BEST PRACTICE I

TITLE : MY STORY

Objectives

• To teach the noble value: “to strive, to seek, to find and never to yield”.
• To dream big and set SMART goals by exposing them to international standards.
• To instill values of hardwork and improve employability.
• Enabling students to make positive decisions following these achievers’ experience.

The Context

My Story series is a collection of successful college alumni from various walks of life who share how they rose to great heights despite all odds during their school and college years. Outlying the strategies of such persons would boost the confidence level of the students, especially those who come from first generation families, poverty-stricken, to make both ends meet.

The Practice

• A survey on students' level of ambition revealed shocking results like they have no goals or ambitions so far.
• Conduct of a series of success stories of eminent alumni from different walks of life, as different editions of ‘My Story’
• Conduct of another survey at the end of the ‘My Story’ series, to detect whether there was any change in the ambition level of students.
• Each department was asked to prepare a list of successful alumni and invite them for different editions of the series, as speakers.
• Each department was asked to appoint a coordinator to keep students and teachers updated with the current opportunities in the job market as well as with the openings in their disciplines.

Evidence of Success

Students’ ambition levels have changed dramatically after the conduct of sessions in My Story Series.

• The number of students registering for public examinations and eligibility tests has increased.
• Those who opt for higher studies have really improved.
• Those who participate in campus placements have picked up.
• Active involvement and participation in the internal examinations, curricular and co-curricular enterprises have significantly improved.
• The students have been stirred to think positively: " If he could, why can’t I"

Problems Encountered and Resources Required

• Most of the sessions were conducted online through different tools.
• The number of participants was limited.
• Some students faced the hassle of internet connectivity.
• The alumni, mostly working, had problems with their time and occasionally had such troubles.

Ambition Survey Report

Two phases of ambition surveys were conducted among the students in the academic year 2021-22. The first one was conducted before the kick off of My Story series and recorded the ambition of students. The second phase was conducted in March after the completion of the first edition of the series. In the first phase, various departments conducted the survey among their students. The various surveys at the college level were consolidated by IQAC. The survey instigated IQAC to conduct a series of inspirational classes for the students. After a series of My Story, the number of students who have definite ambitions increased to 93.60%), and the number of those who had no ambitions decreased to 79 (6.40%). The statistics prove the success of the best practice.

BEST PRACTICE II

TITLE: EACH TO EVERY

Objectives

• To help the needy persons lacking adequate facilities for life.
• To instill awareness and social responsibility among students.
• To foster sympathy and empathy towards fellow-beings.
• To facilitate experiential learning.

The Context

Each To Every comprises community-service activities carried out by the college including Home for the Homeless project, awareness and training sessions, rural camps, help desks, donation programmes, adoption of villages etc.

The Practice

Economic Contributions

• 6 Houses were constructed or bought under Home for the Homeless Project: The Committee invited applications from homeless families irrespective of caste/creed. The selected families were of Mrs. Alleyamma Sebastian; Mr. Joy Mathew; Miss.Sreelakshmi Suresh; Mr. Nibu Joseph; Mr. Babu Augusty and Mrs. Priya Baby.
• A survey to understand the real situation of the populace as the starting point to trigger off our community service.
• Rs.1,29,750 was contributed by students for a house building project.
• Rs. 1,00,000 was contributed to P.U.Thomas, Navajeevan Trust.
• Rs.84,000 was provided to Diya Martha for Kidney related treatment.
• Rs.1,00,000 was contributed to Koottickal in collaboration with Pala Welfare Association.
• Rs.25,000 each to 2 students namely Kwahala Raj and Megha Prasad was given at the demise of their fathers.
• Rs. 25,000 was contributed to Manesh Madhu as a help during the flood.

Social Contributions

• Household surveys and PRA under UBA were conducted. The villages adopted were Chakkampuzha, Kondad, Vellilapally, Marangad & Ezhacherry under this scheme of Govt. of India for facilitating rural development through academic institutes.
• Initiation of psycho-social care to patients during Pandemic under the programme Ottakkala Koodeyundu Kottayam.
• Relief undertakings and distribution of essentials during natural disasters as part of Pralayathil Oru Kaithangu scheme.
• The College and the Boys’ hostel were Quarantine Centres during the pandemic.
• Conduct of awareness sessions by experts as part of Day Commemorations.
• Rural camps were conducted to foster experiential learning through activities like medical camps, PRA, cultural activities, awareness sessions etc. The camps were for the inhabitants of certain panchayats in Kozhimala, Vattavada, Vagamon etc.
• Free Book Distribution for school students as part of the Read Young scheme.
• Significant exhibitions and workshops for school students highlighting knowledge about scientific and social advancements under ATAL Lab.
• Various symposiums to educate on various topics like GST.
• Women Empowerment
• Conducted sessions on Accounting and Fundamentals of computer to the members of Kudumbasree under Naipunya Skill Development scheme.

Evidence of Success

• Beneficial physical, psychological and economic impact upon those who were targeted.
• Satisfaction level of the beneficiaries improved.
• Problems Encountered and Resources Required
• Insufficient monetary resources troubled the execution of certain activities.
• Online programmes were marked by lack of optimum number of participants.