Assessment Report on
Institutional Accreditation of
St. Xavier's College for Women, Aluva
Section 1: Preface
St. Xavier's College for Women was started in the year 1964 by the congregation of Teresian Carmelites in Patronage of Archbishop Varapuzha. The same Management also runs schools. It was started as a Junior college with 230 students. During the last 35 years it has grown into a major centre of higher education affiliated to M.G. University of Kerala. The college offers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. UG courses are offered in mathematics, physics, chemistry, botany, zoology, economics, Malayalam, English and Postgraduate course are offered in commerce and physics. The college also offers enrichment courses in computer study and Postgraduate courses in computer education. The college volunteered to be assessed and accredited by NAAC. The Self-Study Report was prepared and submitted to NAAC in March 1999.
The NAAC constituted the Peer Team with Prof. (Mrs.) P. Neerada Reddy, Vice Chairperson, State Council for higher education, Government of Andhra Pradesh as Chairperson and Prof. V.R. Shirgurkar, Principal, Smt. Paravathibai Chowgule College, Goa as Member to visit the institution and examine its facilities, and programmes and to validate the report.
The committee visited the college on September 6,7 1999, met the Principal, faculty members and other functionaries, studied the various programmes offered and facilities provided in departments and in the institution in general, based on the seven criteria identified by NAAC.
The college has 86 teachers - 76 permanent and 10 temporary. There are 49 members on the non-teaching staff including 23 technical personnel, 13 non-technical and 13 office staff . There are 1256 women students 1198 at undergraduates and 58 postgraduates.
The college aims at promoting higher education for socially and economically backward women. The objectives of the institution as stipulated in the college calendar are “to produce intellectually illumined, socially upright, spiritually enlightened women” in their specific roles, it seeks to develop right attitudes so that their relationship with others produce harmony of achievement, academic excellence to develop personality, spiritual and moral values to instil social awareness and social justice.
The Peer Team interacted with the Principal, the Management, faculty, students, alumni, parents and other functionaries. The following report is based on the perusal of records, the interactions and the Self-Study Report:
St. Xavier's college is a minority institution situated in an area of 16 acres on the banks of River Periyar which has a beautiful landscape. The Management has constructed huge buildings in an area of 16 acres and they are adequate for administering various courses offered in 3 faculties i.e. Science, Arts and Commerce. In the science faculty, there are 5 departments - mathematics, physics, chemistry, botany and zoology. The faculty of Arts offers Malayalam, English, economics, communicative English. In addition to these two faculties, the college offers under-graduate and post-graduate courses in Commerce. The college has the distinction of being an accredited centre for the National Open School offering plus two courses.
Section 2: Criteria-wise Analysis
The college offers instruction in 5 subjects in the science stream, 4 subjects in the arts stream and also commerce at the undergraduate level. Postgraduate courses are offered in Commerce and Physics. The college being affiliated to the Mahatma Gandhi University follows the syllabi prescribed by the university. In addition to this, the college offers two certificate courses and a post graduate course in computer science for which the curricula are prepared by the faculty of the college. A vocational course in Communicative English was started in the college with assistance of the UGC from the academic year 1995-96. Moreover, the college is an accredited centre of the National Open School and offers non-conventional courses for students enrolled from the local community. The teachers of the college voluntarily devote time for the conduct of these courses.
Graduate level courses in Malayalam, economics, mathematics, botany and zoology were started in 1968. Physics was introduced in 1980-81. The Department of Commerce started in 1982, incorporated M.Com in 1984, is the only department offering PG courses and research facilities to women alone in M.G. University. There are ten members in the department of which nine have acquired M.Phil after entry and one member has acquired L.L.B. degree. The Head of the Commerce Department is engaged in a number of academic and other activities and has three publications and one text book for B.Com course to his credit. He is also a consultant to a pharmaceutical company, the hospital and hotel units.
B.A. (English) was started in 1993-94 and the post-graduate course in physics in 1998-99. The college has submitted its application to the university seeking permission to start post graduate courses in English, Malayalam and Medical Micro-biology .
The college thus has a wide range of programme options, some of them such as those in Communicative English and computer courses are job oriented. This, being an affiliated college, cannot frame its own syllabi for all the university courses. Internal options available to students are limited.
The university has recently restructured its undergraduate courses and three members of the college faculty were associated with this process at the university level.
The mechanism for curricular review, for sharp-processing curricular aspects – in consonant with the colleges stated goals and for updating courses may be made explicit, if it exists, or be organised if it doesn’t.
The college admits students from the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, socially and economically backward classes, and minority communities. Physically handicapped students are also admitted every year. Students come from rural as well as urban areas. As such the college has to cater for the needs of a diverse student population, which includes strong and weak learners. Although the college does not have any mechanism to judge students' knowledge and aptitude at the entry level, efforts are made to identify slow learners and remedial courses are offered to them.
The efforts of the college to effectively integrate curricular and co-curricular programmes with adequate provision made for value education deserve special appreciation. There is a well-equipped language laboratory for the use of students of Communicative English. Teaching aids such as VCR, TV, OHP are used by various departments.
Students appear for the annual examination conducted by the University at the end of the academic year. The college conducts two term - end examinations and also administers assignments and tests periodically. Thus, although the university provides for only one annual examination, the college has supplemented the same by following its own programme of continuous assessment. Students of Communicative English are sent for on-the-job training.
The college communicates to students dates of terminal examinations, working days and holidays through the college calendar. Information about the methods of internal and external evaluation, individual assignments, projects etc. is given to students in advance.
Projects carrying 30 marks have been recently introduced for the third year B.Sc. zoology students. M.Com students are required to do projects as part of their course work. The Peer Team was impressed by the projects undertaken by students.
The Peer Team was happy to find that the college has adopted a formal mechanism to evaluate teachers by students by using a structured questionnaire. Students record their observations freely and also write about their expectations from teachers. The feedback thus obtained is analysed by the heads of the departments and action, if any, is discussed with the Principal for improvement. The Peer Team went through the relevant records and found that the mechanism adopted by the college has yielded good results.
The college has maintained excellent results in all the examinations conducted by the university. The college has secured 100 % result in B.A. (Malayalam) during the last 25 years, and 100 % in mathematics at B.Sc. in 1998-99. Similarly the percentage of successful candidates in economics was 95.4%, English Literature 86.8%, physics 93.75%, chemistry 94.44%, zoology 98.23%. The success of the teaching learning process becomes quite evident from these results.
The college is predominantly an under graduate institution and its emphasis is more on teaching, evaluation, extension and sports rather than research. The self-study report says that the faculty is over burdened with teaching and evaluation and do not find sufficient time to concentrate on research. However 25 teachers have completed M.Phil and 4 teachers have completed Ph.D. The college promotes research activities and publications of the faculty by granting study leave under the Faculty Improvement Programme. Necessary adjustment in teaching schedules is made and guest lectures are also arranged to facilitate the completion of the syllabus. Undergraduate students in Commerce are assigned project work, in fulfilment of the requirement for the post graduate programme. Linkages with industries and external agencies are ensured for the successful completion of the dissertation.
The Peer Team makes special mention of highest academic achievements of teachers from the departments of Malayalam, Zoology and Commerce who have a number of publications to their credit in the form of projects and research articles. Senior members of the faculty in the Departments of Commerce and Malayalam are also recognised as research supervisors. The faculty guides 3 M. Phil students and 2 Ph.D scholars. At the postgraduate level some departments have introduced empirical research in the form of dissertation as a part of the curriculum. A staff member from the department of Malayalam has edited the Guinness Book of Records (Malayalam version). The college may consider the possibility of introducing dissertation work in other departments also.
Students of the college are actively involved in many extension activities which is a noteworthy feature of the college. They organized camps on health, hygiene awareness, , blood donation, AIDS awareness and environmental issues. Grace marks are awarded for these important service oriented community education. It is important to note that students of the college stayed in tribal areas to inculcate habits of hygiene in the tribal community, and one of their NCC cadets got selected into the Indian team, which visited the United Kingdom in 1997 under Youth Exchange programme. Teachers and students have participated in the National Literacy Mission. The NSS and NCC girls often visited local villages to create health and hygiene awareness and conducted medical camps in a village among the fishermen community. Student participation in nature-cum-mini camps held at Peechi , Aluva "Save Periyar Project" is worth mentioning. The National Literacy Mission is one among the other outreach programmes of the college. Most of the NSS activities are carried out with the cooperation of Aluva Municipality.
The college has adequate infrastructure in its 16 acres campus. The main college building, auditorium library, two hostels, canteen, basketball, volleyball and kabaddi courts form a part of this.
In addition, the college has all other facilities such as a canteen, a cooperative store, a college bus, well equipped big science laboratories, a separate computer laboratory with 14 computers, a Photo copying machine, a generator and inverter. Special mention must be made of the language laboratory set up specially for students of Communicative English. Learners are given opportunities to listen to audio-cassettes, watch video films and read extracts from books to stimulate reading, listening speaking and writing skills. This exercise helps the learners to get rid of their inhibitions and gain confidence to speak English. The Peer Team noted with satisfaction that the buildings are well maintained and optimally used. The hostel has a capacity to admit 250 students. Presently there are 120 students residents. Free hostel facilities are given to 30 sports students on the campus.
The Self-Study Report admits that the college has not been able to provide a common room for staff. They do not have sufficient space for a non-resident students. They need more classrooms as well. However an old building is under renovation at present to take care of non-resident students.
Although the infrastructure for sports available on the campus is limited, its optimal use has given excellent results. The college has won 18 inter collegiate and more than 20 Kerala State tournaments in basket ball, volley ball and kabaddi in 1998-99.
The college has provided sufficient space for its library in a newly constructed building and 44,000 books in its stacks are well arranged. Students have free access to the library. There is a Library Advisory Committee. An amount of Rs. one lakh was made available to the library during the last year.
There is no formal mechanism in the college to handle grievances. However problems of students and employees are sorted out by the Principal. The functional relations between the staff and the Management are very cordial. Infrastructure needs extension even for existing programmes and it needs review for future use.
For the benefit of students the college publishes a prospectus containing information on courses, guidelines for admission, fee structure, details of various forms of student aid including scholarships and hostel accommodation. The college admits 60% of its students from socially economically backward sections of the society and 40 percent students on merit. More than 20 % drop out and nearly 80 % appear for the degree examination at the end of the completion of the course.
The college has instituted 15 endowment prizes for academic excellence which are sanctioned on the basis of Merit-cum-socio economic need. 158 prizes are awarded on the basis of student performance in curricular and extra curricular activities and 30 students get free hostel accommodation, boarding and lodging for their successful performance in basket ball, volley ball and Kabadi. The college has instituted 2 memorial trophies and conducts annual tournaments.
With regard to student progression to employment and performance in competitive examinations the college expressed its inability to provide data for want of records and follow up. The college is planning to start a placement cell shortly which may take up this responsibility. However the institution claims that nearly 48 percent of students either pursue higher education or get employed after obtaining degree.
The college has evolved a good feedback mechanism by designing a comprehensive questionnaire for students to evaluate teachers. Responses of students are compiled and necessary measures are taken on the basis of the feed back from time to time. The Parent Teacher Association's interaction with students and the tutorial system also act as an important source of feed back. The college is strong in extra curricular activities. The Nature Club conducts outdoor expeditions, the Debating Club conducts inter departmental competitions, quiz competitions, and mock assembly, the students’ annual magazine and cultural programmes are core activities that were noted by the Peer Team. The student magazine " The Xavierian" is edited by a student. The Board of Editors consisting of staff help students in editing the different articles whereas the Department of English and the department of Malayalam bring out their own manuscript magazine every year.
It needs to be highlighted that the college has made a mark in cultural programmes bagging first and second prizes in the North Zone Youth Festival during the current academic year. Many other colorful functions are organized during religious and national festivals. There is an alumni association, the Managing committee of which is headed by the Principal but there is no evidence of its contribution to institution so far.
The basis of the organization and Management of the college is the successful effort made by the Xaverian Community by involving staff, students, parents and prominent people from society.
The Governing Body constituted by the Mother General of CTC, Local Manager, the Principal, the Bursar and nominees of the Manager meets twice a year and monitors the affairs of the college. The Principal , the chief decision making authority, functions with the help of the College Council consisting of all the Heads of Departments and two elected members of the teaching staff of the college. All the academic and routine administrative matters are decided by the College Council. The Peer Team noted with satisfaction that the faculty is happy with this arrangement. It is however suggested that a formal mechanism of administration through committees with specific powers be suitably adopted by the college.
An active and motivated Parent Teacher Association formed in 1982 has been extending substantial financial support to the college for development projects like setting up of a computer science laboratory, constructing an auditorium, providing funds for the promotion of sports activities on regular basis and also for awarding prizes. This kind of involvement of the PTA in a college is rare. This is one of the distinguishing features of the college. The response of the parents was positive and spontaneous in their meeting with the Peer Team.
The Associations of the teaching and non teaching staff extend a helping hand to the Principal in the administration of the college. The Peer Team found that the administration of the college is based on participative decision making.
The college receives salary grants from the state government. Fees are charged as per the guidelines given by the state government and the university. The college is not free to change the free structure. No self financing courses have been introduced by the college so far. Mobilisation of funds through the PTA is a laudable feature of the college.
Various types of loans are available to the staff from their provident fund deposits. They can avail themselves of housing, vehicle and education loans for children.
The Peer Team noted with appreciation the following healthy practices followed by the College:
· Introduction of need based courses in computer science, two certificate courses and one diploma.
· The department of physics and Malayalam have given 100 percent results consistently.
· The pivotal role played by the Parent Teacher Association in the development of the college - providing substantial funds for college programmes.
· A very strong sports department which has won 18 intercollegiate and more than 20 state tournaments in basketball, volleyball and kabaddi in 1998-99.
· The implementation of the tutorial system in which every teacher is in charge of 10 students. The teachers provide guidance to students on academic and personal matters. Each teacher maintains the bio-data of students in her group.
· Specific time allocation is given to students for using the library. Students attendance is maintained in the library and sent to the Heads of Departments subsequently.
· Seminars organized by the department of Commerce on a regular basis on important topics such as Business Law, World Bank, Exim Policy. Teachers from this department contribute reading material - newspapers, journals. for a separate reading room maintained by the department in addition to the periodicals bought from college funds.
· The conduct of classes in value education regularly.
· Extension activities carried on by the college with the active involvement of Aluva Municipality, women's cell, and the Kerala State Legal Aid and Advice Board are laudable.
· The cordial relations between the Management, the Principal, teaching and non-teaching staff and students.
The Peer Team after going through the self study report and after its visit to various academic and physical facilities, was impressed by the progress made over the years in empowering women with education which is the goal of the institution. St. Xavier's College has made a mark as an institution for women and during last 35 years under the guidance of the Governing Body and the Principal has created an important institution with a difference. In addition to its basic philosophy of imparting higher education to women, the activities of the institution were also directed to many areas like moral education, extension activities, health services and cultural activities. The Management of the college is headed by Archbishop of Varapuzha and the Principal is the chief executive of the institution. The Management consists of the representatives of the congregation of Teresian Carmelites, faculty and prominent people of the locality which in its composition represents the interest of various sections of the society. The Management is interested in obtaining autonomous status with the specific purpose to introduce many innovative programmes specially in curriculum and evaluation.
The college by virtue of its rich and the impressive infrastructure, buildings, furniture, well equipped laboratories and qualified faculty has made significant progress in many areas.
While merit of its success lies in various curricular activities like sports and games, an equal corresponding performance in academic pursuit manifested in actual results of the students from three faculties ranging from 75% to 100% passes with more number of distinctions and first classes further enhances the prestige of the institution. The following are few commendations and suggestions made for future planning and fulfilment of institutional objectives.
Commendations:
1. Evaluation of teachers by students is an important source of direct feed back which is extensively used in all the departments for further improvement of faculty expertise. However it is desirable to make it more systematic.
2. The Peer Team is particularly happy about the special provisions made by the college like free education including boarding and lodging for those talented in sports and games, relaxation of admission criteria for the deserving in co-curricular areas, scholarships, endowments and free ships for academically meritorious students. This service culture is the main feature of St. Xavier's college.
3. The opportunities for vocational courses for drop outs and disadvantaged groups through the NOS centre, Nature Club activities to create environmental awareness and programmes taken up to reach the needy in the community are worth mentioning . However a career guidance cell for counselling needs to be institutionalized. It is gratifying to note that each individual in the institution is task oriented due to which team work is possible
4. We appreciate the healthy interdepartmental and interpersonal relations of the institutions.
5. The extension services of the college namely NCC, NSS, Computer Centre, career guidance cell, NOS and their achievements are very special.
6. Literacy in general, and women's literacy in particular, is the main feature of the institution in the context of women empowerment
7. Enrichment programmes for preparing girls for competitive examinations should be institutionalized. A special cell on Women studies needs to be created with financial assistance obtained from the UGC and other funding agencies.
8. The Peer Team is convinced of the principle of participatory democracy of the faculty in the institutional planning and co-ordination.
9. The faculty forms the core strength of the college. The Peer Team has noted with concern that even the brightest teachers do not have sufficient exposure to research. In the interest of the professional development of faculty and academic excellence it is imperative to create adequate research opportunities.
10. The committee felt that the college should further encourage teachers in several departments to pursue M.Phil and Ph.D programmes seriously. Faculty improvement programme of the UGC should be availed of to a great extent. This is necessary for updating knowledge and professional skills.
11. The college should explore the possibility of raising a corpus fund and creating research and development cell to coordinate these activities.
12. While the founders of the institution have set the vision for its future the Principal is committed to this mission entrusted to her. In our brief interaction with the Principal during the visit, we are convinced that she is an asset along with the committed faculty who in turn can take the institution to its great heights.
-o0o-