Correspondent
KOHIMA, APRIL 7
A six member UGC Expert Committee is currently on a two day visit to Kohima Science College, Jotsoma (KSC) to assess the college for conferment of Autonomous status.
KSC principal, Dr. Vituo Belho, in his address during a reception programme held in the college premises on Monday explained that autonomous status for Kohima Science College has been sought for following the visit of the National Assessment & Accreditation Council (NAAC) team to the college in 2012 and subsequent accreditation of ‘Grade A’ to the college by NAAC. He said that the college has in this regard received strong backing from the government of Nagaland and the state department of Higher Education. Dr. Belho stated that autonomy for the college is being sought to enhance academic excellence and to extend the academic programme.Speaking on the occasion, chairperson of the UGC Expert Committee, Prof. Suparna Gooptu acknowledged KSC of imparting quality science education to students from “this part of India”. She said the college has already showed positive signs and potentiality to develop into a flagship institution. Pointing out that higher education reaches a climactic position where the need to innovate comes in, Prof. Gooptu said in the same manner an important factor to be taken into consideration for a college to gain autonomy is the berth innovation. She explained that the role of innovation, including examination reforms and curriculum among others, has to adapt as per the changing times so that students can relate to the system. The UGC official underscored that an autonomous institution should strive to strike a balance between traditional and contemporary knowledge. Also, the educational curriculum has to have linkages with the state’s need, she said.
Keeping in mind that unemployment is seen everywhere, she observed that people will not get anywhere if they held on to the conventional notion of attaining higher education without wide vision. “With the changing scenario in India, we have to see things beyond producing more than teaching professionals in the realm of higher education,” she stated, and stressed on the need for diversification of professional objectives.
Stating that it is a huge challenge to take on an autonomous status, the UGC Expert Committee chairperson emphasized the need for college authorities to create new visions and combine the goal to impart quality education and social justice.
Parliamentary secretary for Higher Education & SCERT, Deo Nukhu, who also spoke at the programme said that by attaining autonomy, the college can extend the academic programme and introduce post-graduate courses which will meet the need of students of the state who cannot be admitted to the lone central university which in turn, do not have all the subject departments.
He encouraged the students to pursue their choice of science studies citing the example of the recent teachers’ recruitment in Nagaland, wherein in his own district Phek, there were huge number of applicants for general subjects but for Mathematics there were only 11 applicants for 41 posts.
He stated that there are many vacant posts in the department to fill for Mathematics and Physics subjects.
Commissioner & secretary for Higher Education, FP Solo, in his brief speech, opined that granting of autonomous status to KSC will result in a huge advancement in the higher education scenario of the state. He acknowledged the college for its many successes of the past and for producing a host of high achieving alumni.
Besides, Prof. Gooptu, the visiting UGC Expert Committee includes members Dr. Biman Chandra Chetia and Dr. RK Tugnawat, state government nominee Dr. Norbert Noraho, affiliating university nominee Prof. Pardeshi Lal and coordinating officer Dr. Ratnabali Banerjee.
Following the reception programme, the team had separate interactions with the college principal, teachers, students and the non-teaching staff and also inspected the infrastructure of the college. The report of the committee is expected to be announced on Tuesday.
