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A five-member team from the University Grants Commission, pictured here, assessed Patkai Christian College's status as an autonomous college.[/caption]
Dimapur, July 28 (EMN): A five-member team from the University Grants Commission (UGC) was on a two-day visit to Patkai Christian College recently in Dimapur to assess the college, which is an autonomous college.
The team was in the college’s campus on Friday to assess the infrastructure, finance and human resources; “teaching-learning processes, adaptation of upgraded technologies, teaching-research and the progress from the previous autonomy status granted to the college, updates stated.
A press release from the institution on Saturday informed about the visit of the UGC officials.
Established in 1974, Patkai Christian College is one of the oldest educational institutions in the state of Nagaland. It was first conferred the ‘autonomous’ status in 2005 and during the following years the college had its autonomous status extended, the updates stated.
“This time round again the University Grant Commission sent a peer team to assess the college for ‘autonomy extension’,” the press release stated.
The team comprises vice chancellor of Jadavpur University at Kolkata Prof. Suranjan Das; Swami Kamalasthananda of Ramakrishna MVC College at Kolkata; additional director for Higher Education, Nagaland, Dr. Watijungshi; Nagaland University’s Dr. Tiameren and educational officer of the UGC-NERO at Guwahati Dr. Nikhil Kumar, the updates stated.
The team was accorded a warm welcome by the college fraternity, the updates stated. During the two-day visit to the college campus, the UGC team interacted with the college’s officials, teachers, employees, students and its alumni.
Apart from interactions, the updates stated, the team visited all the departments and college facilities to ‘take stock of the progress while also assess UGC grant projects and verify the office records.’
In the meeting, the chairman of the UGC peer team, Prof. Suranjan Das advocated the need for a strong research base and asked to combine teaching-research. ‘Research informed teaching’ is the need of the hour, he was quoted in the press release as having stated.
Das said any academic pursuit demands to a movement beyond ordinary paradigms and to ignite the minds of students through inclusive approach, the press release explained. He was stated to have added that Patkai Christian College had the potential to achieve it.
Further, the UGC official informed that there were various agencies that were ready to ‘fund the Northeast region’ and that the college being one of the oldest in the region may apply for such grants to promote research activities and to take up projects.
“He also drew the attention of the college on the importance of ‘public financial management system’ and said that the college should follow it in order to keep track of funds released and used by the grantee institution made mandatory by the UGC,” the press release stated.
The coordinator of the UGC peer team, Dr. Nikhil Kumar, was stated to have lauded the college for mentoring unaccredited colleges in the state on the importance of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation, and for implementing the ‘CBCS.’
Further, he lauded the college for accommodating students from different states, having the Indo-Myanmar Tribal Research Centre and also for carrying out co-curricular activities such as the NSS, NCC, EU, Unnat Bharat Abhiyan and Young Indians, the updates stated.
Further, another member, Swami Kamalasthananda talked about introducing online courses citing the examples of e-PG Pathshala, and the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning which are initiatives of the ministry of Human Resource Development being undertaken by the UGC. He also delved on small private online courses, the press release stated.
Dr. Tiameren, representing Nagaland University, was also stated to have “categorically put forward” that the university was proud of Patkai Christian College for its performance over the years.
Tiameren lauded the college for its progresses in many areas despite constraints. He said that the whole of Nagaland will be looking forward to the vision of the college which will be celebrating its golden jubilee in 2024, the updates stated.
Further, the principal of the college, Husazu Epao thanked the UGC peer team for the suggestions and assured to implement them. He stated that despite many limitations, the UGC schemes have been a major source for the college’s infrastructural development.
In support of the faculties of the college with Ph.D degrees, the principal urged the Nagaland University representative to consider the teachers for Ph.D “guide ship and not limit them to co-guide ship,” the updates stated.
The UGC peer team’s visit concluded with a series of meetings with the faculties, staffs and students. During the interactions with the college’s faculty, the team urged the teaching staffs to organise national and international conferences and also stressed on “indexation” of the college’s journal.
“The team also emphasised on strengthening the research cell while underscoring the importance of teachers’ orientation programme. Terming the alumni and non-teaching staff of the college as the ‘backbone of the college,’ the peer team exhorted them to extend support to the college,” the press release stated.
The peer team also had extensive interactive rounds with the students taking note of their expectations, the updates stated. The college awaits the declaration for extension of autonomy, the press release added.
