely Courteous conduct, especially to karmacharis and non-teaching staff in general. Inculcation of the spirit of service. An attitude of respect towards the environment. We keep our environment litter free and clean. Students respect the inviolability of the campus. An outlook on life based on equality and free from discrimination of any kind. Excellent student-teacher relationship.The availability of teachers outside classroom and working hours to guide and to counsel. THE SPIRITUAL VISION OF LIFE We believe that education, though secular in content, is a
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spiritual in character. Pursuit of excellence stands on the foundation of spirituality. It is this sustains the robust work-culture in the College. Spirituality ensures that we do not remain stuck with a superficial and shallow outlook on life. Students are encouraged and enabled to think of life from an enlarged perspective as well as remain linked to the social realities of the country. The first year students do, for example, a course titled “Engaging with Unequal India”. Spirituality, unlike religion, involves a universal outlook and celebrates a wider sense of responsibility. Even the sense of responsibility we celebrate towards the environment is an aspect of spirituality. There is, besides, a synergy between spirituality and character-formation. The promotion of a deep sense of bonding among students, despite the diverse backgrounds and social strata they come from, is yet another aspect. St. Stephen’s College is truly a microcosm of India: in its unity-in-diversity. The Motto of the College is “Ad Dei Gloriam” or To The Glory of God. This implies the discipline of putting service before self, which is the motto of our Social Service Leave, which is one of the 3 mandatory Societies in the College. I.II WEAKNESSES We are acutely aware of our weaknesses, which are many. Any institution that is truly geared to the pursuit of excellence cannot be otherwise. As the American poet Robert Frost says, “And miles to go before we sleep….” We have, thanks to our emphasis on strong student-teacher relationships and our eagerness to ensure optimum quality in education, chosen to be a small institution. This means that the repertoire of our academic offering is limited. At a time when inter-disciplinarity is the norm, we cannot afford to say anchored in our old vision, which has had it relevance. We are, financially, a poor institution. Any institution that opts to move along the straight and narrow path, has to be. The management of the institution is in no position to invest any further into the continued growth and development of the College. At the same time, we are also proud of our austere and Spartan existence. While the facilities we have are excellent, we need additional facilities like conference centres, seminar rooms, a large enough auditorium, a wellequipped, automated office, and so on. With the outsourcing of non-teaching services, the old sense of loyalty to the institution and a sense of belonging together as an academic family has been diluted. Thanks to the onset of the modern culture, the sense of tradition that sustained the College is getting diluted. This can have serious consequences in the near future. We do not want to console ourselves by saying that St. Stephen’s cannot remain isolated from general trends and tendencies. II. OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES II. I. OPPORTUNITIES The College has one of the largest campuses (29.4 acres on the main campus and 8 acres in Mori Gate, being used as the cricket field). We have used up only 27% of the FAR. This means that we have land/space enough to add another 1. 3 million sq. ft of educational infrastructure. This is a huge asset. The scope for growth the College has is considerable. The College is well poised to take advantage of the various scheme on offer from the UGC for development and upgradation of facilities. It is at the present time doing all it can to emphasize a research culture at the undergraduate level. There is immense scope for starting new courses. The core strengths of the College –as a liberal arts and sciences college- can only become more and more relevant as years go by. It is for this reason that the most talented young men and women from all over the country prefer St.
Stephen’s over other institutions. II. II. CHALLENGES The challenge of multidisciplinarity. The challenge to add significantly to our infrastructure and to add to the basket of courses we offer. To maintain the balance between educational technology and human stature. [The Guru-Gadget Balance in life and in education] To remain rooted in the proven, core traditions of the College, especially its spiritual foundation, in a secularizing and modern world. To foster a deep sense of commitment in the fresh faculty appointees who hail from different traditions. To grow without outgrowing oneself; that is, to grow without compromising the character and culture of the College. The University offers teaching, research and training programs in law and inter-disciplinary fields such as arts, commerce, science and technology, business administration and social work at undergraduate and post-graduate level, has a rich blend of knowledge and expertise and hence has proved to be a converging place for professional and experts in various fields and thus enriching the knowledge database of the university creating a knowledge repository., campus with excellent conducive facilities to undertake research, teaching and training. These include among others library with rich print and online collection of books, journals and databases, comfortable guest house, food court, gymnasium, Wi-fi facility, etc. The campus also houses a vibrant student community and learned faculty and staff., The University, since its inception, has been striving towards excellence. The supportive management constantly exposes the faculty members to new teaching-learning pedagogies, assessment tools, planning techniques and leadership styles to equip them to face the challenges. Need-specific programmes are organized to update all the faculty members in their own areas of expertise. Student Feedback on Teachers and assessment of faculty members has helped the individual to look at themselves critically, make necessary changes in their professional life and grow towards excellence., The University has ensured that the physical infrastructural facilities are systematically updated to meet the new, supplementary and replacement demands of the community. The changes brought about include additional class rooms and laboratories, Hostel, Conference Hall with Videoconferencing facility, Language lab, Auditorium, parking lots, staff quarters, guest house and installation of CCTV cameras at strategic locations. SWOC Analysis Strengths: Only Law University in the State of Gujarat which strives to provide world class legal education. Culturally diverse and vibrant Student community on campus. A fully residential Law University with state-of-the-art infrastructural facilities. University functions as nodal agency for the law colleges of Gujarat and provide them platform to communicate their concerns and needs to the Government. Innovative Interdisciplinary Courses are offered keeping in view the present trend of interdisciplinary approach in Higher education. Existing curriculum of the university is reviewed in consultation with various stakeholders and subject experts. The academic system and processes are audited annually by a team of Academic Audit Committee. Learner centric teaching techniques such as field visits, Panel Discussions, Group Discussion, Seminars, Moot Courts etc. for making learning effective with teaching methods ensuring that the core compeencies of students are developed which make them employable. Feedback on Curriculum is obtained from students, academic peers, parents and stakeholders to keep pace with the changing global scenario and ensure continuous growth. Gujarat National Law University initiated a creative academic programme being called ‘Academic Support Programme’ (ASP) with a view to help students to study more in classes other than regular and scheduled teaching sessions. The ASP provides platform
for students to share their academic knowledge. Participatory Leadership approach is followed by the University at every level to promote the culture of excellence with a fair representation of all the faculty members of both Law and Non-Law in all committees. GNLU has set up various Centres of Excellence in niche areas of economy. Collaborations with various national and international universities and organizations for facultystudent exchange programmes, internships, Scholar-inresidence programmes etc. Establishment of the Legal Service Committee of the University to make efforts for awareness in the society about the legal rights of the citizens and provides free legal aid. University also offers its legal research and analytical services to the Government, PSUs and private sectors for all kind of projects. The university has formed an Equal Opportunity Cell for helping the society at large. Appointment of faculty members as honorary members in governmental and leading legal associations/committees/commission such as National Knowledge Commission, Planning Commission, Indian Society of International Law, Asian Society of International Law, National Human Rights Commission. GNLU has a well categorized internship programme for its students. The university regularly organizes various specialized programmes, MDPs, workshops, summer schools, winter schools etc. for the Executives from industry and corporate world and also its students and faculty for skill enhancement. It has a credit accumulation and transfer facility in student exchange programmes with various foreign universities. GNLU Legal Incubation Centre has been established to provide its students with a platform to make initiate, develop and make a successful organizational structure that would work towards achieving success in the legal fraternity. Weaknesses: The University is still in its nascent phase of development. Need to inculcate more research oriented teaching learning culture among the faculty and students. More improved facilities for the students, faculty and staff is required in terms of accommodation, recreational facilities etc. Need to have more qualified faculty with Ph.D., M. Phil etc. and qualified administrative staff for the smooth functioning of the university. More opportunities for students from across the world so as to become a sought after destination of legal education. Need to provide new options for the students to have lateral and vertical mobility across the programmes offered by the university. Lack of integrated programmes at the postgraduate level such as LL.M.Ph.D. MBA-LL.M., MCALL.M. programmes etc. which requires attention. Need for strengthening the research database of the university. Opportunities: As it is the only Law University in the state, it can immensely help towards the development of Legal education in the state. GNLU can serve as the guiding university with the Government, other Law colleges and organizations in the state. The University has ample scope of developing the knowledge base through the appointment of qualified faculty and staff. It can be a destination of world class legal education of the Western India. It has immense opportunity of developing ties and collaboration with many more foreign universities for semester abroad programmes, joint degree programmes There is a good potential to commence a centre for training & development for faculty and staff. Location of the university makes it helpful to provide the surrounding villages with legal aid support, vocational training & education and develop the society in turn. With the commencement of distance mode learning of certificate courses, the university will be able to reach to a larger public. Challenges: Coming up of other private law schools and universities in the vicinity. Competing with other Top Law Universities in India. Establishments of at least 2 full-time professors and 4 associate professors in major areas of laws, Public International Law, Private International Law, ADR, Criminal law, Corporate, Finance and
Securities Laws, Constitutional Law, Environment and Sustainable Development, SEZs, Human Rights, International Relations. To be the sought out destination for legal education in the world and in the state. Removing language and other barriers if any and thereby removing certain hardships for some of the students. Building a strong academic-culture where the students as a whole community can express themselves, their concerns and issues without any inhibitions relating to academics. Maintaining the quality of the faculty and staff and diversity of the students. Improve the standards more in this ever changing competitive world. Continuous improvement of curriculum as per the current trends, issues and demands.
Over the years, the College has carved a niche for itself and is known to be one of the leading colleges of University. College has been growing at a rapid pace since last few years. In the next session, five new courses will be started, consequent to the official communication by the University, regarding grant of the approval for the same. Keeping this in view, and the future expansion, the College has prepared a new Masterplan for expansion which shall include state-oftheart new academic building, residences, parking, utility and common areas housed in multi-storied complex. As and when the necessary approvals are obtained, and the funds are available, this new project shall commence immediatelyhe College follows University of Delhi curricula and its faculty members contribute to curricula framing both at University and UGC levels. The norms of University for admission to various courses are followed andthe student-profile of the College is diverse, with most sections of the society well-represented. The teaching-learning process is enriched and made productive by rich experience of teachers and availability of up-todate resources to students. The process is monitored by Departmental Monitoring as well as by Academic Affairs Committee of the College and the Principal, to make it achieve the learning objectives of the programmes and provide best motivation and experience to learners. The College follows University norms for Semester-end examination and evaluation as well as for internal assessment/continued evaluation, but also enriches these for local adaptations as required, by the effort and participation of teachers and students. The present College faculty is very active in research and knowledge creation, with a gross publication count of 1,353 out of which 834 are in indexed journals, 734 listed in various databases; 4 monographs, 60 books edited, 224 chapters contributed to books, with 264 of these books having ISBN numbers and published by leading publishers, and an aggregate known citation count of 3,987. Per-capita publication for faculty members comes to 9.66. Faculty has undertaken a total of 61 individual/group research projects, and another 39 with participation of students, funded by agencies like NSF, IAEA, CSIR, DST, DBT, UGC, ICSSR, University of Delhi, and so on, with an aggregate funding of well over Rs.18 Crore. These contributions in research and innovation have been recognized and awarded multiple times. College makes special efforts to facilitate and enable students with special requirements. Fee-concessions, merit-cum-means scholarships, free textbooks are provided to students from weak socio-economic background as well as awards/prizes to achievers and performers. Differently-abled students are helped by College by providing additional gadgets and access facilitation. Students’ Societies in diverse areas such as dramatics, music, photography, music, and so on, provide an opportunity to cultivate, nurture, and showcase talent. There is also an elected Students Union which operates as per the relevant University/College rules and budget. The governance of the College is defined and carried out as per the University Statutes by the Governing Body, Staff Council, and Principal. All decisions and expenditure are open to audit
by the competent agencies. Also, the College has procured additional funding from UGC under XI and XII Plans that has been utilized for expansion and renovation. College has in principle instituted Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) on 05 Oct 2015, though the matter is yet to be placed before the Governing Body of the College, and accordingly the Official IQAC Committee is to be notified. Meanwhile, Mr. P.D. Sharma, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, (also a member of the Steering Committee) is working as in-charge of the IQAC, which has started the skeletal operation from the same date, with a proper space for office and one assistant (contractual). The matter shall be taken up in the next Governing Body meeting and settled accordingly. The College is making efforts in making the campus greener in diverse ways, and contributing to environment improvement directly and through its staff and students. The Best Practices of the past few years are described at the end of the Report. The College is proud of its alumni, who have excelled in their respective fields – be it academics, bureaucracy, judiciary, business, industry, or sports. Our alumni include several distinguished personalities in these fields, and five Arjuna Awardees for excellent performance in Sports. A formally registered Alumni Association shall soon be functional in the College. SWOC Analysis of the College: Strengths: 1. A good mix of experienced and young faculty 2. Rich legacy and practice of research and innovation3. Use of ICT in improving College processes and operations 4. A dynamic Staff Council 5. Good leadership and support by the Management in providing and facilitating expansion and progression 6. Excellent and well-maintained infrastructure 7. Planned growth and expansion 8. Good teaching-learning environment supported by rich library, ICT, OERs, and well equipped labs 9. Good representation and participation of faculty in various Committees of University and UGC. 10. Cosmopolitan environment and fair representation of all sections of society Weaknesses 1. Proximity to Najafgarh drain which causes corrosion to College equipment, and causes water seepage in basement or lower floors, as well as recurrent pest infestation. 2. Proximity to All India Radio Antenna, which has potential to interfere with wired and wireless communication in the College, resulting in cost-escalation in installation and maintenance. 3. Inability to recruit permanent faculty and other staff due to matters subjudice in High Court of Delhi, which causes some anxiety to temporary and ad-hoc faculty, and affects their morale. 4. Frequent re-configuration of curricula and scheme of programmes in past few years by the authorities, which have impacted the smooth planning and administration of the College. 5. Since decisions are made centrally by the University, which often takes some time resulting in some wait or void at the College-level, or simply rework. Opportunities 1. Five new courses will start from the forthcoming session 2016-17. 2. Proposed new master-plan of the College which is going to give a new improved infrastructure and working environment to staff and better facilities and environment for students. 3. Skill-based courses under CBCS, which will provide an opportunity to faculty to utilize some of their research and expertise for the benefit of students and their prospective employers. 4. Possibility of introducing yet more add-on courses for the benefit of students. 5. Recent award of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya National Mission on Teachers and Training (PMMMNMTT) to College as a Teaching and Learning Center for digital content and ICT use in Chemistry, Economics, and Commerce. A good rapport and credibility of the institution with external agencies which can help in forging useful collaborations and mutual growth. 7. Further deployment of technology to make operations smoother and better. Challenges 1. To operate within the existing infrastructure even as the College is expanding, till new master-plan comes around. 2. To shift away the operations from the part of the College under renovation/repair and maintain continuity. 3. To avoid burn-out of faculty members who have been doing extra to run the operations under tight time-schedules, and have second line of command and operation in-place for any eventuality. 4. To keep maintenance
costs in check, as the equipment ages, and to maneuver and manage steady source of funds for new procurements and replacements. 5. To find more infrastructural and systemic mechanisms to support for research and knowledge creation, within current operating conditions
Extension lectures, group discussions, seminars and educational tours supplement the routine classroom teaching. The syllabi are utilized in the beginning of the academic session to impart effective teaching. Within the time frame the teachers chalk out their method and teaching plan. A transparent evaluation process is followed. Potential of meritorious students is tapped and motivated. The college faculty members update their knowledge/ Skills by participating in and attending seminars, workshops, conferences, refresher & orientation courses. The economically needy students are given financial aid. Free bus passes and Railway concessions are given to the students travelling from the villages by contacting transporting authorities. In the academic year 2014-15, six students of the college brought laurels to the institution as they were placed among the first seven positions in the annual results of the Punjabi university, Patiala and were awarded with roll of honour and college colour. Besides these 49 students were awarded merit certificates. In the Punjabi University, Patiala college bagged the third overall trophy in the Zonal Youth Festival by getting 3 First positions, 7 Second positions and 2 third positions. In the Inter-Zonal Youth Festival held at university Campus Punjabi University, Patiala, 38 students participated in various items and got one Gold medal and 18 silver medals. The college has excelled in the arena of sports. The teachers inculcate a sportsman spirit in the student which cut across boundaries of the sports and extends to each phase of life. The student of our college has numerous remarkable achievements to their credit. In archery, Sukhpreet kaur bagged two Gold and Three Silver medals at University level, 5 Gold medals at all India University level, 2 Gold medals and 1 Silver medal at Senior National level and 1Silver medal in National Game. She is declared the Best Player of India. Jaswinder kaur participated in National games is awarded a silver medal. Besides these 8 students participated in All India Inter University Competitions and won 7 Gold, 22 Silver and 65 Bronze medals. To give exposure to the students and to prepare them to face the challenges of life. They are trained by participating in various clubs and extracurricular activities like NCC, NSS, Legal Literacy Club, Rajindra yuva Club, Red Ribbon club etc. SWOC Analysis STRENGTH It is the oldest and the only government college in this educational backward area catering to a large number of students. Students prefer this institute because of several reasons: 1. Quality of faculty 2. Consistently good university results 3. Low Fee structure 4. Well placed alumni 5. All the benefits of government schemes relating to students (SC, ST, OBC) are directly transferred to the students in a transparent manner. 6. Admission on merit basis and in a transparent manner. 7. Being centrally located the college has easy accessibility 8. The college has been center for the various Olympiads for the last many years. 9. Co-educational college 10. A no. of college students earned name at state/ national and international level in cultural and sports activities. 11. The college has an international level Astroturf hockey stadium to produce international level players. 12. Many professional courses such as BBA, BCA, Hotel management, BSc. Biotech are being offered 13. Library containing many rare titles. 14. The college has access to INFLIBNET. 15. Many faculty members are awarded PhD/ M Phil. degrees under qualification improvement programs during last several years. 16. The college has a separate training and
placement cell which has been helping and guiding the students for career placement. 17. Four separate units of NSS for girls and boys are presently being run in the college. 18. Two NCC units. WEAKNESSES 1. Being an old college the building needs repair and renovation and demands funds. 2. As the number of students is increasing every year (at present approx. 5000 students) the college has insufficient infrastructure for such a large number of students. Poor teacher: student ration due to non-recruitment of faculty and revision of sanctioned posts. 4. Shortage of funds for development and modernization of labs, library, classrooms and building. 5. All academic decisions are taken by Punjabi university Patiala as it is a degree awarding university for the college. College cannot take the final decision regarding any changes in curriculum, syllabus and evaluation system. 6. The college principal has limited financial power for purchase and other purposes. 7. The college spends a lot of PTA fund on TA/DA of teams participating in sports and cultural activities as the refreshment rates are not revised for the last many years. The TA/DA paid to the students on old rates is insufficient to meet their needs. OPPORTUNITIES 1. The students of this area have easy access to the institute and they prefer it because of well qualified staff, well stocked library, sports facilities. At present the college has an intake of approximately 5000 students which can be increased with the upgrading and modernization of infrastructure. 2. Being a government institute, it provides education to meritorious students and the students of reserved categories at nominal fee. Thus providing an equal opportunity to the poor and socially disadvantaged section of the society. 3. The institute is already running some professional courses thus providing opportunity to students for better placement. New professional courses may be introduced to enhance the prospects of betterment of the students and thus providing them a chance to keep pace with the changing economic, social and cultural development of the country. 4. The college has about 28 acres of land and stands a lot of chances for growth. The institute can use this land for the extension of building, construction of new classrooms, labs, separate PG block etc. for the students. 5. Around 50% of students are from rural areas who commute daily and face the hassle of public transport. The provision of college buses can be of great convenience to the students. CHALLENGES Due to the technological advancement and the social, economic and cultural changes the institute faces the following challenges:- The present curriculum is very old and needs drastic changes. It is the need of the hour that this curriculum should be updated and modernized, to keep pace with the changing economic, social and cultural development of the country. If not done so it will not be in the interest of the institution. 2. In this age of competition and awareness among the parents and students to choose the best institute and career it is necessary to provide them the latest facilities, modern infrastructure at reasonable fees. With the introduction of private sector in the field of education they provide better infrastructure facilities and career opportunities because of their financial strength. Students are lured to these institutes and are charged hefty amount in the name of fees. 3. The lack of fresh recruitment of faculty forces the institute to employ guest faculty lecturers on hourly basis and their salaries are being paid from the PTA fund (Parent Teacher Fund) which can otherwise be used for development of the college and providing facilities to students.
with primary mission of catering the largely first generation learners in a backward district like Purulia. Since its inception, J.K.College enjoys the pride, justifiably of being the premier institution in the district of Purulia in the field of higher education. Simultaneously J. K. College shoulders the responsibility of efficient and active leadership in this field. Intellectual as well as academic growth of our students is our moral duty and J. K. College is well quipped to cope with the challenges
throughout its history. So our attempt is for Human Resource Development through the process of enlightenment of our students not only to face the challenges of Post-graduate studies, but also to place themselves as conscious and committed citizens of the society. Curricular Aspects:- The requirement for more job-oriented curriculum is addressed carefully and was placed in the meeting of the parent University through affiliated members in both UG and PG courses. Teaching-Learning and Evaluation:- Teaching and learning in our college is an example of well-orchestrated effort of the teaching faculty, non-teaching members and the students. Admission of student in the College is strictly on merit basis following the admissible rules and regulations as laid down by the parent University and by the Government. Traditional chalk-and-talk method is mixed up judiciously with latest developments in science and technology for effective teaching. Research Consultancy and Extension:- a number of teachers of our college are engaged in active research pursuing minor and major project under external funded agencies. NSS and NCC wings are actively involved in extension activities that help the college to reach out to the greater community. Some extension activities are in conjunction with eminent institutions like Rama Krishna Mission, Purulia and NGOs like Kalyan, Purulia. Infrastructure and Learning Resources:- Our college has a wellequipped Central Library with adequate modern facilities. Almost 48000 books on various subjects are there in the library along withjournals and on-line reading facilities through INFLIBNET. Class rooms are airy and well-lit, with non-ceramic green and white boards. The laboratories are all up to the mark. Student Support and Progression:- The college provide the hostel facilities for boys’ and girls’ hostel is being built. We have every reason to take pride in our students. We produce university toppers on a regular basis. Our students find placements not only in great institutions in India and abroad, but also hold responsible positions in several government and private sectors, in industries, financial institutions etc. Governance and Leadership:- We believe in mutual coexistence. Governance is decentralized through formation of different committees and subcommittees as far as practicable. We impart value-based education to the students and generate leadership through extension activities and community services. Innovative Practices:- J. K. College, Purulia has introduced on line admission, fully equipped e-class room, centralized generator facilities, and free internet access to the staff and students. The library is fully computerized and central server-system has been installed for unimpaired internet access. The college is known for excellence in academics, sports and overall development of students who have the privilege of studying here. It is known as one of the prominent institutions where students from all across the country vie to take admission. The reason being the very highest standard of rigor and uncompromising quality shown by the committed faculty and administration in facilitating and imparting education. As the number of students grows in leaps and bounds the college has done the utmost to keep itself abreast with the latest facilities so as to maintain the ideal of quality above quantity. College believes in imparting „value based instruction‟ which is woven into the very texture of the „value integrated education‟ that we impart to the students. Our scholarly pursuits are nurtured with the idealism of spirituality and we believe that our effort to inculcate the values of both in our students is the only way to ensure their holistic development. We sincerely strive to achieve that perfect balance in our endeavors here Criterion I: Curricular Aspects In keeping with our philosophy, vision and objectives we at Sri Venkateswara College aim to provide a holistic education to our students. We offer undergraduate courses in all the three streams of Humanities, Commerce and Basic and Applied Sciences. The
college also offers 10 Post- Graduate Degree programs. We give our students‟ academic flexibility and inculcate the spirit of research and enquiry by actively encouraging them to engage in research based activities. Innovative thinking and intra-disciplinary approach is a hallmark of our college. We take concrete steps to reflect these in our blueprint for the curriculum and are also vigilant about its actual implementation. Any such pedagogical initiative is duly support by infrastructural and academic assistance. Our faculty members have also contributed to the curriculum planning and reassessment programs at the University level and at home through a transparent feedback system we ensure that both course content and the teaching-learning methods adopted are continuously evaluated. We take concrete steps to make up for any lacuna in the syllabus and have successfully introduced add-on courses, including a standalone course on Bioinformatics in the college. Our constant interaction with the industry through the Placement Cell and the advice that we get from our illustrious alumni also help us in molding our course content in such a manner that we also ensure that the rigor of research in academic is translated into better employment opportunities for our students and thereby also contributing to the larger cause of the society at large. We also understand that classroom teaching has to be supplemented with other learning aids like seminars, conferences, study tour, field-study, industrial trips etc. which add to the students‟ understanding of the discipline. These also make them aware of the recent developments in these areas of study and also expose them to the corresponding industrial practices. We also appreciate the need for extracurricular activities and our active student societies, who have won several awards across the nation, stand to testify our efforts. Sri Venkateswara College thus promotes a harmonious idea of education, one that touches upon all the facet of an individual‟s life and thereby also that of the society. Criterion II: Teaching, Learning and Evaluation As stated above that Sri Venkateswara College being one of the premier constituent colleges under the aegis of the University of Delhi, attracts the best minds in the country who enroll themselves for an undergraduate programme. The screening and selection of the candidates are accomplished under the directives of the parent University. However being the choice of such meritorious students puts more responsibilities on the college not only in terms of coming up to their expectations but also ensuring that the bright minds are constantly ignited with the zeal for knowledge and are nurtured to become worthy citizens of the global village. We have a dedicated faculty here who supplement traditional teaching-learning modules with the latest development in pedagogical practices. This is a sincere team of enthusiastic scholars and researches who are famous in their own areas of specialization in the intellectual circles. Many of them have been recipients of various national andinternational awards, scholarships and fellowships and have also to their credit several acclaimed publications, research analysis and significant patents. Our faculty members are also encouraged by the college to keep themselves abreast of recent trends by participating in seminars and conferences and also by taking part in the periodically organized refresher and orientation courses. Assessment of the students happens at an everyday level at Sri Venkateswara College. The teachers promote the idea of participatory learning and encourage group discussions, peer study and paper presentations at the classroom level. Internal Assessment is taken very seriously in the college and is used as an opportunity to enable the students to test their own understanding of the discipline. Slow learners and students with special needs are provided with extra care through tutorials, remedial classes and interactions with the concerned teachers outside the classroom. The assessment system at the college is symbolic of its transparent functioning as the records are brought to the student domain through the college website. The students‟ feedbacks are also taken very seriously and any of the challenges that they meet are addressed at the earliest. Criterion III: Research, Consultancy and Extension Sri
Venkateswara College is proud of the culture of research and innovation that it has fostered and the worthy reputation that it has garnered in the academic world. Our dedicated faculty- members are themselves ignited with this zeal for an innovative take on traditional disciplines and has also made path-breaking contributions in new areas of study. Many of them also have Ph.D. candidates under their tutelage. They mentor our students towards the same goal who are then inspired to carve out their own quests for knowledge. The college fosters a conducive atmosphere for such pursuits by disseminating information about various national and international scholarships, fellowships and grants, granting leave for pursuing research and permissions to attend seminars and conferences. The college extends further support by providing infrastructural support, scientific equipment, latest software and other e-resources towards this end. The 29 prestigious Innovative Projects awarded to Sri Venkateswara College goes to prove how dedicated we have been in our pursuit for excellence in this area. Further, the academic structure of the college which includes all the three streams also enable us to tap the inter-disciplinary potential of new fields of research and take our standards to the global level. Consultancy is another strong forte of the college as we are into significant strategic partnership with various academic and research bodies of repute and have strong ties with the industry as well. Our faculty members have been part of steering committees for various institutions, course modules and are also regularly invited to institutions both at national and international levels. The record of the college vis-à-vis placement at various reputed organizations regularly through a span of years further attests the employability of our students and the good reputation that they enjoy at the market. Their competence and expertise has certainly been cultivated at the college. Sri Venkateswara College believes in serving the need of the community around its precincts and has a well-defined community outreach program towards this ideal. At the micro-level our students actively volunteer to teach the underprivileged children in the neighboring slum and we have also adopted a government school in Haryana. However we also have contributed on a broader level by aligning with the Times of India‟s initiative of Each One Teach One and the national ideal of the Swaachh Bharat Abhiyan. Criterion IV: Infrastructure and Learning Resources Infrastructure is a pre-requisite when it comes to the implementation of any plan, and certainly for academic pursuits. Sri Venkateswara College is located in the centre of the South Campus colleges and is in the close vicinity of the University of Delhi, South Campus. It has a sprawling campus of 15 acres and a well-planned campus with a separate block each for Administration, Humanities and the Sciences. The Library is housed in a separate wing and there are two addition blocks for the fully airconditioned Seminar hall and the state-of-art auditorium. There are also two hostels for the students, one for the boys and the girls each and residential quarters for the employees. It also has a Zoology and Botany museum, a Botanical Garden and a Medical Room. The college nestles in the midst of a sprawling garden. Sri Venkateswara College has a Wi-fi enabled campus with wellequipped science and computer laboratories, classrooms with the latest technologies. Further the foundation stone for the upcoming Science Block has also been duly laid in the last academic year. The Library has an OPAC facility and facilitates access to various books, journals and publications of repute other than other e-resources. The College also has cricket, football and hockey fields, a volley ball ground and a Basket Ball Court and a Lawn Tennis Court. It also has facilities for indoor games like table tennis, chess and carom. The college has a well-maintained cafeteria also which has R.O. water purifiers and fire extinguishers at strategic places throughout the campus. Sri Venkateswara College thus has always tried to build a campus which will supplement and provide a conducive atmosphere to its academic ideals. Regular maintenance and upgradation plans for the same are regularly monitored and assessed by the college authorities and periodical suggestions are also
sought from the stakeholders. Criterion V: Student Support and Progression Students are most important constituent of any academic institution and all measures must be taken keeping their best interest in mind. Sri Venkateswara College acknowledges their success by awarding the students various awards and scholarships in the Annual Day function. Those from the socio-economically weak sections of the society are also encouraged with financial assistance through fee concessionand ensures that the infrastructural designs meet with their requirement. For slow learners, through tutorials, remedial classes and interaction with teachers the pursuit of academics is made as easily accessible to them as is possible. Further we also have a professional Counsellor in the college and the students can avail of this guidance whenever needed. The students are regularly taken to other institutes of repute and the various educational and industrial tours also give a handson approach to their discipline of study and the corresponding industrial practices. We have an active Placement Cell which bridges the gap between the students and the suitable employment opportunities awaiting them. Further there are the Grievance Redressal Cell, Internal Complaints Committee (against Sexual Harassment) and the Anti-ragging Committee which directly take up issues concerning the students and look for a speedy resolution of the same. Sri Venkateswara College also has an active Sports club comprising of athletes from various sports. Many of them have brought laurels not only for the college at the national level but also for the country by winning trophies in various inter-national events. We also have a number of Societies/Associations which have represented the college in events and competitions across the country. The college takes measures to listen to the students opinion through the Students‟ Union and gives due importance to their feedback to every aspect of the functioning of the college. The close ties of the college with its alumni also highlight the strong bond that the college shares with its students. Criterion VI: Governance, Leadership and Management The functioning of Sri Venkateswara College is in complete consonance with the spirit of democracy that it strives to foster among the stakeholders that it is accountable to. The college is run within the paradigm of an egalitarian set-up which is participatory in nature and is de-centralised in its approach. The governing machinery of the college is constituted under the guidelines of the University of Delhi. The Principal is at the helm of this structure and the Staff Council and the various specialised Committees, Cells and functionaries are responsible for decision-making and subsequent execution of those policies. In an academic level, the structure moves from the apex functionary to the various teachers-in-charge and the other faculty members. This participatory nature of the governing system motivates all to be a party to the decisions taken and is a testimony to the encouraging atmosphere fostered in the college. Further feedbacks, both at the formal and informal levels, are also welcomed and taken into consideration. All the finances and accounts of the college are maintained and audited in accordance with the UGC regulations and those of the University of Delhi.s and scholarships. For the differently-abled students the college has an Equal Opportunity CellCriterion VII: Innovations and Best Practices Sri Venkateswara College is committed to serve the cause of conservation. The Eco Club in the college strives towards this by putting up posters across the campus to raise awareness for environmental issues. Energy conservation and use of renewable energy is our main idea for the protection of environment, as Sri Venkateswara College believes in the optimum use of energy. Sri Venkateswara family is nature loving family therefore tree plantation and protection is our aim. Since the college borders the Aravali – semi arid eco belt we have avoided the plantation of water intensive varieties in the campus and encourage growing Xerophytic plants that are better suited to the Aravali Ecosystem. To make the campus smart, clean and green, issues related to it are taken very seriously. Special measures are being adopted for waste management. ENACTUS Society deals with the
transformation of waste into manure useable for public institutions. We also have Botanical garden and we do not use any chemical fertilisers in our campus. The Women‟s Development Cell (WDC) has organised a number of events in an attempt to sensitize those in the campus about issues pertaining to women‟s rights. The Equal Opportunity Cell has also taken up a number of measures to ensure that everyone in the campus is sensitive to the needs of the differently-abled faculty and students. Sri Venkateswara College is innovative in practice and with full of energy and enthusiasm. Interdisciplinary approach in subject choices, participative education, teaching beyond classroom, special emphasis to physically challenged and socially deprived students are taken very seriously. There are a number of best practices, out of them two are written elaborately in this self-study report. As the vision and mission of our college is based on Vedic wisdom with traditional cultural values, therefore the family of Sri Venkateswara move towards into that direction only. They adopt modernity in life without hampering our forefathers‟ tested wisdom. The Vedas believe the whole cosmos is a single nest but by adopting the positive ways in life man can be blissful. Sri Venkateswara College imparts this education directly or indirectly through classroom teaching, group discussion, fine arts and through literary and scientific activities, which gets a tremendous success also. The college sets those parameters in cultural functions, through which youth can connect easily and can make difference in modern education with age long traditional values. WOC ANALYSIS We, at Sri Venkateswara College believe that we are on the academic map to make well rounded citizens of students and faculty members. SVC is built upon the ideals that any educational system cannot thrive on the basis of a one dimensional flow of knowledge from teacher to student alone. In this context, therefore the college follows a participatory and inclusive model of education which ensures multi-dimensional knowledge flows from students and faculty members alike. We do not believe in imparting education that is only information based but rather we believe in a kind of educational system whose objective is to inculcate a system of learning that is holistic and value based. The vision statement along with the motto of this college prioritizes honesty, truthfulness, sincerity, compassion for both human beings and other members of the natural environment over individualistic ideals of an increasingly commercialized world. Small wonder therefore, SVC is not only known for its outstanding students and faculty in terms of academic achievements but is also well known for its commitment towards collective social values. Strengths The college is situated in Dhaula Kuan adjacent to the South Campus of the University of Delhi. With the metro service under construction, it is considered to be well connected and easily accessible to students from different parts of New Delhi. The small college temple dedicated to lord Sri Venkateswara from whom the college derives its name is of symbolic significance to the college. The college does not promote any specific religious faith but by installing the deity within the college premises it promotes a set of values as enshrined in its vision statementvalues such as humility, love for all, compassion and fearlessness as shown by the lord in Hindu mythology. SVC boasts of a green campus that is environment sensitive. From time to time it has undertaken several green projects like assessing carbon-footprints, vermicomposting, rain water harvesting etc. The campus has an excellent auditorium and hostel facilities for both men and women candidates. Most hostel mates comment that life spent at the SVC hostels is a fun-filled learning experience that prepares them for the bigger events of life. Just near the auditorium is the well maintained college lawn. Students scattered in groups all over the lawn engaged in incessant discussions about college projects, activities and the like make a pleasant sight. The college lobby has an aesthetic appeal with the unique art form of Cheryl Paintings adorning the lobby walls. In doing so the college is trying to
revive an age-old art form that is on the verge of extinctionSVC owes the distinction of being a cosmopolitan college that comprises of students and faculty from different regions of the country. One of its primary ideals has been the recognition of the significance of diversity in all its endeavors academic and non-academic. The college is a coeducational college and is gender sensitive. Like most of its ideals, it believes in an integrated and not a segregated approach to education. It promotes a yin-yang philosophy that believes in the complementarity among opposite sexes. SVC is multi-disciplinary in its orientation. It encourages the coexistence of the sciences, the humanities, the liberal arts and commerce. Each of these streams is flourishing and attracts a large number of students from all over the country. Academic environment at SVC is a lively and vibrant one. It doesn‟t confine itself to traditional methods of teaching where teaching used to be a monologue between the teacher and the student. On the contrary the college is constantly innovating with new teaching strategies like class room discussions, demonstrations, live plays etc. SVC represents a total way of life. Its music, dance and debating societies have achieved widespread acclaim in New Delhi and its adjoining areas. In fact its cultural festival NEXUS stands out as an event par excellence. In keeping with its multi-disciplinary approach, the college encourages talks and seminars that are interdisciplinary in nature. We have had a series of talks that attempt cross- disciplinary comparisons so that faculty and the students have a broader perception of issues of significance. The college believes in transcending the hierarchical boundaries between teacher and student. It by means of several programs facilitates smooth interaction among the two. Often departmental meetings are conducted where student representatives are asked to participate and voice their opinions. Sri Venkateswara College, adheres to the norms of the University of Delhi in conducting timely internal evaluations and assessments. In addition to it, student feedbacks are also taken. In assessing its own performance, SVC takes care to meet the triangulation of perspectives by involving all affected groups. It also has several monitoring agencies like the ASC that evaluate the overall academic performance of the college. The college to the best of its ability fosters a democratic ambience where every mind has the liberty to voice their own opinion fearlessly. Sri Venkateswara College believes that young minds first need to get out of the syndrome of fear in order to be able to contribute to the society in general. SVC has a well reputed placement cell that provides students with ample opportunities to try out job options that they are best at. The college also excels in sports. Several of its students have received national as well as international laurels for their performances. In addition to it, the college field is utilized to impart cricket coaching to youngsters and often reputed cricketers are pooled in to impart training. The faculty of this college is deemed to be among the best just as the students are considered to be among the best. Both faculty and students along with the cherished ideals of this college are supposed to be the greatest strengths of SVC. Weaknesses With an increase in the intake of students on account of OBC, unfortunately infrastructural facilities have not been able to keep pace. This is on account of procedural delays in obtaining permissions from several local authorities makes it an all the more tedious affair to go ahead with infrastructural development. This also includes the urgent need for increased hostel facilities for the students. Recruitment of more number of permanent teachers is a universal problem that most colleges are grappling with and Sri Venkateswara College is no exception. The college acknowledges that the recruitment process has slowed down over the years for a wide variety of reasons and that has had a telling effect on the college environment. College has a sizeable proportion of students who need different kinds of academic help very different from the majority. This comprises of students who follow a different medium other than English and also a category that are slow learners. The college is yet to devise a proper method by means of which these
students can be brought at par with the mainstream. The movement of our esteemed faculty to the parent/other universities with the training that they have acquired here at Sri Venkateswara College is another crisis that the college often has to face. The lacuna created is irreparable and it takes a long while to make up for such a loss. Opportunities SVC has a vibrant alumni association that needs to be tapped. Interaction with the alumni should be enhanced in order to ensure both financial as well as social support. Social networks should also be established with industry as well as governmental agencies to facilitate better integration among all sectors. Students as well as faculty will then stand to benefit from such associations. Tie-ups with other institutions would provide the college with ample opportunities to explore hitherto unexplored avenues. Nongovernmental organizations should also be roped in as they would provide an excellent practical standpoint vis-àvis the theoretical one as promoted by the university systems. Consultancy services and other such facilities should be used to generate more funds for the college which could then be used for the furtherance of the developmental activities of the college. Building up of social support networks is another opportunity that the college would like to explore. In this context, the college could have a group of students and faculty members who could visit the not-so-privileged groups and offer their help. They could also have a group who could go and teach school children and do other such work with a professional touch. The college has more than 600 Commerce students, 700 students from Mathematics, Economics and Statistics. An MoU with National Stock Exchange (NSE) to offer various modules to students to qualify Certificates in Financial Markets, will go a long way in improving the employability of these students in the areas of Banking, Insurance, Stock Markets etc. The college could also look at the possibility of having a full-fledged vocational training center that could impart vocational training like carpentry, masonry, computer skills, mobile repairing, sewing, cooking, fashion designing and the like to interested students. Challenges The most glaring challenge that the college faces is how to strike an effective balance between teaching and research. While the college recognizes that undergraduate course curriculum is a teaching intensive one, the model of education now being followed wants an equally vigorous research environment. Integrating teaching and research is a herculean task which the college is confronting today. To develop infrastructural facilities is a challenge that the college is trying to accommodate to the best of its ability – given the fact that negotiating with bureaucratic hurdles in this regard is no mean task. To sensitize other students to issues confronting the North-Eastern students and to integrate them into the mainstream so that they do not lead an isolated existence is another challenge that the college encounters today. Given the changing social milieu, maintaining a harmonious balance between academic values and collective social values is a daunting affair that the college is trying to instill among both its faculty as well as the student community. There is hence the need to emphasize more on outreach programs which will integrate us with the community at large and make us contribute to it directly. We also need to have skill development courses which will hone the professional potential of our students and improve their prospects with regard to their employability. This will also help us to keep pace with the changing needs and demands of the various industries in the market sector. The global awareness towards conservation is another aspect to which all of us need to take concrete steps. Paper recycling, vermin-composting, installation of solar panels are some of the measures that the college has taken but considering the severity of the crisis one has to devise more ways to battle this challenge. The ideal of the college is to transform itself into a „Smart College‟ which is digital in its functioning. It provides for an educational environment which has an ICT enabled infrastructure but still more needs to be done
through indigenous means to work towards these complimenting goals of „Digital India‟ with „Make in India‟. Criterion I : Curricular Aspects Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College is a premier College affiliated to Mangalore University. Hence the curriculum design, development and its review come under purview of the University. As far as the curriculum, number and combination of subjects, teaching hours, in-take in each course etc are concerned the guidelines of Mangalore University, to which this College is affiliated, are followed. However our teachers who are the Members of the Board of Studies of the University and Subject Associations are involved in the framing of the syllabus. Our College offers 5 programmes at the U.G. level and one P.G. course in M.Sc. Computer Science. In order to equip the students with additional skills suitable for employment, the institution is one of the pioneers in offering U.G.C. sponsored career oriented programmes. There are 10 U.G.C Career Oriented Courses. Our staff members in the department of Botany, Zoology, History, English and Computer Science have designed the syllabus for these courses. In addition to these U.G.C. career oriented programmes, the Department of Computer Science offers certificate courses like JAVA, VB Net, Web designing and Tally. The institution has made constant efforts to integrate the goals and objectives of the institution into the curriculum by conducting various seminars and workshops and by inviting eminent resource persons and experts to enlighten the staff and students in their respective subjects. The departments have been provided with internet facility. The departmental libraries cater to the specific needs of the departments. The class rooms have LCD facility to enable ICT teaching. Our teachers integrate tools of ICT in their lectures. In order to make the curriculum student-centric, students are asked to hold seminars, participate in group discussions and undertake projects, industrial visit etc. Remedial classes for slow learners and coaching classes for entry into services are conducted. Students are sensitized on pertinent issues like gender equity, human rights, climate change and environmental protection through various clubs and associations in the College. Gandhian Study Centre established with the help of U.G.C., conducts several programmes to disseminate Gandhian thought and inculcate values among the students. Community service is done through N.C.C., N.S.S. Kasturba Rangers Unit and Youth Red Cross. The institution has a formal mechanism to obtain feedback from the students and stake holders on the curriculum and it is communicated to the University. The I.Q.A.C. plays a significant role by offering valuable suggestions in the implementation of thecurriculum. It is our privilege to say that ours is the only institution under the Mangalore University to offer ten U.G.C. sponsored career oriented programmes. Our College has been offering German language as a Value Added course to enhance the employability of the students. To cap it all, the College has established Social Entrepreneurship Cell to make the learning humane. Criterion II : Teaching, Learning and Evaluation The teaching, learning and evaluation strategies in the College are formulated in pursuance of the goals and objectives of the institution as defined in the Vision and Mission statements. An honest multipronged attempt is made to fulfill the objectives to the best extent possible and the positive results are seen in the steady improvement in the facilities provided to improve teaching and learning and evaluation procedures, in the steadily maintained high level results in the University examinations, in the increasing number of students selected for employment in campus interviews, and in the general tone and atmosphere in the campus. The admission policy conforms to the state policy of ensuring social justice by following the reservation provisions of the Government which results in student intake from all cross sections of the society. Far from being elitist, the College accommodates a large number of students from different groups like SC, ST, OBC, economically weaker sections women
etc. The high proportion of women students (about 2/3) indicates a social transformation in which women’s empowerment through education constitutes an important element. The College has been a leader of the movement to fight for the right of women to education. Keeping in mind that a healthy relationship between parents, teachers and students will promote all aspects of the educational process, parents are requested to accompany their wards during admission to the courses, when teachers and the Principal would jointly conduct the interviews and get a fair knowledge of the social and familial background of the students. This generally helps the Principal and the staff to monitor the academic and general progress of the students. The contact with the parents is maintained by bringing them together at the meetings of the Parent-Teacher Association, by sending them the reports of students’ performance in periodical tests and requiring their presence at the re-admission process at the beginning of the next higher class in which the student profiles are reviewed. This has led to a general improvement; better admission process, better intake, better results and improved scholastic environment. required academic qualification and experience. Teachers are encouraged to attend Refresher Courses, Seminars and Conferences, ensuring however, that the regular academic programmes of the College are not seriously affected. Teacher orientation programmes, wherever required, are held in the campus with the participation of experts in the field. The national seminars frequently held serve as teacher orientation programmes, in addition to exposing students to new vistas of knowledge. Teaching: improved methods As far as possible, the traditional lecture method of teaching is supplemented by ICT enabled methods of teaching, GD, seminars, field work where better involvement of students in the learning process is ensured. In addition to the regular courses run by the College under the auspices of the University, the College runs a few special UGC sponsored Add-On courses in order to empower students to equip themselves with skill based knowledge. Good teaching involves not merely passing on information but instilling the ability to think independently, to act creatively, teaching students how to learn so that they remain learners for the rest of their life. For this purpose students are involved in a number of co-curricular activities. interclass, inter collegiate competitions are frequently held of various types: debates, singing, elocution etc. Students are made to become members of different clubs. By participating in them the students are expected to inculcate organizational abilities, leadership qualities, communication abilities etc. Students of each department are encouraged to bring out a bulletin so that their thinking and writing abilities are improved. Teaching: Improved methods learning beyond four walls With a view to improving the overall personality of the student and in moulding him into a useful, active, responsible member of the society a number of extra-curricular activities are organized in the College: ● NCC, NSS, Rangers etc where members acquire a national and patriotic spirit ● Blood Donation camps to inculcate a spirit of humanitarian help. Opportunities for personality Development Teachers provide many platforms for the students to exhibit their talentsthrough: ● Talents Day ● Inter Class competitions ● Club Activities ● College Day and Students Council Day ● Founders Day ● Literary Festival ● Music Festival ● Hostel Day (for residents in the hostel) Learning Process: Better teaching methods ensure better learning process. The teaching strategies are mainly student-centered, aiming at making the teaching more meaningful and more interesting. The College has an excellent library providing immense scope to students to widen their knowledge. While class room teaching mainly involves initiative taken by the teacher, to facilitate the learning process, library reference, internet browsing, project works etc involve direct personal initiative taken by the students and hence it is a way of promoting the process of self-education. Making the student a personal learner would be the best goal for any teacher organizing a course. Evaluation: Student’s knowledge and skills are assessed
through periodical tests, assignments, seminars and examinations. The tests are scrutinized carefully and papers are returned to students to help them to realize their deficiencies. The progress and attendance status are monitored and wherever lacunae are observed, remedial measures are taken up to help them to improve the situation. Guidance is given to students in departments during leisure hours. Close student teacher relationship is ensured. Special classes are held to ensure improvement in learning. The progress of the students is recorded in the Cumulative Record and parents are duly informed of the progress and parents are also involved in the process of evaluation.The office also maintains a proper record of each student’s progress. Participation in extra-curricular activities like NSS, Sports etc. earns additional credit as per the new Credit Based Semester System. Teachers are given the responsibility of monitoring the progress of students incurricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. Every attempt is made to improve the general quality of learning through well-planned strategies of teaching and evaluation. College provides a supportive, vibrant and challenging learning environment. Criterion III : Research, Extension and Collaboration Keeping in mind the importance of research in enhancing the quality of education, the College promotes a research culture among its staff and students by encouraging the faculty members to undertake research projects that are useful to the society. The institution has excellent infrastructure and extends good facilities and autonomy to the staff members who pursue research. The research projects are monitored by a research committee that not only oversees but also provides the necessary guidance for timely completion of the research guiding the research scholars for better utilisation of the resources. The Research Committee acts as a facilitator for the faculty interested in research by providing information regarding various funding agencies in different research areas. In the last five years 20 Minor Research Projects and 1 Major Research Project were sanctioned by the UGC and the institution has organised 12 UGC sponsored National/State Level Seminars. Apart from these, various departments have conducted several workshops with financial support from the Management. 21 students’ projects were also undertaken. The College encourages interdisciplinary research and inter-departmental interactions in research and seminars by promoting academic resource sharing. The College has a Gandhian Study Centre that has been approved by the UGC to undertake research studies and extension activities on Gandhian Thought and Action. The Centre has been undertaking one interdisciplinary research project every year on various themes of contemporary relevance. In addition, the College has a Science Research Centre with a thin film preparation unit and tissue culture unit with laminar flow that are available within the campus for the use of the students and researchers. The research facilities are supplemented with a well stacked library and internet facility with access to eresources. Many of our staff members have presented their research papers in various national and international seminars. Some papers have been published in peer reviewed journals adding to the enrichment of the subject of study. A few of them are recognised research guides of some Universities. In the last five years the College, through its research activities has contributed in its own way to the progressive dissemination of knowledge and the systematic development of a competent knowledge society. The extension activities of the College aim to address the community issues by sensitising the youth and the public about such issues through education and awareness programmes. The priority areas of our institutional social responsibility initiatives and out-reach activities include mass awareness and education campaigns about National Integration, Communal Harmony, Cleanliness, Health and Hygiene, Blood donation, Drug trafficking - addiction, Women’s safety and on many other burning issues. The NSS, NCC (both Naval and Army units), Youth Red Cross, Rangers, the GandhianStudy Centre and various other clubs are actively involved in the
extension and outreach activities in and around Udupi. The eight day De-addiction camp / Madhyavarjana Shibira organised in our College campus under the auspices of the Gandhian Study Centre has set a unique example and sent a strong message to the society. The annual Blood donation camps organised by the NSS, Social work / development work by the NSS and NCC, the Swachh Bharath Abhiyan and the extension and the outreach activities carried out by the Science faculty and students in the nearby areas to create scientific temper form a part of our concern towards the society. The institution emphasises on the active participation of the students and staff in the community services by inculcating value driven commitment towards the society. Criterion IV : Infrastructure and Learning resources The College is situated on a sprawling lush green campus of 46 acres. The College provides excellent infrastructure and other learning facilities to the students in terms of well furnished class rooms, well equipped laboratories, individual departments, departmental library, staff quarters etc. The policy of the College Management is to provide the best of the infrastructure to suit the needs of the students from time to time. The needs of the students are assessed by using various methods and one of the prominent tools used is feedback from the existing and outgoing students. The College has a spacious full-fledged library ‘Grantha Loka’. It is well stocked with rare and new books, journals, back volumes, magazines. OPAC, Delnet and Inflibnet facilities are provided in the library. It has a language lab, Gandhi Adhyayana Kendra, Internet Centre & reprographic facilities. There are separate reading rooms for boys and girls. Library resources enhance teaching-learning process. The policy of the College Management is to enhance the infrastructure keeping pace with the demand. The most perceptible improvement in the course of the five years is in respect of adding, extending and improving the infrastructure facilities in the College. A three storied spacious building ‘Vajrasoudha’ was constructed in the year 2012 to house the state of the art Computer science department which runs both Under graduate and Post graduate courses in Computer Science and Computer Applications. It has a space of 48,000 Sq. Ft. constructed at a cost of nearly Rs. 3 Crore with the Management grant. It has 235 desktop computers, 2 servers, 13 Lap Tops, 25 printers and two scanners. Computers in the labs are in Local Area Network. Internet is accessible through this LAN. Proper security is also provided in the LAN. Computer Science department has Wireless connectivity and internet is accessible through this network. The department also has 8 Apple Macintosh machines, one iPad for advanced learning. The department has a power back up UPS and a 160 kVA generator. Department offers many UGC sponsored and department initiated courses on various IT subjects. Department has started an Industry Interface lab in which start up IT companies work with our studentsto develop software and implement new ideas. All the departments are provided with lap tops and LCD projectors to promote ICT enabled teaching. The College has a well-equipped Department of Physical Education. There is a well laid out playground with 400 m track, foot ball, Basket Ball, Volley Ball court and Cricket Pitch for organizing various games and sports. A remarkable addition to the infrastructure has been the construction of a full-fledged Indoor Sports Complex with partial grants from UGC, constructed at a cost of nearly Rs. 2 crores (U.G.C. grant Rs. 40 lakh). The Complex consists of 3 badminton courts (two with wooden flooring and one with cement flooring), which can also be used as Volley Ball Courts, 2 gyms (one for girls and one for boys) 3 table Tennis and Chess Boards. For the benefit of students, Physical Education Department has initiated stress-relieving programmes such as ‘Yoga & Pranayama’. The Physical Education Department strives to provide training to potential athletes by arranging and monitoring their day-to-day training schedule. It also primarily focuses on the overall physical well being of all students by participation in sports and games thereby achieving a life style which eventually enables them to be good citizens. ‘Annapoorna’ houses the College
Canteen. The Canteen provides wholesome food at subsidized rate. The Mid-day Meals Scheme provides free lunch to economically disadvantaged and deserving students. The most recent development is the extension of the College Canteen, with the construction of an extra dining hall for the exclusive use of girl students. This has considerably reduced the difficulty of serving Mid-day meals to students during rush hours. The College has common facilities like safe drinking water, vehicle parking space, adequate number of clean toilets etc. The College is under CC Camera Surveillance. The Open Air Theatre ‘Muddana Mantapa’, Auditorium ‘Nutana Ravindra Mantapa’ with light & sound system, ‘Gitanjali’ mini auditorium and an Audio visual hall provide space for various co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. Students Co-operative Society supplies stationery and other articles to the students at competitive rate. A portion of the profit is set aside for the award of scholarships to deserving students. ‘Vadiraja Vidyarthini Nilaya’ is a Ladies’ Hostel which caters to the need of girls coming from far off places. Another major improvement has been in the venue of the Ladies’ Hostel i.e. the construction of an additional wing ‘Tameri’. The hostel can now accommodate 250 students. Day scholars among the girls have a spacious resting room ‘Parvathi Nilaya’. Boys have a resting room near Indoor Complex. Botanical garden ‘Botanica’ is the greencentre of MGM College. It contains indigenous and exotic varieties of trees shrubs and herbs of medicinal and ornamental value. The College ensures optimal allocation and utilization of the available financial resources for the maintenance and upkeep of the infra structure and learning resources. Criterion V : Student Support and Progression Apart from displaying the College Vision and Mission the College prominently at the entrance, the Administration highlights them in the College calendar. The College prospectus/calendar provides information regarding the history of the College, tentative calendar of events, courses offered, admission rules, examination rules, code of conduct, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, scholarships, support facilities like library, canteen and hostel, amenities for sports and games, instruction to parents and guardians and other useful details. Adequate Student welfare schemes like Scholarships and Freeships are provided to students from SC/ST, OBC and economically weaker sections. Through Personality development programmes, remedial coaching classes, career counselling, soft skills development, free mid-day meals facility, English speaking classes etc students from disadvantaged sections of the society and the differently abled are given equal opportunities. Students belonging to economically weaker sections are given financial help by way of fee concession and free mid-day meal facility sponsored by teachers, Management, PTA, Alumni Association etc. Slow learners are helped through coaching classes both in theory and practicals. Academic counselling is given whenever necessary. There are 22 extra and co-curricular activity clubs functioning in the College for the all round development of the students. They aim at promoting creativity of students. Talents Day is organised to showcase the talent of the students. Cultural programmes are organised by the students during the various programmes such as SWC Inauguration, Valedictory, College-Day, Founder’s Day, National Festivals etc. Students are encouraged to participate in Intra class, Inter class, inter collegiate level competitions. Students are motivated to contribute articles to the wall magazines and bulletins of each department and to the College magazine “Sanmathi”which enables budding writers to explore their creativity. Sanmathi has been getting awards for the “Best College Magazine” at the University level for the past 4 years. psycho-social counselling is done by arranging talks on drug abuse, deaddictionetc. Academic & personal counselling is done by each staff who has been allotted about 25 students for mentorship.The Student Welfare Officer works as a liaison officer between students and the Principal. Student Redressal Committee, Discipliline Committee, Student Welfare Council, HRD Cell organize and coordinate student support and welfare activities. Welfare schemes are made
available to students by the institution.The Students’ Co-operative stores provides stationery and Xerox facility at reasonable rates. Food is provided at subsidized rates in the canteen. Lady students from out station have Hostel facility. Day scholars among ladies have a separate spacious rest room ‘Parvathi Nilaya’ where students can also have food brought from home. Anti ragging and sexual harassment redressal cells constantly moniter gender issues and no cases have been reported so far. Facilities for indoor and out door Sports are provided.The College has a vast play ground and Indoor Sports complex with a gym. Medical assistance is provided to the students. Health and Hygiene awareness programs and Yoga classes are conducted. Language labs and English speaking courses are arranged for developing the communicative skills among the students.Add-on courses, Soft-skills training and programmes on Career Guidance enhance employability and entrepreneurship.Career Guidance Cell and Placement cell are functioning in the College campus to enhance career opportunity and skills of the students. Students are given free training to face the aptitude tests and online exams to prepare them for the competitive exams for their higher studies and placement drives. The College hosts pooled campus Placement drives. The College has an excellent placement record and every year on an average more than 120 students are placed in Multinational Companies / Banking Sectors. The Alumni Association of the College promotes interaction with alumni, conducts reunions, updates and expands the alumni database, facilitates contributions from alumni in developmental work and placement. Alumni Association provides valuable suggestions and support regarding developmental activities of the College. Every year the Alumni association gives cash prizes to needy and meritorious students contributes significantly to the Mid-day Meals Scheme, helps the deserving meritorious students by instituting Endowment prizes..“Session with Alumni” is a programme in which distinguished alumni interact with the present students and teachers. Every year the College gives nearly 135 endowment prizes and scholarships. M.G.M. College trust and Dr.T.M.A.Pai Foundation Manipal are jointly awarding scholarships to meritorious students of the College.Financial assistance to the tune of 45 lakhs has been extended to the students by the Management in the last 5 years. A large section of students enjoy scholarships and fee concession. Along with achieving academic excellence students have bagged a large number of prizes in extra and co-curricular activities. Every year NCC and Navy students get selected and participate in Republic day parades, Nav Sainik camps etc. Along with achieving academic excellence, students have bagged a large number of prizes in extra and co-curricular activities. The results at the University level exams every year are consistently high in each subject.This shows the consistency of the high standard maintained by the College. Criterion VI : Governance, Leadership and Management Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College is managed by the MGM College Trust which is a registered body. Presently, Sri Mohandas Pai is heading the College Trust and The Governing Council as the President. The Governing council plays an important role in the governance and Management of the institution and ensures transparency in functioning of the College. The Principal of the College as the Secretary of both the College Trust and Governing council, implements developmental activities of the College in concurrence with the Trust and Governing Council. The major decisions implemented are – extension/construction of new ladies hostel block, introduction of Masters programme in Computer Science, construction of new Computer block, renovation of laboratories, construction of Sports complex, salary hike for Management staff, extension of College canteen. The Management also provides seed money for research work by the Management staff. The College has a Staff Council consisting of the Principal and all the Heads of Departments. The Staff Council along with the Internal Quality Assurance Cell, meets regularly to discuss the steps to be taken for the effective functioning of the College. The Student Welfare Officer works as the liaison officer between
students and the Principal. There are a number of clubs/cells meant for co-curricular and extracurricular activities of the students. The success of any institution depends upon effective governance and leadership. The leadership and governance of the College are based on democratic and participatory principles with a transparent approach. The Principal takes suggestions and recommendations made by the colleagues in forums like College Council, Students’Council, members of the staff, Hostel Committee, Discipline Committee, Antiragging Committee etc.The Principal in consultation with the Student Welfare Officer and Conveners of different clubs, organizes a number of programmes which help in the development of leadership qualities and allround personality of the students. Every year the Management organizes an Academy Colleges’ Convention in respective Colleges by turns in which the teachers interact with the members of the Management as well as faculty members from other Colleges under the Academy ofGeneral Education, Manipal. It is a forum for raising our genuine concerns and most of the concerns are addressed. At the end of every academic year, the Principal furnishes an appraisal report of individual teachers. Teacher’s appraisal forms are also given to every student to be duly filled in and returned during class hours itself. On the basis of the feedback received the Principal takes necessary action to improve the quality of staff members. The Management appoints staff members as per Government norms, fixes attractive salary on competitive terms. Transparency is maintained in making salary payments by crediting salary to bank accounts of the employees. The College has obtained various development grants from UGC. The Management also provides additional funds. The Income and Expenditure account of the College is verified every year by the Chartered Accountant appointed by the Academy of General Education, Manipal. Criterion VII : Innovations and Best Practices Environment Consciousness: Efforts have been made to create environment consciousness in the campus. The College has a vast campus with many open spaces, huge age old trees which provides pollution free atmosphere. The emission of smoke is checked by the rich flora. A conscious effort is made to keep the campus eco friendly. Saplings are planted every year. A National Seminar on Plant Biodiversity of Western Ghats and its Sustainable Management has been organized by the dept. of Botany in January 2014 to create an awareness about the conservation of Biodiversity among the staff, students and the general public. Many of the staff members go as resource persons to address various academic and public forums to create awareness about the environment related issues. A unique programme ‘Plant A Week’ is done every week where a new medicinal plant is planted, its medicinal values are listed and displayed where the students and the staff get information about the particular plant. Eco friendly campus Workshops were conducted where the students and staff were trained to prepare eco-friendly bags with old news papers. The manufacture of biodegradable areca leaf plates was demonstrated to the students, staff and farmers. The solid organic waste is managed by bio compost and vermicompost units in the campus. Rain water harvesting has been done. Many programmes were conducted with regard to water conservation. Efforts have been done to achieve carbon neutrality by preventing production of smoke in the campus and planting saplings regularly. In addition to this a small pocketof thick forest is maintained in natural condition without being tampered in the campus. A National seminar on Green Chemistry – Issues and Challenges was held on 17th January 2015 to throw light on Management of hazardous waste. The use of plastic bags by the students is discouraged and the canteen holds a strict ban on use of plastic bags for food package. The disposal of chemicals and chemical containers is done according to the Government laws. Innovations ● College provides training in Yakshagana and Theatre for interested students. ● The news bulletin of the Department of Journalism ‘Kolalu’ updates activities of the College. A significant aspect is the instant release of
the program events in the form of photographs. ● To encourage enrolment of the students in Arts (B.A), and help them financially, the Management has reduced the fees. ● The Management provides scholarships to the tune of 10 lakhs to the meritorious students every year. ● Photography and video recordings of College functions are done by the students of journalism department and photography club, which gives them hands on training in photography and video recording. ● ‘Session with Alumni’ is a programme in which old students of the College interact with the present students and teachers. Best practices 1. Involvement of students and staff in extension activities to schools to inculcate social responsibility among the students of our College. 2. Mentor system which provides a forum for the teachers and students to discuss their problems. Personal attention is given to students as it is difficult to attend to each student during class. Other best practices: ● Involvement of students in maintaining the Botanical garden. ● Most of the departments have an annual or biannual release of departmental bulletins brought out by the students under the guidance of faculty.Students are encouraged to bring out the bulletins so that their thinking and writing abilitiesare improved. Each department has a notice board where articles contributed by students are displayed. ● There are many clubs like Eco club, Arts Club, Commerce Club, Science Club, Kannada Sangha, English Forum, Sanskrit Sangha, Hindi Sangha, Photography Club which organize various activities. Students as members of these clubs participate actively thereby inculcating organizational abilities, leadership qualities, communication abilities etc. ● Students are encouraged to participate in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities not only in the College but also in competitions, fests organized by other Colleges. The expenditure incurred is borne by the College. These activities help in improving the overall personality of the students. ● Students’ Welfare Council is formed every year. The members are selected by the College Council on the basis of their performance in the interview. It acts like a bridge between the students and the teachers and enhances the communication between them. ● Every year blood donation camps in association with Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Manipal are held. Students and Faculty participate in large numbers. It inculcates a spirit of humanitarian help. ● Many of the staff members go as resource persons to address various academic and public forums to create awareness about the environment related issues. ● Guest lectures are arranged to supplement class room teaching. ● A unique programme ‘ Plant A Week’ is conducted every week where a medicinal plant is introduced and planted, its medicinal values are listed and displayed where the students and the staff get information about the particular plant. ● English speaking classes and practical online classes for English language learning are held. Students are trained in soft skills to empower them to compete in the job market. Group discussions, language quiz by students are organized, for this no extra fees is collected. ● Library orientation programme for students is held at the beginning of the year. ● The infrastructure of the College is made available to outsiders thereby making optimum use of the infrastructure. Programmes staged expose the students and staff to various cultural and social events. ● Seminars and workshops are held by departments every year.
SUMMARY: Strengths ● Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College has got adequate land measuring 46 acres situated in a prime locality, with adequate infrastructure: well-ventilated wellfurnished class rooms, laboratory blocks, state of the art Administrative Block, multi-media centre with 100 capacity, state of the art Computer lab with 250 computers, library with more than a lakh volumes with OPAC and E-Resources facility, Broad Band with 10 mbps MNE Connection, “Botanica” a Botanical garden containing indigenous and exotic varieties of trees, shrubs and herbs of medicinal
and ornamental value, College Canteen, reprographic facility, well equipped Botany and Zoology Museums, UGC Sponsored Centre for Gandhian Studies & Research, Sports Ground , Indoor sports complex with Gym, separate rest room- ‘Parvathi Nilaya’ for lady students, closed and open auditorium are among the strengths of the college. ● The College Management has contributed a major share for the improvement of infrastructural facilities such as Indoor Sports Complex, Extension of LadiesHostel, Computer Science Block etc where the share of the Management is considerably more than the funds made available by UGC. ● The College also provides adequate facilities and opportunities to socially, educationally and economically marginalized sections of the society. The College has instituted several scholarships, freeships and free Mid-day Meals for socially and economically weaker sections. The Management has been providing scholarships liberally. ● All departments of the college are provided with computer/laptops and LCD projectors. ● The College has started various career development / skill development and job oriented Add-on courses, viz., Computer application, Networking with NetSim, Insurance, E-commerce, Travel and tourism, Vermicomposting, Plant tissue culture and Functional English. ● The college has fully qualified and committed staff members who have been guiding the students in a proper channel both in academic and co-curricular activities. The active platoons of NCC (Naval and Army Wings), NSS Units, Youth Red Cross, Rangers Unit and various other clubs stand testimony to its excellence in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. ● The effective functioning of the Placement Cell in the college benefits a large number of students. ● The management is supporting the research culture among the staff and students by providing seed money. Many faculty members are actively involved in research by undertaking Major / Minor Research Projects that are funded by various national level and state level funding agencies. Weakness ● Existing vacancies approved / sanctioned under the grant-in-aid posts are not filled up regularly by the Government. Hence, the Management has been compelled to recruit teaching / non-teaching staff on temporary / contract basis. Disparity in the salary structure of Government aided and Management-employed faculty continues to exist. Opportunities ● Being one of the oldest institutions with consistent good results in academics, Cocurricular and Extra-curricular activites the college is well-known for its academic and cultural excellence. It has adequate space and potential for future growth and development. ● The college has wide opportunity to open modern job oriented courses to improve the employability of the students. ● The increasing strength in the degree courses owing to personalized contact, projection campaign etc shows that more students are making use of the facilities in the college. It also shows that the college has opportunities to provide infrastructure facilities to cope with the increased strength. Challenges: ● There has been a gradual decline in enrolment of students to Arts and Basic Science courses and this trend is common to neighbouring colleges ● The college has to compete with many Government colleges where the fee structure is more favourable to students than in aided colleges.