BEST PRACTICE I
Poorna Vikas: Ensuring Holistic Development of Students
Objectives
- Support the students’ physical well-being to enhance their quality of life.
- Encourage the intellectual well-being of the students to keep them inspired to accomplish their goals.
- Facilitate the emotional well-being for a feeling of personal fulfilment among students.
- Enhance the students’ social well-being and leadership qualities to communicate effectively within the community.
- Promote professional and employability skills to ensure a fulfilling future.
Context
Serene location and legacy of the College attract students to the campus. Despite that, there are instances of irregularity and poor performance due to ill health, lack of self-motivation, peer influence, increased screen time, etc. After collective thinking, the College implemented the project for the holistic development of the students.
The practice
Physical well-being
- Presence of Yoga centre and certificate course in Yoga.
- Well- equipped Gymnasium
- Zumba and Aerobics
- Self-defence classes
- Music and dance club
Intellectual well-being
- KYS – Know Your Student is a preliminary examination for first year students on general, core and complementary subjects to assess their knowledge.
- Well equipped Library Facility
- PROMPT- ( P- Proctor Model, R- Reciprocal, P- Peer support and assessment Group, T- Teaching Through Jigsaw Method)
- VIBE- Vocabulary Induction and Building Exercise
- SSP- Scholar Support Programme/ Remedial
- Tutorial classes
- Scholarships and Endowments
- Competitions like quizzes, poster making and literary activities
- Prathibha Sangamam – Merit Day and Graduation ceremony
- Certificate and Value- added courses
- Bridge course
- Gregorian Student Beacons
- National seminar/webinar, presentations, competition
- LURE – Library Usage and Readership Enhancement programme
- Spiritual and Emotional Well-being
- Counselling
- Mentoring, active PTA with regular interaction.
- Problems identified – absentee, late arrival, poor performance in the examinations, introverted behaviour, learning disabilities – are communicated with parents for further action.
- Service of the Clinical Psychologist and Student Counsellor.
- Common Prayer Hall
- Theertham magazine by MGOCSM
- Fast a Day Feast a Friend
- Secular prayer in the morning and the National Anthem in the evening
- Observance of various festivals to nurture harmony
Social and Cultural Well-being
- NCC, NSS, Bhoomithrasena Club and Nature Club activities
- Classes hosted by the Women’s forum, Gender Champions’ Club, Electoral Literacy Club, Anti- narcotic Cell
- SENA – Skills for Empowerment and National Advancement
- Ek Bharath Sresht Bharath Club
- Human Rights and Legal Literacy Club
- Film and Drama Club
Career and Employability Skill Development
- ACCA- Additional Care for Career Advancement.
- Career guidance classes and training programmes
- ASAP – Additional Skill Acquisition Programme
- WWS- Walk With Scholar
- Value-added course by the Department of English for career development
- SAP-FICO
Personality development
- College Union activities
- Madathilasaan Centre for Human Empowerment
- Readers’ Forum
- Swachatha committee
- Gregorian student beacons
- Gender champions
Evidence of Success
A positive response from stakeholders was visibly observed through
- Physical fitness improved
- Academic & Career Performance Index enhanced.
- No cases of anti-social activities were reported.
- Values such as inclusiveness, magnanimity and integrity enriched
- Instilled a sense of belongingness to the campus.
Problems Encountered and Resources Required
- No credits for participation in extracurricular activities.
- The paucity of resources and time constraints
BEST PRACTICE II
Amrutham Gamaya – Selfless Service to Eternity
Context
Amrutham Gamaya, the eponymous title of the best practice II, is from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad and aims to enhance interpersonal skills and foster emotional intelligence. Its focus is to develop students’ empathy, kindness, and understanding of divinity in fellow beings, enabling them to become agents of positive social change. Values such as integrity, teamwork, commitment, self-discipline and diligence via academic and extracurricular activities inspire them to collaborate, aim for greatness, and recognise the accomplishments of their peers. This strategy also promotes respecting social work and adding to the significance of society.
Objectives
- Giving back to community
- Empathising with the world around them
- Making a difference in the lives of others
- Enhancing one’s skill through community involvement
The following are the programmes conducted under each title
1. Interaction with the community
- Programmes under the Electoral Literacy Club
- Natuchantha (Village Market)
- Activities at Pampady Police Station
- Food Safety Class to North Indian Migrant Workers in their vernacular.
- Financial Literacy Class for Kudumbasree Members
- Facelifting of Adopted Village Anganwadi.
- Donation of the television set to Pampady Treasury Office.
- Setting up of O.P. Counter at Pampady Government Taluk Hospital
- Project Vazhiyorakattu for the promotion of Village Tourism
- Maintaining Fruit & Medicinal Plants’ Garden at Kottayam Collectorate
- Distribution of vegetable saplings and organic farming manual at the Adopted Village
- Extension activities of the College NSS & NCC
2. Empathising with the world around
- Regular visits to the rehabilitation centres.
- Santhwanam (Music programme) at Pampady Government Taluk Hospital for the hospice patients.
- Flood rehabilitation works
- Distribution of foot sanitiser & face masks during COVID days
- Donation of walking aids
- Hair donation to Cancer Foundation
- Distributed food packets to destitutes at Kottayam.
3. Making a difference in the lives of others
The College annually allocates funds for charity, with details kept confidential and audited statements are available for verification upon request.
4. Enhancing skills through community involvement
- Conduct a survey for generating E-shram cards
- Making and distribution of Eco-friendly cloth bags.
- Hands-on training in Traffic Control.
- Service at Sabarimala Pilgrim Centre.
- Issue Health cards to members of the adopted village.
Evidence of Success
- Students’ commitment to community service through extension activities reaches its peak by their respective course ends.
- NSS & NCC members develop pro-philanthropist character.
- Students interact with diverse strata without prejudice, developing egalitarianism.
- Opportunities for State and Community service during Kerala Flood, Covid-19, Elections, and Sabarimala Pilgrimage.
- Students acquire skills through following rules, environmental consciousness, self-reliance, health parameters, and blood donation.
Problems encountered and Resources required
- Time constraints: College activities are confined to the semester system, deterring some students from extensional activities.
- Limited resources: Remote location and questionable transportation facilities hinder participation.
- Financial constraints can hinder participation, especially when individuals have limited resources and financial access.
- The college’s involvement in extracurricular activities with less than 25 permanent teachers intensifies their workload and negatively affects their productivity.
- Finding extra time to engage in additional activities can be challenging when NCC and NSS activities are mandatory.
