NAAC Report 1999

Report of Peer Team set up by NAAC for Assessment and Accreditation  
of Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram

  Team:

           Chairperson– Ms. Padma Ramachandran 
           Member   - Dr. S. Ramachandran
           Member – Dr. T. Jani Bai

  NAAC representative – Dr. Latha Pillai

  Date of visit: Jan 27^th, 28^th, 29^th and 30^th 1999.

A minority institution established in 1949 by the Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram, as one of the Malankara Syrian Catholic Colleges, the Mar Ivanios College is located in a picturesque setting on a small hilltop with a sprawling campus area of 50 acres in Bethany Hills, Nalanchira, Thiruvananthapuram.

Based on Christian values of universal love and brotherhood, it caters to all, regardless of caste, community, creed or sex. The hand book announces that the college stands for ‘academic excellence, development of skills and character formation…. to produce intellectually trained, morally upright, socially committed and spiritually inspired men and women of India’.

This is the Golden Jubilee year and the college is using this as a golden opportunity to push through its plan for infrastructural expansion with some forays into modernization.

Education is available on the campus from Pre-Degree to Doctoral studies. It offers Degree courses in 8 Departments and Post Graduation in 6 subjects. The Departments of Zoology, Physics and Chemistry are recognized Research Centres. One Vocational Course which is very popular is offered as a B.Com (Tourism and Travel Management) course with UGC assistance. It offers place and facility for an IGNOU centre and has just started a computer centre for students and staff to train themselves in, during their free time.

The number of students in the college is 2800, which will shrink, once the policy of Government to delink Pre-Degree from the tertiary sector is finally implemented.

Remarkable features of the college include (i) a strong sense of discipline among staff and students of the college and (ii) the nurturing of a culture of togetherness among management, teachers, non-teaching staff, students, guardians, and alumni. The ambience in the college, based on such a tradition, is most conducive to stable and undisturbed classes throughout the year (except in case where students feel compelled to respond to major disruptions in the society outside). Also, no opportunity or forum is missed, for focussing on value orientation.

Without overlooking the presence and the existence of several constraints standing in the way of quick response to the changing needs of the society around, it has to be stated that there are some areas of concern, where the building of awareness and of public opinion is sure to become imperative and immediate. Information technology (as much as Environmental Studies) through the interdisciplinary mode, is an emerging area for adoption. Modernization through giving up conventional courses so as to be able to offer more relevant programmers and courses, which are vocation oriented can brook no delay. The self-financing approach, updating of curricula and reforms in teaching methodology and technology, have become compulsory merely for survival-for a large number of students dropout from conventional or stereotyped courses.

Criterion I  
The college offers 8 UG and 6 PG programmers. Thus it provides a variety of curricular options. As the college functions under the affiliating system, most of the courses of study are conventional. Perhaps, if it becomes an autonomous college as recommended by the Malcolm Adiseshiah Committee (on the Kerala University for 1974-’84) it would be freed from many of the constraints and would be able to provide new courses which are interdesciplinary, need-based and responsive to the changes around. In the changing scenario, the institution will be able to train students to be socially useful only if it establishes linkages with industries and institutions, atleast around it, if not in other states and countries, with greater concentration on bringing education to those who have never been exposed to it.

Criterion II  
The college is able to recruit faculty without fear or favour or money and with an eye on merit. This was reflected at various discussions at different levels of management and teaching faculty. Retired teachers and alumni particularly, kept reiterating how satisfying their experience in the college was. The unitisation of the syllabi and the adoption of the teaching programme/plan has made the teaching learning process highly useful. Admission of 50% of students is also based strictly on merit and it accounts for a good number of responsible and responsive students on the campus. The academic performance of the students has been uniformly good with many ranks in the university examinations. Many of the alumni, have reached positions of eminence in politics, civil service and other sectors.

The college will do well to adopt newer teaching methodologies and technologies in teaching. Teachers would find it useful to have a personal plan for each year on how they wish to develop themselves, as well as teach and develop the students. This plan should mesh well with an annual departmental plan to be drawn up through dialogue and discussion in the department. Annual review of performance of both the teacher and the department would be facilitated by such a process. Although the faculty have been effectively benefited by the faculty development programmes of UGC they have not taken advantage of many part-time programmes minor research programmes and the like. Considering the educational standard of the students admitted not many bridge and remedial courses are needed, but they would certainly stand to gain by enrichment courses which the college may consider offering, even on a self financing basis.

Criterion III.  
There is enough encouragement and freedom for the promotion of research and for publications. There are a good number of publications of books, text books and articles in standard journals. Four patents stand registered by a faculty member in the Physics department. It is hoped that many more departments would become active and alert and obtain recognition for outstanding work. It will be in the general interest of the college and its obligations to society if the research culture noticed in a few departments, becomes widespread, and other departments also adopt it. Some problems arise because the courses are outdated and this has to be tackled through innovative approaches to overcome the several restrictions outside one’s control. There seems to be scope for better utilization of the students potential in regard to extension and outreach programmes. The college might also like to consider encouraging outstanding departments and teachers to take up consultancies (for which rules will have to be framed), as this will enrich the minds of the faculty and lead them to becoming better teachers after exposure to the outside world.

Criterion IV  
The infrastructure facilities provided by the college are reasonably good. Instances in point are many transport buses for day scholars from the city, the library, hostels, employees’ co-operative society and sports facilities. Internet, the most modern component of information technology is available to staff and students of the campus at moderate rates. The library timings are found to be inadequate. Extending the hours will be to the greater advantage of students. If computerization can be started for books and journals and access made available to the documentation from elsewhere, it would be a great help for staff and students especially in areas of research. This could be explored and a phased plan of action prepared.

There is a computer center in the college. Considering the growing expansion of information technology, the centre may require further enhancement and expansion. The exposure to computer technology is found to be extremely limited, Encouragement through an incentive scheme for people to train themselves on their own, may be thought of.

Although the staff and students did not have major complaints about adequacy of infrastructural facilities and their maintenance, we would not be wrong in surmising that there are not enough toilets for all. Special attention may be necessary for girls in the matter of better and more rest rooms and toilets in the very nature of the special needs of women.

It may also be mentioned that physical education resources (including highly qualified teachers) are not put to optimum use, especially by the girls, for a variety of reasons. Perhaps a course in physical exercise ie aerobics or yoga or similar things may be provided for 15 minutes during college hours for anyone to attend voluntarily (in the first instance), for 4 days in a week.  With the emerging ‘Keep-____’ culture in and around society, guardians are bound to welcome this opportunity for their wards
 
Criterion V  
The college offers a host of co and extra curricular activities in which student participation is excellent. This is the arena which promotes caring and sharing as well as camaraderie and joy which in turn helps students to understand and adopt human values. The Alumni Association of the college is very active and has made significant contribution to the development of the college in terms of mentoring, acting as senior advisors and in material ways. Eminent persons in Thiruvananthapuram in political and business circles are part of the galaxy of alumni of the college. The Guardian-Teacher Association of this college is doing yeomen service by way of helping out in emergencies and in areas needing humane considerations. Awards and assistance to needy, meritorious students instituted by them to promote academic excellence, are noteworthy.

Participation in clubs, associations, unions, NCC, NSS and like bodies which promote personally, excellence and daily-life skills, make for education without walls, and that is perhaps the real education that is needed to face the world as compared to education within the four walls of a class room.

The importance of encouraging students in these activities must, therefore, continue and be promoted as much as possible.

However, it is a matter of deep concern that physical education is not given similar importance in the minds of the students. This is the time when the grounding for fitness has to be laid. The college may like to devote time to finding ways and means for making this possible, as mentioned elsewhere.

Similarly in an environment terrorised by the phenomenon of ‘Aids’, awareness and education in the sphere of ‘sex’ and ‘sexually’ must also be considered as the responsibility of the head and management of a co-educational institution. We wish that thinking in this aspect will be activated and leadership given by Mar Ivanios College to similar institutions in the area.

One other provision is also to be considered by way of service to students: a counselling and placement centre. This could also be the mechanism for obtaining students views and feed back.

Criterion VI  
There is excellent co-ordination among management, faculty, staff and students with reference to their functions and powers. Besides the Govt. grants, the management is able to mobilize necessary resources from different sources. There is an efficient internal co-ordinating and monitoring mechanism in this regard. The atmosphere is a cordial one where there are no inhibitions to representing grievances to the highest authority. Perhaps it is just as well that there is no formal grievance redressal mechanism (sometimes because of its existence, non issues are made into issues).

Periodic professional development programmes for the nonteaching staff and training in computer technology will help them to improve their work efficiency and effectiveness. In services programmes on office systems and procedures could be tried. It is the supportive and enlightened leadership of the management that has contributed much to making the institution what it is today. This is aided by having an experienced and well oriented Principal for providing on the spot benevolent leadership. Added to this are devoted teachers and disciplined students. One gets the impression that there is, in the very air, a consensus on goals and objectives. This is one sphere which could be used as a benchmark for judging the running of other similar institutions.

Criterion VII  
Complementing the formal education system the institution has started a part-time programme offering a certificate course in computer applications. It also serves as a centre for distance education programmes of IGNOU.

Against the reputation of the state of excessive politicisation in the higher education sector, the college remains least affected and can carry on its work without serious interruptions.

Overview  
In a nutshell, we, the Peer Team of NAAC, have no hesitation to state this is one of the best run institutions not only in Kerala, but in the country. It is eminently suited to being conferred ‘Autonomous Institution’ status. One day we hope it can become a ‘Deemed-to-be-University’. Such is its reputation that a student of ‘Mar Ivanios’ is considered to be very lucky, as there are plenty of opportunities for personality development and all round growth. A spirit of partnership pervades, amongst the management, the staff-both teaching and non-teaching, and the student-nay, even the alumni, parents/guardians and retired teachers. Naturally, many students excel and obtain university ranks and awards in cultural festivals. Transparency in recruitment/selection and in admissions where there is no fear or favour done, nor considerations of money, and/or community shown, has helped the high esteem in which the college is held. The management  and staff could well be proud of the value orientation that has been built into the philosophy and approach of the college.

Nevertheless there are clear pointers compelling the need to think about change in curriculum and syllabi. Students are dropping out of conventional courses the moment they are absorbed in vocational/professional/job-oriented programmes. A fall in student strength could dampen all round enthusiasm and lead to unsavoury situations. Some strategies have to be evolved to cut through the constraints, through building public opinion and obtaining societal support for the need to change. Perhaps there might be scope for starting self-financing need based courses without having to go to outside authorities.

An environment has to be created for starting new courses in the sphere of Information Technology and Life Science (Environment, Bio-Technology etc.)

For lobbying for public support for gaining “Autonomous Institution” status the college may like to have ‘Consultancy’ workshops on the basis of which a good case could be made out.

Adoption of newer methodologies and technologies in teaching, documenting, the biodata of teachers and having a system of recognizing gaps in their armour and counselling them to go for refresher courses/approach funding agencies for research and project grants etc. periodic training arranged for non teaching staff, modernising, office administration, the library and the college, building linkages with local, state, national and international institutions selectively-all these could be pursued to the advantage of the institution.

We make special mention of two suggestions : (i) Could we introduce (atleast selectively to begin with), ‘internship’ or ‘attachment’ in graduate courses eg. Attach a student of a fortnight to a financial institution/bank/co-operative institution. (For this an MOU may have to be drawn up). A student of Botany could be sent to TGRI, Palode, perhaps. Such ‘attachments’ or ‘internship’ would expose the student to the real world of work and give him/her a bird’s eye view of how the knowledge gained here could be used.

(ii) Secondly, performance appraisal of teachers has a better chance of acceptance and success if it is done by themselves. Each teacher prepares a plan divided into two: first his/her personal objectives for the year eg: (I wish to attend a refresher course as I would feel more confident, I need to finish at least two chapters of my research thesis by….). Such a planning on his/her part will enable him/her to evaluate himself/herself on whether he/she has achieved what was laid down by oneself in the personal plan at the beginning of the year. The second part of the plan is to draw up a schedule of teaching and programmes for development of students (eg: field trip)-all these reflecting the amount of syllabus that will be covered. This ‘plan’ of the teacher must mesh with the ‘department’ plan which will be drawn up by the teachers in the department through dialogue and discussion. At the end of the year, review by oneself, a peer review/review by HOD, against the plan that has been made-this alone needs to go to higher authorities. Further steps to be taken could be discussed with the teacher and HOD.

The Peer Team has no hesitation in listing Mar Ivanios College as a leading institution and being benchmarked for its organisational set up, its constituencies working as a family and its efforts to promote ‘character’ in students through emphasis on values and discipline at every turn.