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Activities regarding the goals and objectives of the institution.
Women's Christian College seeks to impart value based education and help its students carve out a niche for themselves in the globalized world of the twenty first century. As a minority institution it brings within its fold students from different categories (eg the majority along with the minority as well as diverse socio economic categories) thereby engendering an atmosphere of national integration and harmony in the strife ridden world of today. Students from the economically challenged sections are rendered special assistance (monetary and otherwise) to place them at par with their more privileged counterparts. The principal focus of the institution – the cause of women's education and the empowerment of women progresses from strength to strength through the dedicated efforts of its teaching and non teaching staff. Efforts to hone the interpersonal skills of the students are made through the organization of in house debates, student seminars as well as student participation in inter college debates and seminars. Classroom teaching is complemented with the use of audio visual equipment, student excursions and field trips. Special lectures by eminent academicians have almost become a part of routine activity in the endeavor to facilitate a deep and all encompassing understanding of different areas of scholarship. These measures are geared to raise the self esteem of the students and prepare them to meet the challenges of the outside world.
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New academic programmes initiated (UG and PG).
The college, in spite of constraints of space is mulling over the feasibility of introducing new courses such as Communicative English, Journalism and Mass Communication. Upgrading Mathematics from a General to an Honours course and starting a degree course in Computer Science as a self financing subject are the other possibilities being dwelt upon.
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Innovations in curricular design and transaction.
This is not applicable as all academic courses are structured by the University of Calcutta to which the college is affiliated.
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Inter disciplinary programmes started.
The Inter disciplinary Extension Lecture Series held with resolute consistency provides the faculty members with an opportunity to share their expertise in their particular area of scholarship with their counterparts in the other departments. Lively interactive sessions bring up interesting issues and serve as intellectual stimulants. to teachers normally constricted within the structured courses of the university syllabi. Students are also invited to participate in the discussions. The entire series forms part of the Faculty Development Programme devised by the institution.
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Examination reforms implemented.
The college is bound to follow the schedule of examinations laid down by Calcutta University . A stipulated number of periodical tests and selection tests are held each year before each university examination.
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Candidates qualified: NET/SLET/GATE etc.
Although no student has qualified in the NET/SLET during this academic session, an ex student (passing out yr - 1998) has joined as Research Associate in Xavier's Labour Relations Institute (XLRI), Jamshedpur on 15 th April,2008. It is also worth mentioning that several students have attained first class grade in the BA/BSc Pts I & II examinations conducted by Calcutta University .
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Initiative toward Faculty Development Programme.
The faculty members have relentlessly associated themselves with various academic activities both within and outside the college. Many of them have presented papers in the Inter-Disciplinary Extension Lecture series organized by the college. Besides several faculty members have published papers in reputed journals, presented papers in national and international seminars organized by various academic associations and institutes, delivered talks at inter- college levels and acted as judge at All India Inter-school Debate Championships. Besides in order to enrich themselves academically, the faculty members regularly attend international and national seminars organized by the UGC and by local research institutes and academic institutions. A teacher of the Dept. of the Mathematics has two M. Phil. students working under his supervision.
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Total number of seminars/workshops conducted.
In an endeavor towards further academic enrichment of the faculty members as well as to kindle interest among students the various depts of the college have regularly organized students' seminars (two), special lectures (four) and inter college students' seminars (two) during this academic session.
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Research Projects (a) newly implemented (b) completed.
Along with regular academic activities of the college and university, the faculty members have been related with various research related work. Two Minor Research Projects entitled “Resource evaluation for sustainable development of Muhammadbazar Block (Birbhum District, West Bengal ): An Integrated Geo-environmental Analysis” and “Ahimsa: Its Need and Implementation” were submitted in July, 2007 and March, 2008 respectively by two of the faculty members of the college.
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Patents generated, if any:
NA.
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New collaborative research programmes:
The college does not have any collaborative research programmes with other institutions.
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Research grants received from various agencies.
The teachers of the institution have regularly availed of grants provided by the UGC under the Faculty Improvement Programme as well as for Minor Research projects.
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Details of research scholars.
Since the college is not associated with post graduate teaching there is little scope of having research scholars enlisted on its rolls. However, a teacher of the Mathematics Dept is acting as guide to two students for their M Phil dissertation under Calcutta University .
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Citation index of faculty members and impact factor.
NA.
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Honours/Awards to the faculty:
One of the faculty members has been awarded a PhD in Arts by the Jadavpur University on December 24, 2007. Another faculty member was awarded the UGC Teacher Fellowship under the Faculty Improvement Programme wef November 15, 2008. A Post-Doctoral fellowship has been awarded to one of the teachers by the National Board of Higher Mathematics, Dept of Atomic Energy.
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Internal Resources generated.
The college does not have any funds earmarked for research activity.
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Details of departments getting SAP, COSIST( ASSIST)/DST. FIST, etc.
NA
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Community services.
The college has made an earnest effort to participate in various community services and extension programmes.
The students of all the depts. have arranged a fund raising drive for the development of the Braille press and Library project of the Blind Persons' Association, 10/2 Samsul Huda Road , Kolkata 700017. The donation made up of contributions from the students was spent for the completion of the construction of a building of the Association required for the formal inauguration of a colossal Braille public library. . The students also extended a helping hand to the underprivileged street children of Nirmala Sishu Bhavan run by the Missionaries of Charity by contributing generously to the organization.
Again several teachers and students have visited the Bharat Sevasram Sangha to donate clothes and money for the flood affected people of West Bengal . Help to the flood affected victims of Bihar was also rendered through The Thoughtshop Foundation, an NGO with which the Womens' Study Cell of the college has links. Vikashini, and Women's Cell jointly helped ‘Ankur Kala' – an organization for training destitute women by providing space in the college to sell their products.
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Teachers and officers newly recruited.
Three teachers have been recruited. Dr Bishambar Roy (Dept of Mathematics) and Sm Guinea Bhattacharya (Dept of Bengali) have joined the institution on 1.10.2007 and 1.7.2008 respectively. Sm Urmi Roy has been appointed to the Dept of Philosophy as lecturer. She has assumed office from 1.10.2008.
No officer has been recruited recently.
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Teaching – Non-teaching staff ratio:
35 : 15
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Improvements in the library services:
The process of creating a database following WINISIS is going on. LIBSYS (Library Software Package) will be introduced soon.
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New books/journals subscribed and their value:
61 books have been added after NAAC visit. Subscribed journals are added regularly. Value of books purchased during this period Rs 11955/- and value of journals Rs 3567/-.
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Courses in which student assessment of teachers is introduced and the action taken on student feedback :
A method has been devised by the college for student assessment of teachers in the Honours courses. The feedback is carefully considered by the teachers individually and genuine attempts are made to comply with the demands and suggestions of the students.
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Unit cost of education:
Unit cost with salary - Rs.2,215/- approximately
Unit cost excluding salary - Rs.865/- approximately
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Computerization of administration and the process of admissions and examination results, issue of certificates:
Office administration and admission process, publication of results and issue of certificates are not fully computerized as yet.
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Increase in infrastructural facilities:
Lack of space remains the main deterrent to improvement of infrastructural facilities Thus not much has been done in this area apart from some renovation and completion work (of the room allotted to the Maths Dept).
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Technology upgradation:
Not yet done.
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Computer and internet access and training to teachers and students:
Teachers and students have access to the internet in the college library. Students receive computer training in collaboration with Interface I 4U within the college as part of their regular curriculum. Computer training is a self-financing course.
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Financial aid to students:
Ten to twelve percent students are offered free and half free studentships. Many economically weak students are provided with financial aid from the Endowment Funds for paying computer fees. Two very poor students are provided with daily bus fare from the Students' Union fund so that they may attend college regularly.
A generous contribution of Rs 50,000 by the husband of a late alumnus of the college has enormously facilitated the task of providing monetary help to students in the form of scholarships from the interest accrued from the above amount.
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Activities and support from the Alumni Association :
After the visit of NAAC peer Team, Alumnae Association of Women's Christian College got a praiseworthy appreciation from them. But this was not enough to satisfy the spirit of the association. So it moved forward to a host of constructive works in the following year also.
Like every year Alumnae Association funded the N B Shome Memorial Award which rewarded students securing highest marks in the General subjects in the First Year Annual/Test Examination in the college. The Association gave away the prizes accordingly at the Foundation Day Celebration on the 19 th of July.
In 2007, the Alumnae Association of Women's Christian College organized a Career Guidance Programme for the second and third year students of the college. A campus interview was conducted by WIPRO in which some of the third year students had qualified. At the end of their graduation, the company promised jobs to the successful candidates.
Another career guidance programme was arranged on 9/11/2007. The Air Hostess Academy (AHA) told the students of all the three years about the prospects of their course which gave themAn idea regarding different types of jobs in related fields.
The Association celebrated Reunion day on 1 st December, 2007. On this occasion the gathering comprised 130 ex-students and more than hundred present students. There were cultural programmes along with a lottery game. The date of the next AGM was also announced on the same day.
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Activities and support from the Parent-Teacher Association:
There is no formal Parent-Teacher Association. However parent-teacher meetings are held on a regular basis in the case of the Honours students. Problems are broached by the parents during these sessions . The parents in turn are apprised of their wards' conduct and performance. Since these sessions are presided over by the Principal and the Secretary, the parents have the opportunity to place their suggestions before the college authorities directly. The parents are encouraged to meet the faculty members whenever they feel the need to do so.
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Health Services:
The college has an institutional membership with the Students' Health Home, Kolkata. Students can avail of any of its facilities. Local doctors are also given housecalls in case a student falls sick in college. A first aid kit and a sick bed are kept ready. There is also an unwritten understanding with Ramkrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan, a multi speciality hospital close to the college where students are removed in case of emergency. The Central Examination Committee for University Examinations also has a Doctor member to cater to the health problems of examinees. The students of the college are covered by ‘Nagarik Suraksha Policy' for personal accidents with hospitalization expenses under Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. Apart from this, health awareness programmes (on subjects like Breast cancer, AIDS etc) are held regularly.
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Performance in sports activities:
The college has no playground of its own. Organization of Annual Sports in parks located close to the college is the only rather limited effort through which sports is promoted.
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Incentives to outstanding sportspersons:
NA
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Students' achievements and awards:
Students of Women's Christian College have taken active interest in various cultural and extra-curricular activities, have won awards and have earned laurels for their institution. They have jointly organized seminars with students of other colleges and have made audio-visual presentations in such seminars which have received critical appreciation from notable academicians present on those occasions. Sharing the stage with distinguished scholars, they have participated in poetry reading sessions, and have made their mark in various debate competitions organized by other colleges, university departments and even on television. They have been adjudged the ‘best team' in one such competition at the Jadavpur University . A painting by one of the students was displayed at an exhibition held at the Academy of Fine Arts . One of the students received the best Classical Dancer Award in the Inter-College Dance Competition, organized by Basanti Devi College .
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Activities of the Guidance and Counselling Unit:
The college has set up a Guidance and Counselling Unit which has an agenda of providing regular psychological support to college students. Two faculty members have been inducted into the unit to coordinate and oversee the workshops and counseling sessions conducted within the institution.
The students are also welcome to approach the teachers with any problem they might face during their tenure in college. The faculty members always give them a patient and sympathetic hearing and are known to have helped students find a way out of difficult situations quite a number of times.
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Placement Services provided to students:
The Placement Cell, comprising the Principal and some faculty members regularly attend Placement Officer's Meets organized by various corporate houses and extend all sorts of co-operation to them so that they can organize campus recruitment programmes at the college premise . In one such programme organized by WIPRO eleven students of the college got selected and most of them are now employed in WIPRO BPO . Eight students were selected by HCL at a very recently held campus placement drive. Similar recruitment programmes are in the offing.
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Development programmes for non-teaching staff:
No development programmes for non-teaching staff has been implemented.
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Healthy practices of the institution:
In continuation of its endeavor to generate a sense of social responsibility the college motivates its students to actively participate in the literacy programme spearheaded jointly by Vikasini (an erstwhile arm of the AIACHE) and Women's Christian College Alumni Association. Through the initiative of the above bodies it has been possible to open up the rudiments of the world of knowledge to the under-privileged children of the neighborhood with the help of the college students.
Moreover programmes organized to commemorate International Women's Day, Independence Day, World Sanskrit Day, Rabindra Jayanti etc form part of the value based education imparted by the college. The Women's Cell – a subsidiary of Vikasini which often works in tandem with a number of NGOs intermittently raises a wide spectrum of issues relating to various concerns of women in the world today through programmes within the college. The charitable pursuits of the NGOs are sometimes aided through the concerted efforts of all the members of the college(eg blankets and clothes were donated to the flood victims of Bihar through the NGO Thoughtshop Foundation).
The Cine Club of Women's Christian college constitutes an effort to stimulate an interest in art films among students . Master craftsmen in the world of film-making are introduced by academics who explain the nuances and subtleties of shots during film screening sessions to an audience normally inclined to mainstream cinema.
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Linkages developed with national/international academic/research bodies:
NA
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Any other relevant information the institution wishes to add:
With the aim to ensure all-around development of the students, the college takes care to develop among them social awareness, sensitize them about burning social issues and instill in them leadership qualities, attitude of service to society and nation. The Debate Club which organizes an annual debate in memory of Ms Stella Bose and Ms NB Shome the Founder Principal and Secretary respectively of the College plays a key role in this sphere. An annual inter college essay competition is held in honour of the late Dr Supriya Bhattacharya, a faculty member of the Bengali Dept. Funded by her husband Dr Ratneswar Bhattacharya, this event enables the students to showcase their writing skills and put forward their ideas in a spirit of competitiveness with their peer groups in other colleges. The Cine Club, by regularly organizing film shows, familiarize the students with the creative genius of maestros. Hostel students participate in flag hoisting ceremony on Independence Day, while the observance of Sanskrit Day, International Women's Day etc. create necessary awareness among students.
