THE PRINCIPAL's REPORT 2020-21 We Have
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THE PRINCIPAL’S REPORT 2020-21 We have been through the most unprecedented times during past one year. Corona virus has impacted teaching learning in a big way. This sector witnessed major digital transformation accompanied in an attempt to stay connected to students, to teach them and to provide holistic support to them during these testing times. The industry has shown resilience, courage and agility to adapt to the situation in real time. Vaccination drive has given us hope of normalization especially in the education sector. Institutions have remained closed for students for a major part of the year. Efforts are on to open in phases. Though we would return to normal teaching sometime in future, Covid induced digital transformation is here to stay for all times to come. Blended learning would be the preferred way going forward. We have managed teaching and learning to some extent. We have managed evaluation and online admission. The unparalleled and never before seen catastrophe of the global pandemic, the fact that the teaching- learning process shifted online, and the recognition that access to this might not always be evenly distributed or possible for all was the guiding thought behind the AEPIC initiative of distributing laptops with uploaded study materials. It is also significant to acknowledge that students from weaker sections faced problems in accessing laptops and mobiles. College tried to provide laptops to economically weaker students and launched a drive for donation of mobile phones. To aid the needy and academically sound students to carry on with online lectures, the team AEPIC, decided to initiate the program of Content uploading and laptop distribution. Faced with unusual times, educators and institutions have had to optimize all resources at their disposal and to evolve methodologies to keep the teaching-learning process alive, robust, and meaningful. Keeping in view the COVID times, Lakshmibai College conducted online Orientation Program course wise in small groups to connect with the new entrants. It was a weeklong event wherein all the College societies introduced the students to their respective goals and what they have to offer to the students. The objective of the programme was to familiarize the students with the ethos and culture of the institution. Faculty and student volunteers from across disciplines worked extensively to ensure that the induction was well organised. With a view to a continued commitment to scholastic standards and also as a way to respond to the demands created by the present scenario of the pandemic, college organized large number of webinars for the students and the faculty members. Research plays a major role in the field of academia. Webinars / online workshops / FDPs conducted by the college continued the momentum. The Young Researchers’ Forum (YRF) was launched in a time when along with the rest of the world, the academic endeavour too was facing a crises in a Pandemic driven world. The forum was launched with the clear aim of making quality research an integral part of the undergraduate curriculum in Lakshmibai College. To maintain its standard to grow further, college signed three MOUs- one with International University and two with colleges in Assam and Nagaland. Despite the grim projections by this pandemic, there is a silver lining too as visible in the most sincere and exceptionally devoted efforts by the nation. As Benjamin Disraeli said that “Change is inevitable, Change is constant”, the world we live in is full of uncertainities, the only certain is change. A big change came in the field of education with New Education Policy. One of the major highlight of the reform is the emphasis on our mother tongue. Keeping that in view, we launched Bhartiya Bhasha Mandal under the aegis of AEPIC. It was established to encourage the exchange of language knowledge between students of different cultures. BBM strives to eliminate linguistic boundaries while preserving linguistic diversity. The students were acquainted with the tasks which BBM intends to do and they were encouraged to join this forum in order to promote as well as learn different languages. As multilingualism and registers of linguistic diversity become an important part of our consciousness as well as our inhabited world, Certificate Course in Translation is being devised and is in process of being launched in collaboration with Bhartiya Anuvad Parishad. We are also working on inhouse MOOC development to spread quality education with a much larger audience. The college, apart from conducting online classes, reached out to all stakeholders including students and parents through online meetings. This is life. Let's accept the challenge and use the opportunity hidden in the crisis. It is difficult to be confined within walls but let us think for a moment about people who don't have walls. Let's think, what would have been the case had there been no internet. Let's be thankful to the technology which has given us this opportunity to remain connected with each other even during this pandemic. However pandemic has gone to bring depression, anxiety as serious concerns for human beings. In order to tackle that and to understand life at the level of consciousness, we had webinars addressing the issue of mental health. Things are much deeper than they look at surface level. Deeper understanding of issues gives us clarity and makes us stress free that is what we all look for. Psychology Resource Centre, under the aegis of Department of Psychology which got constituted in this academic year, was constituted in December 2020 to serve the entire college including students, faculty members and non-teaching staff. Its flagship initiative monthly Institute Lecture Series invites eminent personalities from diverse backgrounds to share their past learnings and experiences on which the students and faculty members of our college can reflect. In continuation to this process, the college has initiated a Mentor-Mentee program. There are 2 mentor-mentee sessions per week one on Wednesday (5th period 1-2pm) and other on Friday (4th period 12 -1 pm). The program includes the interaction of teachers and students in which diverse issues are discussed ranging from queries of students, stress management of students, discussion on current issues related to their subjects. This program has been conceived to allow teachers and students to meet on an alternate and more informal platform. Moreover, to keep ourselves and others mentally and physically fit, we organized ‘Atmanirbhar Shivir’ and ‘Yogabhyas’ in the college premises. Besides as an educational institution we have social responsibility as well. We started an initiative to feed 50-60 hungry people in JJ Colony Wazirpur near Lakshmibai College during the lockdown. Large number of colleagues contributed for this. Some faculty members contributed to PM relief fund even before University requested everyone to participate in this. During COVID-19 our WISHVAS project, is having its fourth successful year, was working online and when the conditions were under control, we started our work in Wazirpur village. This year the team extended the area of the project to other areas like Timarpur Village (on every Friday), Sarai Rohilla (near Railway Station). Beside teaching and educating the kids of the area, our volunteers try to improve their skills in different ways like providing fine arts classes and self-defense training to girls of the area etc. Empowering girls from low income groups especially during this pandemic remained our first priority. Red dot project, a project for the women and by the women, of the college has remained busy in making cheap and hygienic sanitary pads for young girls. Reusable Cost Effective Sanitary Pad was one of the sustainable initiatives amidst COVID 19 outbreak by Lakshmibai College. We need to join hands in these difficult times as it is a time for prudence,not panic; science, not stigma; facts, not fear. Physically distant doesn’t mean that we have to maintain distance from each other. Heart is more powerful and the power it garners through remaining together and cooperating with each other. Sensitivity to us and to the world is the key to success. Resolution of mind is the path towards it. Most pertinent question is what are our desires and what are our needs. We require digging out those elements which are in excess available to us. Whether it is possible to take out that portion and give it to someone. The deadly virus which is still very much present around we taught us how to live life in simplest terms. It did brought hardships but also brought out humanity. People have started valuing the resources they have. The communicable nature of the virus has gone to make us understand the basic formula of life that we all are one. There is no difference. Irrespective of who are you, you are in the same vulnerable position as anyone. Irrespective of all the odds we as college have managed to grow and utilize this time for the betterment of institution. Once the lockdown was eased, we consumed ourselves in improving our infrastructure. The prime addition was our newly built Health & Wellness Centre – ‘Aarogyam’. This is the place for knowing yourself at all levels through Philosophical and Psychological Counselling, Medical Advice, First Aid etc. The first floor is designed to be a Place to know thyself in the purest form of being, to pause and to realize how all the five elements of our body communicate with Nature and the Spirit. “May the concept of ‘Tatvamasi’ be realized.” Other principal additions to the institution were new parking area, well furnished reading room in the library, new furniture in the canteen, construction of new gates with more security and overall renovation of classrooms and college buildings.