Assessment Report on
Institutional Accreditation
of
The NSS
Hindu College, located in Changanacherry, a semi-urban area in Kerala was
established in 1947 as a Pre University College by Sri Mannathu Padmanabhan, a
great visionary and founder of Nair Service Society(NSS). NSS is a corporate
agency managing a large number of educational institutions. Over the years the
college has grown in size and strength and offers at present as many as 27
programmes. There are under-graduate and post-graduate programmes in
mathematics, physics, chemistry, zoology, Malayalam, Hindi, English, history,
economics, politics and commerce. There are only undergraduate programmes in
botany and philosophy. The college offers the UGC sponsored vocational course
Food Science and Quality Control. The departments of Malayalam, Hindi and
zoology offer the Ph.D. programme as well. This is one of the biggest colleges
catering fot the needs of around 3000 students. Though the college was started
to provide opportunities for higher education for children of Nair families, it
serves the needs of all sections of society and ensures that education develops
democratic and secular attitudes and imbibes a sense of patriotism and personal
identification with the vast masses of the people. The motto of the college is “Lead
me from darkness to light to serve the country and society, where the mind is without fear and the head
is held high, where knowledge is free, O’ God let my country awake”.
The
college has turned out many eminent statesmen, academicians, writers,
industrialists, social activists and administrators who occupied prestigious
positions and served the country. Nearly 600 under-graduates and 170
post-graduates are admitted every year. 216 members constitute the teaching
faculty with an equitable distribution of men and women, which is a reflection
of the development of women in the region. The proportion of non-teaching to
teaching staff is 1:2. The college has been following the annual examination
system and is yet to plan for switching over to the semester pattern. Students
are mostly drawn from rural areas around Changanacherry. The NSS is highly
supportive of the institution in terms of organisation, finances and
management. The unity among the Management, faculty and students is
appreciable. The atmosphere in the college is conducive to the growth and
development of youth.
Criterion I: Curricular Aspects
The college has a wide range of programme options, with the facility for
pursuing post-graduate courses in 11 out of 14 departments. Further, three departments offer Ph.D.
programmes, with more than 45 research scholars enrolled in them. Besides
these, there is a vocational course in Food Science and Quality Control
sponsored by the UGC; since the UGC assistance has ceased for this course, the
college is running this programme with its own funds.
There is
evidence of initiative;
inter-disciplinary innovative programmes have been introduced. The college has applied for UGC support for
starting post-graduate programmes such as (a)Fish, Fishery and Environment (b)Wetland Management and (c) Eco Monitoring
and Sustainable Development. Teachers have played an active role, as members of
the core committee at the university for course restructuring and revising the
syllabi. This sense of participation among the faculty in curriculum making is
to be specially acknowledged, given the limitations of an affiliating system.
A systematic feedback from
the students(as well as teachers) on various curricular dimensions has been
collected and results presented. This
laudable attempt should be pursued and follow up action be taken on the basis
of the feedback.
The broad, philosophical
mission of the college of “leading from darkness to light” as envisioned by the
founder, is sought to be realised through a thrust on holistic development of
student personality by various curricular and co-curricular activities.
The college may take further
steps to enrich and strengthen courses by bringing in additional inputs and
providing opportunities for doing extra courses in applied areas, such as
computer training, management courses and information technology courses.
Given the constraint of
getting government approval for new under-graduate/post-graduate programmes of
studies, the college may explore the possibilities of starting many job
oriented diploma/certificate courses in the emerging areas by utilising the
infrastructure facilities outside college hours.
The syllabi are unitised and
in most of the departments a detailed `action-plan` detailing the time-schedule
of teaching of various units of syllabi have been made in the beginning of the
academic session. This schedule is also made known to the students.
There is an academic
calendar at the institutional level. The conscious attempt to fulfil the
required number of teaching days is evident.
The college has worked for about 200 days, notwithstanding the general
trend of loss of working days in colleges on account of politically proactive
student community in the state.
There is a unique and
healthy practice of peer-teaching followed in all the departments. Before the
commencement of regular classes, one hour is allotted for this. The
post-graduate students(and the bright students in the under-graduate courses)
take to teaching the under-graduate classes, which is found to be well received
and successful. Teachers do remedial/extra coaching outside the class hours
almost on a daily basis and on holidays. The Continuous Internal Assessment
(CIA) is, made with adequate transparency and it is required by the university.
The schedule of terminal and model examinations are centrally planned and they
are conducted systematically. A report on student performance in these
examinations and on their attendance in classes is sent regularly to parents.
The department-wise parent-teacher meetings conducted periodically, provide an
occasion for reviewing and following up individual student performance. The
success of these efforts is reflected in the fairly good results in university
examinations obtained by the college. There have been quite a good number of
university ranks in many subjects.
There is a grievance redressal
mechanism for students to represent and get their grievances redressed in
respect of CIA tests. The college union and the staff council, take care of
other general grievances.
The learner-centred methods
of assignments, seminars, study tours, project work(for only post-graduate
departments) have been introduced as part of the restructured programme. These
components are found to be conducted effectively. The Tutorial System which has
been in operation is found to be systematically organised and conducted. This
provides good scope for close student-teacher interaction. From the teacher’s
side, the teaching method may have to be made more innovative using
audio-visual aids and teaching-learning aids of electronic media. It is
gratifying to note that in one of the departments (physics), a Computer Aided
Learning(CAL) package has been developed by a faculty member, who claims that
there is a good demand for the same in the market.
Faculty are recruited in
accordance with the rules prescribed by the university and the government.
Majority of teachers are from Mahatma Gandhi University and the University of
Kerala. As part of professional development, many teachers have attended
refresher courses. There is only an informal faculty appraisal system. Some teachers
have established linkages with national-level institutions.
Criterion III: Research, Consultancy and Extension
Three departments(Hindi, Malayalam and Zoology),
which are recognised research centres, have produced more than 15 Ph.D.s and
currently more than 45 research scholars are working for their Ph.D. There is a
good and enabling provision of the university permitting scholars registered
with research guides from other colleges also work in these recognised research
centres. There are creditable publications in national and international
journals especially in the departments of Hindi, Malayalam, zoology and
physics. In fact, one of the former faculty members in Hindi was honoured with
the prestigeous Sahitya Academy Award for his creative work. For a college in a
semi-urban location, the research profile of the faculty is quite commendable.
Another impressive aspect of the research output is
that some departments such as Hindi, zoology, physics and English publish
research periodicals(the journal from the Hindi department is fairly long
standing, while others have just been launched). In many departments,
manuscript journals are being brought out as an annual feature, giving
opportunity for bringing out the creative potential of students. The department
of economics is actively involved in research on environmental issues of
socio-economic significance.
Notwithstanding such impressive research activities
in certain departments, it is observed that a considerable number of faculty
members need to be encouraged to avail themselves of funding support from
national agencies for minor/major research projects, conduct of seminars,
conferences etc. The research committee which has been formed recently can do a
good job in this regard.
Faculty members are deputed to do M.Phil./Ph.D.
programmes under FDP. But there seems to be a sort of inertia among some
teachers in availing themselves of the FIP. And some teachers(more than two
thirds) are yet to qualify for M.Phil. or Ph.D.
As part of the extension activity faculty members
offer orientation to school teachers of the region in new subjects. Student
involvement in co-curricular and extension activities, and faculty guidance of
these extension works are quite appreciable. In some of the extension programmes,
there is an attempt to integrate with related disciplines. To illustrate a few,
Fisheries Forum and Nature Club under the zoology department, Electronics Club
under the physics department, the tourism Club under the economics department,
the literary society (Pranjna Patham) and the folklore forum under the
Malayalam Department are trying to make the extension work discipline based.
Science exhibitions organised by the college have received wide public
appreciation and stimulated interest among students.
Conscious effort may be made to involve students in
an active research culture often realised in individual and group
project/research work and in periodical presentations of argued positions on
Sundry themes.
The college campus is spread
over an area of six hectares. The main building has three floors in which
office and science departments are located. Several annexures have been built
to accommodate language and social science departments. Each department has
adequate number of laboratories and there are 104 classrooms. There is a
well-furnished auditorium and a seminar hall. The playgrounds are vast and well
maintained to facilitate popular games. Special mention may be made of a modern
basketball court, tennis courts and the indoor stadium. The canteen needs
improvement. The new library building built partly with UGC assistance is small
and inadequate to meet the needs of the college. The library building needs
expansion. Photocopying facilities should be provided in the library. The
computerisation of the main library has been just started and the process needs
to be expedited with installation of additional terminals. Research departments
have departmental libraries.
There are two women’s hostels
in the campus. Men students expressed the need for hostel accommodation. It is
observed that after delinking of pre-degree from the college, more classroom
space will be available for starting new programmes. The campus is clean, green
and well planned.
The computer centre has just
been initiated with four systems. Although no formal grievance redressal
mechanism has been developed for handling grievances other than those related
to internal assessment, the grievances are found to be very few and are handled
by the staff council. The NSS mission hospital located close to the college
campus provides health facilities to students on nominal payment. On the whole
there is an optimum use of available facilities in the campus.
Criterion V: Student Support and Progression
Admission
of students to various courses is made subject to norms of reservation of seats
for SC and ST students. The college publishes its updated prospectus every
year. It is a fairly comprehensive, informative document conveying details
about rules of admission, fee structure, subject combinations, code of student
conduct, financial assistance schemes available to students etc.
There is a career club and a
counseling centre functioning with the participation of faculty and students. There
is no formal machinery to monitor the progression of students passing out from
the college. The alumni of this college hold prominent positions in public life
ranging from academics to politics and journalism to performing arts. Although
the departments of zoology and history have formed departmental alumni
associations, the college has just taken steps to form a college level alumni
association.
There is rich potential for
academic support and resource generation from many well placed alumni which the
institution can tap and develop.
In the context of the fact
that nearly two thirds of its students belong to low income families, the
college, over the years, has evolved a comprehensive, broad based and
supportive financial aid system for the benefit of needy students. Students
benefit from free studentships, fee concessions, loans, etc. from as many as 41
schemes including 21 endowment schemes. The role of the PTA in providing
financial assistance to needy students is noteworthy.
The institution encourages
holistic development of student personality, physical, mental and spiritual, by
means of its high quality curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular
programmes. Towards this end, it maintains a large number of associations and
clubs which carry out innovative programmes. Mention must be made of Pranjana
Patham, a high profile literary-cultural forum, Fisheries Forum, Tourism Club,
Career Club and Quiz Club. In keeping with the impressive wealth of Kerala’s
folklore and folk arts the college regularly organises a wide variety of
cultural festivals which attract majority of students. It undertakes annually a
cultural outreach programme by way of art and culture camps in distant villages
of Kerala which naturally win wide public acclaim, brightens up the image of
the college as a centre of learning and
culture and offers to students and faculty a rich teaching-learning experience.
Through
NSS and NCC programmes, the college provides to students rich learning
experience in the domain of leadership, self discipline, social work and
extension activities. The enrolment is found to be good in both the programmes
and the projects undertaken were socially relevant.
A commendable feature of the
department of physical education of this college is the encouragement given by
it to maximum number of students, not only to star performers, to participate
in sports and games by organising inter-class, inter-division and inter-institutional tournaments.
Criterion VI: Organisation and Management
A seven-member central
committee, with the President of the Nair
Service Society as Chairman and its secretary as Manager, governs the
college.
The central committee formulates the broad Management
policy of the college and leaves the day-to-day administration to the Principal
who acts in consultation with the college council. The council consists of all
Heads of Departments and three teachers elected from among themselves. The
Principal is its chairman.
For the
successful functioning of the college, several committees such as the following
have been constituted: Planning Board, Library Advisory Committee, Purchase
Committee, Internal Assessment Committee, Tutorial Committee and Research
Committee. It is better to avoid frequent transfers of academic staff to maintain
continuity of research and development activities.
By and large, the administrative staff, students and
faculty are friendly. The administrative staff need to be trained in computer
applications for administration and accounting. There is an internal audit
mechanism, besides other statutory audits.
The NSS is a well-endowed
resourceful institution. The dynamic Parent-Teacher Association provides good
financial support for the development of infrastructure to in order to ensure
efficient functioning in the service of learners.
Criterion VII: Healthy Practices
Many
healthy practices characterise the institutional functioning of this college.
Some of them are listed below.
·
The
democratic and participatory style of functioning of the Principal involving the
College Council in decision making at various stages.
·
Proactive
role of PTA in maintaining a good academic atmosphere besides resource support.
·
Extension
programmes being discipline related.
·
The
successful practice of peer teaching(post-graduate students to under-graduate
and under-graduate to pre-degree) on a structured basis.
·
Healthy
conventions founded in Indian culture passed on from generation to generation.
While the
Peer Team appreciates the accomplishments of the college, it has the following
suggestions for planning for the future.
·
At
the under-graduate level the focus should be on introduction of vocational
courses.
·
Faculty
members need to be
Ø provided with more
opportunities to do Ph.D.
Ø encouraged to develop linkages
with research institutions and industry
Ø guided to seek financial
assistance for research
·
Structured
mechanism of self-appraisal and student evaluation of teachers to be
introduced, along with course evaluation of and assessment of the performance
of each department.
·
The
computer centre to be expanded to provide training for all students and
encourage faculty in the use of computers in the teaching process.
·
Most
laboratories need to be equipped with modern instruments for post-graduate
teaching and research.
·
Library
facilities require to be strengthened in terms of building, computer and
internet facilities for post-graduate students.
·
In
keeping with modern technology and for securing greater efficiency the
functions of the office should be entirely computerised.
·
Interdisciplinary
post-graduate programmes and research need to be encouraged.
·
Budget
provision needs to be enhanced considerably for all departments for effective
practical training.
·
Special
incentives such as awards should be introduced by NSS for best teachers of the
college.
The college has completed fifty years of service in
the cause of higher education of students drawn from rural Kerala and also of
the under-privileged sections of society. It has maintained good traditions and
academic standards. The NSS has assisted the college in building capital assets
and in the management of the college. In view of the changing trends in society
and vast expansion of knowledge, the courses offered at the college need to be
redesigned and modified by phasing out outdated courses. The college has the
potential to be an autonomous institution with adequate support from all
concerned.