St Teresa’s College Self Study Ernakulam Report March 2017 St Teresa’s College Self Study Ernakulam Report March 2017 St Teresa’s College Self Study Ernakulam Report PREFACE It is with immense joy and gratitude to the Almighty that we at St. Teresa’s College submit this Self Study Report to the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) for the fourth cycle of re-accreditation. This report, which is a collaborative work of a team of dedicated teachers spearheaded by the IQAC and the NAAC Coordinator, and supported by the Director, the Heads of Departments, all the faculty members, non teaching staff and students of the College, highlights the steady growth of the institution during the post accreditation period. The recommendations of the NAAC peer team following their previous visit to the College were kept in mind while visualising the goals that were set to improve the quality of the institution. This 92 year old premier minority institution has always addressed the needs of the marginalised sections in society and has worked to empower them as responsible and proactive citizens who are committed to the development of the nation. This SSR provides insights into our potential to scale greater heights as we strive to fulfil the vision of our foundress, Servant of God, Mother Teresa of St. Rose of Lima. I express my sincere thanks to each and every Teresian whose efforts have gone into the shaping of this report. Dr. Sajimol Augustine M. Principal March 2017 St Teresa’s College Self Study Ernakulam Report Contents Executive Summary i SWOC Analysis of the College xi Profile of the Autonomous College xii Criteria-wise Inputs Criterion I: Curricular Aspects 1 Criterion II: Teaching-Learning and Evaluation 27 Criterion III: Research, Consultancy and Extension 74 Criterion IV: Infrastructure and Learning Resources 116 Criterion V: Student Support and Progression 137 Criterion VI: Governance, Leadership and Management 166 Criterion VII: Innovations and Best Practices 196 Evaluative reports of the Departments Department of Bharatanatyam 212 Department of Botany 217 Department of Chemistry 224 Department of Commerce 232 Department of Commerce Self-financing 237 Department of Communicative English 243 Department of Computer Applications 249 Department of Economics 259 Department of English 268 Department of French 277 Department of Hindi 284 Department of History 287 March 2017 St Teresa’s College Self Study Ernakulam Report Department of Home Science 292 Department of Malayalam 308 Department of Management Studies 311 Department of Mathematics and Statistics 314 Department of Physical Education 320 Department of Physics 325 Department of Psychology 335 Department of Sociology 338 Women’s Study Centre 346 Department of Zoology 354 Post Accreditation Initiatives 361 Declaration by the Head of the Institution 365 Certificate of Compliance 366 Annexures Annexure – I 368 Annexure – II 369 Annexure – III 370 Annexure – IV 371 Annexure – V 372 Annexure – VI 374 Annexure – VII 376 March 2017 St Teresa’s College Self Study Ernakulam Report Executive Summary St. Teresa’s College (Autonomous) Ernakulam, Kerala, a pioneering institution committed to the cause of higher learning of women and their empowerment through excellence in teaching, learning and research, was established on 15th June 1925 by the Carmelite Sisters of St. Teresa under the leadership of the visionary foundress Mother Teresa of St. Rose of Lima – a legend who opened up a new and glorious page for the empowerment of women, and who was declared as Servant of God on 29 January 2016. This 92 year old premier minority institution provides education in line with the mission of the foundress, aimed at the integral formation of intellectually creative, emotionally mature, morally responsible, spiritually enlightened, socially committed and truly liberated young women who will reposition themselves as self-reliant and responsible individuals and become agents of change to transform society. Criterion I: Curricular Aspects The College, affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University, became autonomous in the year 2014. The post accreditation period therefore involves two phases i.e. the first phase from 2012 to 2014, when the institution was affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University and the second phase from 2014, when it became autonomous. As an affiliated college it lacked the freedom to design the curriculum. But conscientious efforts were taken to create an academic environment which offered maximum opportunity for students to pursue courses that were interdisciplinary, in the self-financing sector, complying with the rules of the Government of Kerala and the University. Being a premium institution, the College was privileged to have a majority of the faculty members on the various Boards of Studies of M.G. University, contributing effectively in the area of curriculum design and development. In 2014, when the College became autonomous, the institution initiated the process of curriculum restructuring, determined to revamp the curriculum while retaining all the fundamental stipulations March 2017 i St Teresa’s College Self Study Ernakulam Report of the University/Higher Education Council, for ensuring optimum quality. Many innovative programmes were introduced keeping in mind the national goals - Skill India & Start up India. This was a policy initiative taken by the institution to offer courses for which the demand ratio was high and which facilitated employment and entrepreneurship. The process of curriculum development involved all the Departments, Boards of Studies and the Academic Council. In order to provide proper training to the teachers, workshops were conducted to re-visit the methodology of the teaching-learning process and initiate the faculty to the concept of scientific course designing. Serious efforts were taken by the management to assure quality to the newly designed programmes through feedback from parents, teachers, students, alumnae, industrial experts and academicians. The College offers 53 programmes in all, in arts, science, commerce and management studies: 23 UG programmes, 17 PG programmes, 3 MPhil programmes, 6 PhD Programmes, 1 UG Diploma and 3 PG Diploma programmes. Of these, 28 programmes are under the regular stream and 25 in the self-financing category, with 22 programmes newly added in the post-accreditation period, of which 16 were added following the grant of autonomy. Under the Choice Based Credit and Semester System the UG programmes offer 20 Open Courses. The UG & PG programmes offer Electives as well. Additionally, the College also offers 3 UG and 3 PG programmes in the distance education mode as a study centre for the affiliating university, and 3 PG programmes under Centre for Continuing Education Kerala (CCEK). The students have a choice of 28 add-on courses. The College offers 10 add on certificate courses. It is also a Centre for Continuing Education Kerala (CCEK) that offers 2 courses (1 Certificate course and 1 Diploma course). As a registered study centre of IGNOU for offering distance education, there are 5 Courses (2 Certificate courses, 2 Diploma courses and 1 PG Diploma course). Five higher order skill development programmes have been introduced by the College which is a centre for NSDC, SRC Kerala and ASAP. The College also offers 6 enrichment courses. Criterion II: Teaching-Learning and Evaluation St. Teresa’s College adheres to the admission policies of the Government of Kerala and Mahatma Gandhi University with regard to the admission process. From 2012 to 2014 the institution followed the single window system of admission (CAP - Centralized Allotment Process) introduced by the University. From 2015 onwards admissions are March 2017 ii St Teresa’s College Self Study Ernakulam Report done through the online admission portal of the College. The admission process is completely automated, and well monitored by the admission committee. The College takes care to ensure transparency and equity in the admission of students. Seat distribution for regular programmes is in accordance with the policy of the government and the affiliating university. The institution ensures access to students from all sections of society and recognizes an obligation to offer appropriate support and facilities to those who are economically challenged, marginalized and differently abled. Accordingly, 15% seats are reserved for Scheduled Caste students and 5% for Scheduled Tribe students, 20% of seats are reserved for the Latin community, a backward Christian community to which the institution belongs. In addition, 20% of the Management seats are reserved for those from the economically weaker and disadvantaged sections of society. The academic calendar and examination schedule are prepared at the beginning of each academic year. The academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities are planned paying attention to the goals of each department. The plans for the year are envisaged and developed in consultation with the Heads of Departments and the Controller of Examinations, and a schedule that outlines all major activities is prepared and incorporated in the College Handbook. Efforts are taken right from the beginning of the academic year to identify slow learners, and tutorial classes and remedial teaching is provided for weak students. Peer teaching-learning sessions are organized for the benefit of the students. A special effort is taken to identify the advanced learners and opportunities for their further growth are facilitated. The College