Best Practice I
Title :Life Skill Programmes
In the 21st century, skills are essential for students to become successful professionals. All our students learn soft skills through curriculum, which include interpersonal (people) skills, communication skills, listening skills, time management, problem solving, leadership, and empathy, among others. Students traverse on the path with personal responsibility and it is essential to develop life skills to face a myriad of a new social opportunities and challenges. Jeevan Kaushal – Life skills programmes – Personality development program and Verbal Reasoning for first year, Personality development programme and Analytical Reasoning for second year, Career skills and Quantitative Aptitude for third year- are offered at the Undergraduate level. Yoga classes are conducted regularly which aim at developing harmony between body, mind and life force of our students. These classes help our students to emerge as smart thinkers, rational human beings, confident professionals with critical bent of mind and also helps them to lead a healthy, happy and an eventful life. Digital knowledge has become an integral part of everyone’s life. It is essential that every student should acquire digital skills to equip them with the knowledge to excel in their academic and professional endeavours.
Objectives / intended outcomes of the Practice
- To enhance essential life skills to succeed in personal and professional lives
- To foster holistic development by addressing the emotional and mental well being of students
- To enhance employability skills by making them more competitive in the job market
The Context
The college recognized the need to equip students with essential life skills to succeed in their personal and professional lives. These programmes aid to promote holistic development, improve relationships and employable productivity.
The Practice
This is a comprehensive initiative taken by the college for the holistic development of students’ personal and professional growth. The programme includes communication skills, intra and inter personality development skills and digital skills. By identifying life skills, the college demonstrates its commitment by supporting the stakeholders in the holistic development of the society.
Evidence of Success
The success of the programmes with quantitative evidence showing increased participation, improved communication skills, enhanceddigital skill among students. Qualitative evidence includes testimonials from students marking the significance of the programmes citing their impactful academic achievement, collaborative and community engagement. AMCAT assessment and evaluation report shows the gradual evidence of success.
Problems Encountered and Resources Required
It is challenging to cater the diverse needs and preferences of students.
Best Practice II
Title : Integrating Sustainable Development Goals in our Educational Environment
Sustainable Development Goals aim for good economic growth with reduced inequalities in the field of education and socio-economy, in addition to its advocacy on cleaner and safe environment. The engagement of students is pivotal in an interesting teaching-learning mechanism, which embraces sustainable development goals that would help overcome obstacles, in terms of culture, psychology and finances.
Objectives / intended outcomes of the Practice
- To assimilate SDG aligned courses into curriculum, research activities, co-curricular activities etc.,
- To equip students with essential SDGs to foster human and ethical values and skills
- To address important global challenges so as to contribute for the development of the communities and beyond
- To instill the nuances of sustainability ideas, research and practices with social impacts
The Context
The youth of India should understand that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can transform and transpire our world. This transformation will succor multiple stakeholders at all levels of society. No one is left behind or left out, as all of us must contribute to give voice to the needy by better-planned and better-informed initiatives
The Practice
Environmental Studies course is offered online. It is operated through a consortium of the institution to integrate Environmental consciousness to students through curriculum. Outreach activities like lake cleaning, celebrating millet month, health camp, mental wellness, health awareness in collaboration with Apollo Shine, awareness on National Education Policy etc., resonate with sanguinity among women-students. The Post Graduate Department of Social Work in collaboration with an NGO ‘The Candles’ painted the SDGs as wall murals on the campus, which enhanced students’ multidimensionality. An MoU with Koodugal Foundation facilitates students to develop ecological intelligence via various eco-activities
Evidence of Success
This academic year has seen a great flow of more than 75 SDGs activities to enrich students and faculty members with varied contextual and conceptual approaches. Programmes like cycle day, beach cleaning drive, Covid vaccination drive, blood camp contributed to the development of the society with great success. Safe and clean RO water tanks with 1500 liters, STP water sprinklers for the football ground, sufficient toilets are the evidences of water and sanitation project. Center for Inclusion and Equal Access activities harness inclusivity and accessibility. Distribution of smart phones to the needy students mirrors the idea of access to education during tech crisis.
Problems Encountered and Resources Required
Sufficient and significant in house resource mobilization should be enhanced to materialize the SDGs.Young minds are mulled over with Technology and automation. Hence, instilling ethical values on bringing a balance between the eco-conservationism and the present busy socio-economic life was a challenge.
Best Practice III
Title : Initiation of a Research and Innovation Eco system
Objectives
- To integrate Research as a part of Academic Curriculum and enable students to understand learning progresses along with research
- To introduce Research at the Undergraduate level and inculcate a research temper amongst students
The Context
With the motto of “Re-search and Research”, the Research cell of the College encourages staff, students and scholars to involve in innovative research, problem solving ideas, finding solutions for societal and environmental problems, upgrading the technological research, re-search the basic sciences research areas and product development.
The Practice
The Research cell promotes its research culture under “Samzodhana Naipunyam” – a series of training programs focusing on conducting workshops, seminars and faculty development programmes for developing Research Skills of Staff, students and Research scholars.
The Management has played a constructive role in promoting Research by funding the Faculty Members for Minor Research Projects and the students’ project under the program titled “Young Researcher project”.
An exhibition titled” YOUNG RESEARCHER PROJECT EXHIBITION – 2022”showcasing the funded Research projects of our students was conducted to encourage the research temperament amongst our student fraternity. The first batch of 37 YRP was displayed and well received.
The Research cell provides opportunity to publish research articles as a Research book titled “SPARKLES”- Socio Pedagogy & Techno Methodology which publishes articles of the Under Graduate, Post Graduate students and staff of our college with the hope of illuminating the young minds and to disseminate the scholarly ideas of the faculty among the reading public.
It also provides opportunity to publish their findings in the form of research articles in our college ISSN- e-Journals, International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research in Arts, Science and Commerce (IJRMASC) and Svādhyāya – International Journal of Trans disciplinary Research and Development (SIJTRD).
Staff and students are financially supported by the Management to publish their research articles in reputed Journals and to participate and present their research findings in International conferences.
Evidence of success
The impact of the constructive role of the College Research cell in initiating a Research and Innovation Ecosystem is evident from the facts stated below:
- Increase in enrolment of PhDs scholars and Research supervisors
- In-house Publication Journal – “SPARKLES”
- Establishment of International e-Journals with ISSN
- International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research in Arts, Science & Commerce(IJMRASC) ISSN Online : 2583-018X
- Svādhyāya – International Journal of Transdisciplinary Research and Development (SIJTRD) ISSN Online : 2583-1739
- Funded Projects
- Young Researcher Projects – YRP
- Minor Researcher Projects – MRP
- YOUNG RESEARCHER PROJECT EXHIBITION – 2022, the first batch of 37 YRP was displayed.
- Indian Patent Journal Publications – 18
- Samzodhana Naipunyam – Training program activities
- Good participation in Ideathons and Hackathons.
- External Funding Opportunities
Challenges
Streamlining the process of Research leading to Innovation, thereby providing solutions, transforming the solutions in to the end product and culminating in to the establishment of a Start up.
Best Practice IV
Title : Bridging Past and Present: Implementing Indian Knowledge System for Contemporary Learning
Objectives / intended outcomes of the Practice
- to preserve and promote India’s rich cultural heritage by integrating traditional knowledge, philosophies, and practices into the curriculum.
- to equip students with practical skills and knowledge to tackle contemporary societal issues like sustainable development, healthcare, and environmental conservation.
- to foster a global outlook, allowing students to appreciate and contribute to the global community while preserving their cultural heritage
- to encourage active participation in local communities (villages), promoting learning from their traditional practices and wisdom, fostering collaboration and mutual respect.
The Context
Introducing Indian Knowledge System (IKS) into educational setting is to understand the rich intellectual heritage and cultural legacy of India. It helps to revitalize and appreciate indigenous knowledge systems that would be an integral part of promoting cultural diversity, globalization, inclusivity, sustainable development and national pride. IKS helps students to connect and reconnect to their cultural heritage and identity.
The Practice
Yoga is a mandate course with academic credits to all the first year students. A Non-Major Elective paper on Indian Knowledge System encompasses a plethora of topics ranging from Vedic mathematics, traditional arts, crafts, philosophy, and scriptures. An IKS Cell serves as a focal point for promoting, researching, and disseminating traditional Indian knowledge. This cell organizes seminars, workshops, and guest lectures by eminent scholars and practitioners in various fields of IKS. It also facilitates collaborative research projects, and community outreach initiatives aimed at revitalizing and preserving traditional knowledge systems. The Department of Sanskrit in collaboration with Bharat Gyan offers an international certified course on Indian Civilization, which expands the impact of IKS beyond national boundaries.
Evidence of Success
Internal Quality Assurance Cell organized a NAAC sponsored National Conference on Indian Knowledge System. Indian Knowledge System (IKS) related programs are organized during the academic year and offered courses -Silambam, an ancient Indian martial art, Life skills and Yoga etc., Water recycling process, compost pit, green bin initiative, generating solar energy solar are some of the initiatives to promote sustainable development on campus. WOW award from ICT for paper recycling and Bhumi Campus Awards – Waste Management Initiatives at Campus could validate the impact of IKS programs on promoting traditional knowledge.
Problems Encountered and Resources Required
Cultural sensitivity and respect for local customs are crucial for introducing IKS in villages. Lack of awareness about traditional knowledge systems is a challenge among villagers. It is necessary to develop accessible educational materials in local languages and also holds well in partnering with local authorities to disseminate knowledge among people through students.
