ST.THOMAS COLLEGE, PALA ARUNAPURAM P.O. KOTTAYAM (DIST.) KERALA, PIN – 686574, Phone 04822-212317, Fax: 04822-216313 Website: www.stcp.ac.in Email: [email protected] , [email protected] (IDENTIFIED AS A COLLEEGE WITH POTENTIAL FOR EXCELLENCE) Annual Report regarding the steps taken under the CPE Programme of UGC during 2011-2012 The UGC has released a sum of Rs.50.00 lakhs in 2010-11 as first installment. A sum of Rs.40.00 lakhs has been sanctioned as second installment by UGC during 2011-12 but the amount has not yet been released. We have spent more than Rs.80.00 lakhs so far. Thanks to the CPE Programme of UGC, the college had introduced a number of innovative steps with regard to curriculum, teaching, evaluation etc. at undergraduate, post-graduate and research levels. The direct benefits have been obtained to more than 10000 students at UG and PG levels apart from 500 research scholars as well as 200 faculty members. Indirectly it has been beneficial to more than 50000 people in the Meenachil Taluk in Kottayam District which is an agricultural belt in Kerala. The Choice Based Credit and Semester System (CBCSS) has been introduced at UG level in all programmes by 2011 and this has been extended to PG programs by 2012. Continuous assessment as part of internal examinations was introduced with various components such as attendance, assignments, seminars and test papers. Each student has to prepare at least 2 assignments or term papers in each subject of study and present them in seminars. There will be monthly test papers in addition to the end semester external examination by the university. Quiz programmes as well as oral viva-voce examinations are also conducted for each batch. For English language teaching, practicals in the language lab. has been introduced for ensuring correct pronunciations and phonetics. Students are encouraged in creative writing. The readers forum ensures more reading and library usage and monthly quizes are conducted on current affairs including news items of national and international importance, literary items, cinema, sports, science etc. Each student is under the strict monitoring of a mentor under the new tutorial system. There is a maximum of 15 students for each teacher who will help those students in all academic and co-curricular matters. This is strengthened by constant contacts with the parents and there will be at least one batch wise mid-semester meeting of parents, teachers and students during each semester. 12 Open courses are provided, so that students can opt courses offered by other departments. The courses were designed by our teachers. 15 teachers of our college are members of the Boards of Studies of the university, for preparing the syllabi of various courses. 3 teachers are members of the University Senate and one among them is a member of the Syndicate of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. The uses of ICT resources have been ensured with the use of LCD’s and interactive boards along with Internet facilities in smart classrooms. The curriculum has been so designed that it ensures active involvement of students and teachers in the teaching-learning process. Residential orientation camps are given to each batch regarding the scope of the syllabus, opportunities for career development as well as higher studies in addition to confidence building programmes and leadership training programmes. Highly motivated and intelligent students are encouraged to apply for KVPY scholarships as well as interaction with eminent scientists and experts. Science exhibitions, Film festival, Arts festival etc. were organized to develop their talents as well as to encourage them with attractive prizes. Two of our UG students were selected for international 1 visits to Germany and Malayasia. Two of our NCC cadets participated in the Republic Day parade in 2011.During 2012, four of our NCC cadets participated in the Republic Day Parade. During 2011-12, the college initiated various collaborative programmes with National Science Academies, the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) etc. in addition to various programmes of UGC. A Refresher Course in Condensed Matter Physics and a National Lecture Workshop on Statistical Applications in Industry, Business, Agriculture and Ecology were organized in collaboration with all the three Science Academies in India. Another Workshop on Chemistry was organized in collaboration with the National Science Academies and the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam in March 2012. A ‘Workshop on Informatics’ sponsored by KSHEC was organized for equipping teachers and non-teaching staff in the use of computers as well as office automation. Training was given to all in computer use including Internet and made them aware of cyber crimes and related laws. Four workshops on Methodology of Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences and Business Studies were organized in collaboration with KSHEC. Budget analysis and presentations as well as quiz competitions were conducted by the Dept. of Economics. Ozone Day Celebrations, Science Day Celebrations and Science Exhibition were organized in collaboration with KSCSTE. A workshop on Maintenance of electronic equipments was organized in collaboration with UGC-WRIC, Mumbai. An international Conference on Mathematical Sciences (ICMS) 2011 was organized with financial support from UGC, DST, CSIR, KSCSTE etc. A UGC sponsored National Seminar on the ‘Role of Women in Fiction, Language and Literature’ was organized by the Dept.of Malayalam. The Hindi Dept. brought out a documentary on ‘Meenachil River and Environmental Problems’ to create an awareness among youth and public to keep the river and surroundings clean. The students of Malayalam Dept. produced a documentary on the bad effects of Mobile Phone use among college students. The English Dept. organized a fashion show on the cultural transitions in Kerala campuses during the last 50 years as part of its Golden Jubilee Celebrations ‘ Nostalgia ’. The Commerce Dept. organized a Commerce Quiz on Recent Trends and developments in Business and Management. The Statistics dept. organized a Stat Storm Quiz to popularize statistics and its applications among students and the public. Skills in the use of computer softwares like SPSS, Tally were nurtured by certificate programmes. A Diploma on Computer Networking and Maintenance was initiated in collaboration with KELTRON. Vaious staff training programmes were organized for teachers as well as non-teaching staff. We have also implemented three Career Oriented Programs with UGC support during 2011-12. At PG level semester system has been strengthened by various innovative programmes. Classroom teaching has been supplemented by field works and visits to reputed national laboratories and institutes. Students are encouraged to make use of INFLIBNET, NLIST and other Internet resources along with new books and journals in the preparation of term papers and assignments. Science students are given training in La Tex software for documentation. Students in Mathematics, Statistics, Biostatistics, Economics, Commerce etc. are given training in the use of SPSS software for data analysis. Students in Botany, Chemistry and Physics are also given training in the use of computing softwares. All PG students are given special coaching for UGC- CSIR NET/JRF examinations. Career Counselling and encouragement for pursuing research in reputed institutions are provided. Special training in English for IELTS was given to selected students. Also SAS training was provided to PG students in Mathematics, Statistics and Biostatistics. Campus Interviews, Campus Placements etc. are organized to ensure adequate career opportunities to PG students. Coaching for Bank Tests for PO’s and Clerks is provided. SC/ST students were given special orientation and awareness on various scholarship schemes and other incentives. PG admission was done through a Centralized Allotment Process (CAP) by 2 the university and the top rankers opted our college under first option. Invited talks by experts from various national institutions were organized by every department. The departmental subject associations were strengthened and under their auspices various enrichment programmes were organized. Quiz programs, problem solving sessions, creative writing, stage programmes etc. were organized. Touch screen facilities are being provided to physically handicapped students. There have been a resurgence in research activities. Utilizing CPE funds we have initiated three centers of research namely Centre for Mathematical and Statistical Modeling and Computing, Centre for Nano Technology and Polymer Science, Centre for Biodiversity Studies and Documentation. More than 15 of our research scholars were awarded Ph.D. during 2011-12 Now there are more than 196 research scholars doing research in the various departments of the college under the guidance of 86 research guides. Our faculty and research scholars have published more than 120 research papers in reputed national/international peer reviewed journals. More than 20 research scholars have newly joined for research. Our faculty members also are implementing 8 major and 27 minor research projects at present. During 2011-12 we organized 5 national seminars sponsored by UGC and an International Conference on Materials Science and Technology ICMST 2012. The IQAC in the college is monitoring research activities, for exploring