Assessment Report on

Institutional Accreditation of

St. Thomas College

Kozhencheri, Kerala

 

Section 1: Introduction

 

St. Thomas College, Kozhencheri, Kerala, a grant-in-aid minority institution, established in the year 1953 in a rural set up and administered by the Marthoma Syrian Church is affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University. The college caters mainly for the students hailing from the remote regions of the eastern part for Pathanamthitta district.

           

For the past 46 years, the college has been imparting education to students in accordance with the objectives laid down by the Management and the guidelines prescribed by the affiliating university. The main aim of the college is to impart sound Christian liberal education to young men and women. It aims at producing intellectually well trained, morally upright, socially committed and spiritually inspired young men and women.

 

Located in an area of 19 acres, the college has 12 departments - physics, chemistry, botany, zoology, mathematics, commerce, economics, history, English, Hindi, Malayalam and physical education. It has a strength of 1418 students, 127 teachers and 76 non-teaching staff. Among the teachers, 12 have Ph.D degree, 50 M.Phil degree and the remaining 65 are Master’s degree holders. The college offers 4 certificate courses, 10 undergraduate courses 7 PG courses and 2 Ph.D programmes.

     

The college volunteered to be assessed by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council. The preliminary self-study report was submitted to NAAC in March 1999. Peer Team constituted by NAAC to validate the self study report comprised of Dr. Lakshmi Santa Rajagopal, former Vice-Chancellor, Avinashilingam University, Prof. C Thangamuthu, Bharathidasan University, and Dr.(Sr) Christine Rebello, Principal, St.Francis College, Hyderabad. The team was  ably supported by Dr. Latha Pillai, Deputy Advisor and B.S.Madhukar, Asst. Advisor, NAAC. The Peer Team studied the self study report and later visited the college from 18th to 20th November 1999. In addition to visiting the various  departments and infrastructurel facilities,  discussions were held with the Principal, Governing Council members , teachers, students , parents, alumni and the non-teaching staff. Based on the visit and  perusal of various records, the Peer Team gives the following report.

 

Section 2: Criterion-wise Analysis

Criterion I: Curricular Aspects

As an affiliated college, the departments follow the syllabi prescribed by the university. However, it is heartening to note that several faculty members of this college have been actively involved in restructuring  the university syllabi.  One of the staff members as the Chairman of the Academic Committee of All Kerala Private College Teachers’ Association has been partly instrumental in suggesting innovative curricula to the university.

 

Besides the regular curriculum, some of the departments offer additional programmes, which include a multidisciplinary foundation course, certificate courses in computer applications, Communicative English, journalism and electronics workshop. Though some of these additional courses have been recently designed and initiated, strengthening them may be good value added component for the students.

 

With a view to fulfil its goals and objectives, the college imparts value education and promotes all round development of the personality of the students.

 

This is done through a tutorial system in which each teacher is assigned to a small group of 20 students. These regular interactions have been well received by the students. Though there is no formal mechanism to obtain student feedback on curricular aspects, the college has recently made a survey among the students on various aspects of college life.

 

Criterion II: Teaching, Learning and Evaluation

The lecture method is most often used in teaching. Some departments occasionally make use of overhead projector as a teaching aid. The departments of Malayalam, History, physics and zoology have organized 'subject camps' for 2-3 days to familiarise students with the thrust areas of their respective disciplines. These camps have motivated students to acquire better learning.

 

There is a healthy spirit of competition among the various departments and eagerness to provide good and varied learning experiences to the students. The teachers offer remedial programmes for the benefit of weaker students. The students particularly at the PG level give seminars and also do project. The teachers offer various additional knowledge inputs and general awareness through the weekly tutorial classes.

 

As a part of the teaching-learning process, every department has a programme of field visit. Some of the departments are able to attract experts to the department for special lectures through their linkages with advanced centres such as Physics department with IUCCA and department of Economics with Yale University. Advanced learners are encouraged to participate in inter-collegiate competitions and seminars. Many departments cater for the creative potential of students by enabling them write in the annual manuscript magazines of the departments.

 

The quality of teaching, regular conduct of class level tests, assignments etc., get reflected in the percentage of passes in the university examinations. Despite the catchment area of the students being largely rural and many students coming from first generations learners, the results of the various courses are fairly appreciable.

 

There are some attempts to professionalise teaching. Teachers are encouraged to improve their qualifications under  faculty development programmes and also to participate in professional conferences and present papers.

 

The staff could be oriented to the use of other methods of teaching-learning such as brain-storming, quiz/debates, group-discussions, paper presentations, audio-visual aids and computer aided learning.

 

Criterion III: Research, Consultancy and Extension

The departments of physics and zoology are recognised centres for pursuing Ph.D. The faculty members of botany, economics and Malayalam are currently involved in minor research projects sponsored by the UGC and other funding agencies. Some of the creative writing of faculty members, particularly in the Malayalam department, are noteworthy.

 

A multidisciplinary  research centre has been registered as a society recently. The centre has brought out the first issue of a multidisciplinary journal called Synergy. The faculty members in botany, physics, zoology, among others, have creditable publications in refereed journals.

 

There is no formal consultancy service organized by the departments. However, several staff members lend their expertise to local bodies - such as Panchayats and service organisations.

 

The college has a good record of community service.  The NSS volunteers have constructed a community centre in Kurangumala with the support of the local community and run literacy and health programmes also at Pannivelichira Colony. The NCC cadets of the college have also participated in constructive community service activities.

 

There is a Women's Cell which provides a forum for discussion on gender issues. The Christian Students' Movement mobilises funds to help run Karunyanilayam - a charitable and social service project. Almost every department organises co-curricular extension work, for instance, nature club, adventure club, besides vibrant subject associations. The participation of various departments in the locally relevant 'Save Pampa' environmental project is praiseworthy.

 

The services of the teachers are offered to train and orient higher secondary and high school teachers on advanced topics in the school curriculum.

 

Criterion IV: Infrastructure and Learning Resources

The college located in an area of 19 acres has adequate scope for future expansion. The physical infra-structure in the campus is quite impressive . There are separate blocks for almost each of the faculties/departments. Some of the departments such as physics, zoology, commerce and economics have their own seminar halls, with public address systems. It is quite remarkable and perhaps unique that the commerce department has its own three-storied block constructed out of contributions from their old students and at the initiative of  commerce faculty themselves.

 

The laboratory facilities are quite adequate. The management keep improving the college infrastructure including the laboratory facilities through the PTA funding and other sources. For instance, the tissue-culture lab in the botany department and the electronic workshop lab of the physics department are good additions in this regard. The museums in the botany/zoology departments, the botanical garden and the learning aids in the laboratories/class rooms of various departments speak fairly high of the good academic atmosphere prevalent in the campus.

 

There is a computer centre with internet facility attached to the physics department. Some of the individual departments also have their own computers.   For instance, the departments of commerce, economics and mathematics, using their own computer facilities, offer diploma/certificate programmes in computer applications. The use of computer aided learning and internet facilities by the faculty and students may be promoted further. It would be better perhaps to establish a central computer facility which may cater for various users and also serve as an academy to offer several certificate programmes in software packages.

 

The library, with a total of about 45,000 books and 50 journals, allows open access facilities to all the students. The computerisation of the library catalogue  service has just begun and it has be expedited. The library may be expanded and provided with a copier and internet facilities. Besides the central library, some of the departments have their own departmental libraries for ready reference. In a few departmental libraries, books donated by the outgoing students are also kept. Some departments such as commerce and economics keep current periodicals and newspapers for the benefit of students. The back volumes of some useful journals are also preserved at the initiative of the faculty. There is a spacious multipurpose auditorium wherein the indoor game facility is also made available.

 

The sports facility in the campus is impressive. The college deserves appreciation for having taken up a massive project of constructing a stadium and play fields  at a cost of over Rs.30 lakhs largely through donations from its alumni and other well-wishers in the community. There is a government supported sports hostel. Besides, the college Management also provides free boarding and lodging to some sports students. There is a creditable record of performance of students at state/all India level sports meets.

 

There is a women's hostel accommodating 30 students; the expansion of women's hostel is under way. Since there is no hostel for boys, the campus life almost comes to a close with the closure of the college at 3.30 p.m. The use of campus amenities such as library, computer, sports and involvement of students in co-curricular and extra curricular activities seem to be seriously constrained on account of lack of hostel accommodation. The college would do well exploring the possibilities of putting up hostels and also arranging for college-run bus facility during early/late hours of the day for the benefit of students and faculty members who want to use the facilities outside college hours.

 

The college has a canteen and a student centre. There is constraint of space in the canteen and it needs to be expanded. The college has a co-operative store, which has a good annual turnover of Rs.9 lakhs.

 

Criterion V: Student Support and Progression

The student support services include a wide variety of facilities for extra curricular activities besides extra coaching by way of remedial classes for the weaker students. The tutorial system provides good scope for developing better rapport between the teachers and the taught. The personality development, counselling, and value education components are taken care of through the tutorial system. There are some useful additional courses such as Foundation Course, Subject camps organised outside the college providing for better exposure and interactions. While the students are encouraged to participate in several extension/service activities, most of them seem to be exclusively student-sponsored in terms of funds. As funds need to be frequently collected for various purposes, it may be better if the college develops a mechanism for providing seed money and support basic facilities such as transport etc.

 

There are several endowments created by the alumni and other well wishers, which provide for scholarships and prizes to students. It is gratifying to note that some of the faculty members, without any publicity, are quietly helping the poor students by meeting their lunch expenditure in the college canteen.

 

The progression of students into further studies and employment are not monitored through any formal mechanism. But the effective link between the alumni and college is evident and meaningful. Many of the alumni who have taken up lucrative jobs in west Asian countries liberally contribute towards college development. The college is proud of its alumni holding distinguished positions in various walks of life.

 

The student support services in the areas of career guidance, counselling and placement, which have been recently initiated, need to be strengthened.

 

Criterion VI : Organisation and Management

The Governing Council of the college, though minority in character, is known to be fairly democratic in its style of functioning. There are eight "Task Forces" of teachers looking after teaching-learning, curriculum design, research publications, student welfare, extension activities, library, sports and games and alumni association. The involvement of faculty members in decision making at the departmental level is also quite participatory. In some departments, such as economics, the Departmental Council and its decisions are found to be well documented and followed up.

 

The resource generation is being done spontaneously as and when a programme is taken up. The Management does not believe in maintaining a corpus fund. The PTA and alumni act as vibrant instruments of providing enough resources and fulfilling the schemes decided upon. In fact, when the ideas of constructing hostel for boys and having a college bus were mooted by the Peer Team during the course of interactions, there was a spontaneous positive response from the PTA/Alumni. Thus the college does not seem to have a resource constraint.

 

The Management deserves appreciation for appointing faculty purely on academic merit and admitting students, even under management quota, on certain sound well established norms and not on discretionary grounds. This has helped the Management earn goodwill and credibility among the college community. The Management encourages teachers to avail themselves of the benefit of faculty development programmes. The administrative work in the college may be computerised in a phased  manner by arranging training for the non-teaching staff.

 

Criterion VII: Healthy Practices

The healthy practices which deserve special mention, among others, are given below:

a)     Some of the departments organise 'Subject Camps' almost as an intensive 'academic retreat' wherein the students stay off-campus for a couple of days and interact and listen to expert lectures on current issues in the subject.

b)     A 'multidisciplinary research centre' functions as a colloquium for periodical research seminars and also publishes the research journal 'Synergy'.

c)     Substantial resource generation particularly through contributions from alumni. (for instance, the entire three-storied Commerce Block and a massive stadium constructed out of donations).

d)     Separate blocks of subject-wise buildings and some PG departments (Economics, Botany) having books/journals purchased out of donations.

e)     Foundation course which provides basic inputs of various disciplines and thereby improving general awareness among students.

f)       Freedom at the departmental level for organising extension programmes and also building up the departmental facilities through their own efforts.

g)     Fairly democratic style of functioning, by the management indicated by elected teacher representatives on the Governing Council/College Council beyond statutory requirements.

 

Section 3: Overall Analysis

 

St. Thomas College,  situated in a rural area, has been striving hard over the past four and a half decades in imparting value oriented education to boys and girls from the nearby localities. Being an affiliated college, it has its own difficulties and bottlenecks in offering varied curricular options and hence introduction of need based new courses is not easy. Traditional courses are offered by the college.. There is a need for introducing diversified need-based courses in the emerging areas such as information technology, biotechnology, microbiology etc. The existing departments, in  lieu of offering PG courses in the  same traditional disciplines, can adapt themselves to go in for new/applied programmes. This may be possible  without involvement of  additional faculty positions, provided the existing faculty members re-orient themselves and develop competencies in the emerging areas.

 

Lecture method is generally used for teaching. Use of new technologies needs to be encouraged. The linkages with agencies, such as  IUCCA with physics, is a welcome step towards strengthening  the departments. Some of the departments with PG programmes are involved to a good extent in research. Linkage with industries should be encouraged to foster excellence in research and consultancy. Involvement of a larger percentage of faculty in research might lead to their extending consultancy services to other agencies.

 

The infra-structural facilities are excellent in many departments particularly in  botany, physics, zoology, commerce and economics. The Cooperative Store, Cooperative Society,  the extension counter of a bank and post office are facilitating factors on the campus.

 

Tutorial/Counselling done in an informal way may  include career counselling in a systematic manner. The library with about 45,000 books/journals/periodicals requires additional space for its utilisation. The staff in the library be given computer orientation, so that computerisation of varied activities in the library is possible to augment its use. The canteen requires additional space. Office automation is an immediate requirement and efforts including skill-based training to the non-teaching staff be undertaken in this direction.

 

The extension of women students hostel is highly appreciable. There is a felt need for establishing a boys’ hostel, and arranging for a college bus which would go a long way in improving campus life.

 

The college would do well in preparing a perspective plan with a futuristic vision. Offering one or more PG programmes where there is no PG programme at present is on the limited agenda of the institution. The over all institutional academic perspective in the next 10 or 20 years may be envisaged, for a phased action programme.

 

Given the constraints and the difficulties in getting the approval of the Government for more and more aided courses, the college community may have to think of designing and offering some skill oriented short term courses of regional relevance, on the pattern of a 'community college', using the physical facilities in the campus. This becomes all the more important in the context of shedding the pre degree classes from the college, which would render some facilities surplus.