ABOUT COLLEGE
Smt. Radhadevi Goenka College for Women, Akola, Maharashtra, initially affiliated to Nagpur University till 1983, got affiliated to Amravati University. It was established in 1965 by Bharatiya Sewa Sadan, a Society founded by Smt.Radhadeviji Goenka, the renowned social worker and freedom fighter. The objective of the college is ‘to promote women’s education, to make them self-dependent, socially aware, mentally, physically and spiritually strong citizens having rational thinking and sense of responsibility. ‘Empowerment of Women’, in brief, is the motto of the institution!
The aim of the college is to impart education to women students with a view to developing their skills and to empower them by making them self-dependent, mentally, physically and spiritually strong through the different academic programmes. There is committed work for its realization by the staff members. The three faculties of the college offering undergraduate programmes are Arts, Commerce and Home Science. There are twelve majors in Arts: English Literature, Marathi Literature, Hindi Literature, Sanskrit Literature, Urdu Literature, Political Science, History, Sociology, Economics, Home Economics, Philosophy and Music; eleven majors in Home Science: Physics, Applied Chemistry, Human Physiology, Bio-Chemistry, Textile and Clothing, Nutrition, Child Development, Extension Education, Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Biological Sciences and Family Resource Management and six majors in Commerce: Accountancy, Business Management, Statistics, Business Economics, Computer Application and Taxation at the UG level. The PG programmes are offered in Sanskrit Literature, Indian Music (Vocal), Sociology and Home Economics under Arts faculty and Food and Nutrition under Home Science faculty. A Certificate course in spoken Sanskrit approved by the U.G.C., is functioning in the college. The college provides training in Computer and Information Technology to the students of the college through the MSCIT programme of the Government of Maharashtra State. All the undergraduate programmes equip the students for higher studies in the related disciplines. A good number of courses are career-oriented. The academic work is undertaken in the college with a view to achieving the goals and objectives by offering Arts, Home Science and Commerce education to the aspiring students of the Akola District in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. The curricula is decided by the Amaravati University and some of the senior staff members are associated with the Boards of Studies in different subjects and have participation in the framing of syllabi. One of the teachers is serving as the Dean of the Social Science Faculty and two teachers are Chairpersons of Boards of Studies of the Amravati University. The fact that a number of teachers attended conferences, seminars and workshops at the regional and national levels is noteworthy. There is only limited scope for horizontal mobility. A number of elective options are available for students in the Arts faculty. The students have a number of co-curricular activities through the subject associations like Commerce Forum, Home Science Forum, etc. The college has established relationships with the industries in the neighbourhood. Industrial visits and study tours are conducted to help the students in gaining practical knowledge and in the teaching-learning of the syllabi. This helps them to understand the process of manufacturing, marketing and management. The students could acquire commercial, vocational and industrial skills and training through these visits. The Home Science course with Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics at UG level and Food and Nutrition at PG level are job-oriented. The normal duration for starting a new course ranges from four to six months.
Teaching-learning and Evaluation
The college follows norms and rules of the University and Government with regard to admissions of different categories including reserved category of students. Admission of students in the UG and PG classes is based on the academic merit in their qualifying examination. Admission committee of the college assists the Principal in all matters related to admissions. Fresh students are offered counselling to choose their optional subjects. The knowledge and skills of the students are assessed through unit tests based on syllabi of previous year and general knowledge to identify weak students and advanced learners. Seminars and preliminary examinations are the other modes of evaluation. The norms regarding seventy five percent attendance for all students for qualifying to appear for University examinations is strictly adhered to by the college. Remedial courses are arranged for weak students. The advanced learners are personally guided by teachers and are provided additional library facilities including photocopies of important reading material. They are also motivated to participate in seminars, competitive examinations, quiz competitions, general knowledge tests, etc.
Teachers prepare teaching plans known as ‘unit plans’ and get it verified by the Heads of Departments / Principal. The syllabi is unitised by the Amravati University and teachers further subdivide it according to their teaching plan. Monthly meetings are held by the departments to review the progress of work and to plan for necessary corrective actions for the completion of the syllabi. The lecture method of teaching is supplemented by learner-centered teaching methods using audio-visual aids such as OHPs, slide projector, charts, models, maps and posters to certain extent. Role models, seminars, group discussions, question answer sessions, home assignments, excursions and study tours are some of the different learner centered methods used by the teachers. Invited lectures by resource persons, ‘Day celebrations’, Debate competitions, Quiz contests, Cultural programmes, Workshops are some of the co-curricular and extra-curricular activities practised in the college to facilitate teaching-learning.
Students are informed of the evaluation methods at the beginning of each academic year through the prospectus and teachers. The college gives due consideration for the past performance of students to judge their suitability for a particular course at the time of admission. Besides unit tests, terminal examinations are regularly conducted and evaluated under the University pattern. Teachers give necessary feedback on the answering process so as to improve the performance of students in the University examinations. A good number of students of U.G. and P. G. classes secured ranks in the University examinations every year. The college follows the norms prescribed by the Government and the University in the procedure of selection of teaching staff. The practice of appointing ad-hoc and temporary teachers to meet the staff requirements is a positive measure taken by the college. However, these junior teachers need training and orientation in the concerned subjects in order to improve the academic results of the students. Twenty six teachers of the college attended national level and six teachers participated in international level conferences during the last two years. Two teachers were resource persons in national seminars / conferences. Three teachers secured prizes in ‘poster paper display’ competitions. However, it is suggested that more teachers may be encouraged to attend national and international level academic conferences/seminars/workshops. The self-appraisal method is practised by the teachers and is used for the assessment of teachers for placement. The results of the self-appraisal are used by the Principal to offer feedback to teachers so as to strengthen the teaching-learning process and to offer constructive guidance to them. Two teachers benefited through the faculty development programme of the UGC to complete the on-going research studies.
Research, Consultancy and Extension
Though the college is not a research centre, eleven faculty members are engaged in research and the college encourages teachers to take up research by granting study leave as and when required. Eight teachers have Ph.D. degrees, two have submitted their theses and seventeen teachers are M.Phil. degree holders. Students of the postgraduate classes do research as a part of their project work. Two teachers availed fellowships under the Faculty Development Programme (FDP) of the UGC under the IXth Plan. Teachers of Commerce, Economics, Nutrition and Chemistry are in the practice of presenting papers in academic conferences / seminars. Some teachers are authors and co-authors of a number of books and have published the research papers presented at the national and international seminars / conferences. One of the teachers received UGC research grants under Minor Research Projects.
The fact that faculty members of the Nutrition Department publicizing their potential in offering consultation on medical dietetics and responding to requests for consultations is a remarkable beginning.
One faculty member has been given additional charge for extension activities such as Community Development, Adult Education and Literacy, Health and Hygeine awareness, AIDS Awareness, Social Work, Blood Donation Camp, Cleaning of villages, etc. through the NSS and NCC units and through the Home Science subject association. Over two hundred students of the college assisted the District administration in the health fare ‘Arogya mela’ organized by the Health Department of Government of Maharashtra held in February, 2004. The NSS unit of the college has adopted the Kanheri (Sarap) village in Akola district and has successfully implemented the anti alcoholism drive in this village during 2002-03. Seminars on mushroom cultivation was organized in Kanheri (Sarap) during 2002-03 and in the newly adopted village Kumbhari during 2003-04. The NSS and NCC volunteers also assist the Health Department in various immunization campaigns including Polio.
Infrastructure and Learning Resources
The college has built up accommodation in terms of twenty two spacious class rooms, staff rooms, NCC and NSS offices, Music rooms, Principal’s room and administrative office located in three buildings, well equipped laboratories for all the subjects requiring practicals and central library with limited reading room facility. The cultural programmes and meetings are held in a large room which is also used as a lecture hall. The college could get the UGC assistance for construction of a women’s hostel under the VIIIth and IXth Plans and the staff quarters also was constructed with UGC assistance. Drinking water facilities with water cooler and purifier is made available for staff and students. Computers, Reprographic machine and Fax machine are available for the office administration. The office automation may have to be given priority in the coming years.
There is an advisory committee for the college library. The library has over 28045 books, 29 magazines, 17 journals and 14 newspapers. The library has arrangements for inter library borrowing from libraries of sister institutions in the same campus and works from 8.00 am to 5.30 pm. The library has a computer and some of the functions of the library are getting automated. The library has a book bank facility and it may be made more student friendly. The Commerce department has a computer laboratory with ten computers and accessories including internet facility. It is desirable to have one computer each for all the departments.
First aid facility is available for students and there is a provision for services of doctors. A health club has been formed in the college and blood group checking was held to benefit students and staff members. The college has a large playground for cricket, volleyball, kabbadi, and kho-kho games. Facilities for table tennis and carom are also available. Some of the students of the college could participate in inter collegiate tournaments at district and university levels.
Criterion V: Student Support and Progression
Sixty five percent of the students appear for the qualifying examination after completing their courses of study in the college and the pass percentage is 68.6. The periodically updated prospectus of the college provides needed information regarding the management, significant features of the college, merit list and pass percentage for the last three years, list of subjects available at the UG and PG level, information about various scholarships, rules for general discipline and attendance, fee structure, library rules, rules and regulations, etc. Financial assistance is available to students from the State and Central Governments including economically backward class concessions, concession for children of teachers, concession for dependents of freedom fighters, Government of India scholarship / freeship for backward classes, national loan scholarship, aid to the poor girls, SC/ST scholarships, ‘Ekalauvya scheme’, etc. The college management has instituted twenty three cash prizes as proceeds of endowments and silver and gold medals for meritorious students. The college has recently formed an alumnae association and it is recommended that the association may be further strengthened. The students have facilities for indoor games including table tennis, chess, carom, etc.; outdoor games such as cricket, volleyball, handball, kabbadi, kho-kho, etc.; Debate club, Students’ Magazine, Cultural programs, Dance and music competitions, Planning Forum and Essay writing. One of the teachers received the best NSS lady programme officer award during 1999-2000. Presenting of incentives in the form of grace marks, concession in attendance, traveling charges, prizes, etc., for outstanding sports persons, NCC and NSS and other volunteers is a good practice followed in the college. The activities of students and staff members are carried on through subject wise Planning Forum of Commerce, Hindi, Marathi, Home Science, Sanskrit and Sociology. The practice of organizing lectures and seminars on topics such as sex education, career guidance, etc. by invited resource persons is useful for students. There were six students participating at the University level and two students each at the State level and the national level competitions in sports and games during the 2002-03.
Organisation and Management
The college has an efficient internal coordinating and monitoring mechanism. The Bharatiya Seva Sadan, the Management of the college gives the necessary guidance and direction. The Executive Committee of the Managing Body monitors the implementation of the policy decisions taken by the Management. The Local Management Committee meets four or five times in a year and provides necessary directions on financial, personnel and administrative matters including starting of new courses and other developmental matters. The Staff Council assists the Principal in academic, administrative and students’ affairs through periodic meetings and consultations. The Vice Principal, Registrar and Office Superintendent assist the Principal in routine and administrative work and monitoring of office administration. Each department has meetings of teachers to discuss work allocation, completion of syllabi and all academic matters. The non-teaching staff members are encouraged to attend seminars, workshops, etc. for professional development. One of the non-teaching staff member is undergoing training in office administration. Three library staff members have completed the M.Lib.Sc. course through the YCMOU. Meetings of the Students Council give feedback on problems encountered by students. A number of committees involving teaching staff members help in the efficient functioning of the college administration. They are given training in the use of computers to improve their professional competence. The college follows the criteria and norms prescribed by the Government and University regarding the recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff. It follows the fee structure for various academic programmes as fixed by the University and the State Government.
The college has the practice of using the services of internal auditors to ensure the use of proper accounting practices. Grievance redressal facilities are informally available to staff, non-teaching staff and students through committees selected for the purpose. This needs to be institutionalized. Students can raise their complaint through the ‘complaint box’ made available to them. Group insurance facility is available for the teaching and non-teaching staff of the college. A number of loan facilities are available to needy teaching and non-teaching staff members of the college through Providend Fund, Staff Credit Cooperative Society and Consumer Cooperative Society.
Healthy Practices
The college has a number of programmes significant to the overall growth of the students in terms of academic excellence, involvement in curricular and extra-curricular activities and the extension programs.
Satisfactory internal coordinating mechanism with the Principal, teachers, non-teaching staff members and students.
Diary maintained by individual teachers and scrutinized and monitored by the HOD’s and Principal.
Value based education through spiritual speeches by well known personalities and regular prayers.
Inculcation of civic responsibilities through NCC and NSS activities
Representation in National level Republic Day Camps and National Integration Camps consistently by NCC cadets and NSS volunteers and securing ALL India Best NCC Cadet Prize.
Personality development programmes such as Sharadotsava, Savithridevi Mukerjee debate competitions, Art exhibition, ‘Day Celebrations’, etc.
Seminars by subject associations including Commerce Forum
Movement Register for teaching and non-teaching staff members
Involvement of a sizable section of teachers in a number of committees.
Joint monitoring of progress of academic work by Principal, Heads of Departments
Starting of job oriented courses on self-financing basis when such courses could not be started under the aided stream
Establishment of Womens’ Study and Service Centre as well as Family Problems Guidance Centre in the college.
Homogeneous teaching and non-teaching staff and congenial pollution free environment.
Sincere efforts made to develop linkages with international agencies.
SMT. RDG College FOR WOMEN, AKOLA 