ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE, DEVAGIRI (AUTONOMOUS) A College with Potential for Excellence Affiliated to the University of Calicut Calicut, Kerala – 673008 SELF STUDY REPORT 2011-2015 (For Institutional Accreditation Cycle 3) Submitted to National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) Bangalore PREFACE It gives me immense pleasure to bring out the Self Study Report (SSR) of St. Joseph’s College, Devagiri (Autonomous) for submission to the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Bangalore for the third cycle of accreditation. This report is the criterion-wise compilation of the inputs, processes and outcomes of our endeavours for quality sustenance and enhancement. This SSR has given us an opportunity to know our strengths and to identify our weaknesses so that we could strengthen our quest for quality and excellence. The entire college community was involved in the process of review and self appraisal. The present report is the outcome of the collective effort of the entire Devagiri Family. The IQAC has been keen to make the entire process interactive and participatory by ensuring the involvement of all the stakeholders. Let me express my sincere thanks to the management, staff and IQAC for extending wholehearted support for the preparation of this Self Study Report. Dr. Sibichen M. Thomas Principal Table of Contents Executive Summary 01 SWOC Analysis of the College 08 Profile of the College 09 Criterion I: Curricular Aspects 18 Criterion II: Teaching-Learning and Evaluation 34 Criterion III: Research, Consultancy and Extension 73 Criterion IV: Infrastructure and Learning Resources 106 Criterion V: Student Support and Progression 126 Criterion VI: Governance, Leadership and Management 153 Criterion VII: Innovations and Best Practices 180 Evaluative Reports of the Departments: 189-299 Department of English 189 Department of Economics 197 Department of Mathematics 206 Department of Physics 215 Department of Chemistry 224 Department of Botany 234 Department of Zoology 241 Department of Commerce 251 Department of Business Management 258 Department of Computer Science 263 Department of Psychology 269 Department of History and Political Science 275 Department of Language and Communication 277 Department of Physical Education 280 Department of Malayalam 282 Department of Statistics 285 Department of Social Work 289 Department of Hindi 295 Department of French 298 Post-Accreditation Initiatives 300 Declaration by the Head of the institution 303 Certificate of Compliance 304 Annexure i – xxxiii Annexure –I i Annexure –II ii Annexure –III iii Annexure – IV iv Annexure –V vi Annexure – VI xxiii Annexure – VII xxv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY St. Joseph’s College, Devagiri, is an institution of higher learning in Kerala, envisioned by the CMI congregation and established in 1956 with the vision of uplifting the poor and the less privileged of Kerala. Driven by its motto ‘Pro Deo et Patria’, which means ‘For God and Country’, the College imparts education with the mission of transforming its students into leaders of social reformation who are socially conscious, intellectually competent, spiritually enlightened, morally upright, psychologically integrated and physically healthy. Criterion I: Curricular Aspects The College, affiliated to the University of Calicut, had little freedom to develop its own curriculum for realising the stated vision and mission. Even so, efforts were made at the initiative of individual departments to complement the curriculum through seminars, assignments and projects, and to fine-tune it to make it more enriching and updated. Besides, due to the presence of a good number of our faculty in the Boards of Studies of the affiliating university, the College could exert its influence in the designing of curriculum. The autonomous status obtained in 2014 has empowered the College to design its curricula to suit the requirements of the employers in particular and the society in general. The College has already initiated the process of curriculum restructuring. The process of curriculum development is reviewed at three levels– by the Department, Board of Studies and Academic Council. While the department concerned, prepares the broad content of the syllabi with due regard to the feedback obtained from students, alumni, parents and external experts, the Board of Studies reviews the curriculum and proposes the necessary changes. Every Board of Studies consists of subject experts chosen from other colleges/universities, nominated from industry and co-opted from the alumni. The Board also decides on the structure of the syllabi, method of evaluation and the panel of examiners. The Academic Council gives broad guidelines on these areas and approves the decisions of the Board. The College offers 15 UG, 11 PG and 6 PhD programmes in arts, science, commerce and management studies. Besides, the institution is a study centre for PG programmes of the affiliating university on the distance education mode. With the introduction of Choice Based Semester System (CCSS) in 2009, the affiliating university brought limited flexibility into the UG programmes by offering Open courses and Electives apart from the Common courses. 1 Criterion II: Teaching– Learning and Evaluation The College strictly adheres to the admission policies of the government and the affiliating university in respect of the admission process, and adopts all possible measures to ensure fairness and transparency in the process of admission. It ensures due reservation to candidates belonging to SC and ST categories, and also to the physically challenged candidates. Foreign students under ICCR scheme and students from Lakshadweep are also admitted. The teaching-learning and evaluation processes are planned and executed in accordance with the academic calendar and the examination schedule prepared in advance. The tutorial system practiced in the College helps us to identify the differential requirements of student population so that special support can be extended to the slow learners in the form of remedial classes, while high achievers are motivated to pursue challenging career goals. Student-centric teaching methodology, with student involvement through seminars, group discussions, brain storming sessions and project works, ensures the holistic development of the learners. ICT is used extensively and most of the classrooms are equipped with laptops and LCD projectors. Campus-wide connectivity and the library with INFLIBNET facility ensure access to e- resources. A team of well qualified and committed teachers is the greatest strength of our college. Teachers are recruited as per the UGC norms laid down by the University of Calicut and the Govt. of Kerala. Currently the College has 119 teachers on the rolls out of which 72 are in the grant-in-aid, 35 are management-paid and 12 are guest faculty. Among the teachers 40 are PhD holders and 11 have M.Phil degree while 49 are UGC-NET/JRF qualified. Teachers update themselves by participating in refresher courses, orientation programmes and other training programmes. Teacher excellence is enhanced by a structured feedback system. Teachers collect feedback from students, which are used for improving their performances. The Controller of Examinations (CoE), monitors the examination process in the College. The institution strictly adheres to the examination schedules. Adequate measures are taken to ensure the fairness and objectivity of the evaluation process. Provision is made for revaluation and re-totalling of answer scripts. Students can also get photocopy of answer book on request. Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) administers the students’ feedback system and monitors the teaching- learning process in the College. 2 Criterion III: Research, Consultancy and Extension: Research in the College has been given a strong thrust, putting it on par with teaching-learning. Six departments (Zoology, Botany, Chemistry, English, Mathematics and Physics) are approved research centres. After the reaccreditation five scholars completed research from our centres and were awarded PhD. Most of the departments offer project works to encourage research activity among the students. Eight faculty members completed research and were awarded PhD during the last five years, while nine others are pursuing research leading to PhD. At present the institution is running 6 major and 20 minor research projects with a total outlay of Rs. 1,44,79,400. Since the last accreditation, the College has substantially strengthened the basic research facilities by availing CPE, DST, GDA and BSR grants. Most of the faculty members publish papers in referred journals. The College has launched an international science journal and a journal of social work. The Research Advisory Committee helps the faculty by providing information regarding funding sources and co-ordinating the research activities in the College. The departments and faculty give free consultancy services in various areas. Plant identification, pest control and statistical data analysis are some of the important areas where consultancy is offered. Extension projects and outreach activities have been substantially strengthened since the reaccreditation. In addition to NSS, NCC and Blood Donors’ Forum, the Social Work Department has taken up a project for the conservation of Poonur River (Project Prayan) and has undertaken a number of social surveys and community development programmes in rural areas including ‘adivasi settlements’. Blood donation which is practiced as a process of orienting