It’s a moment of pride for Maharaja’s College and Rajagiri College of Social Sciences. Both have been re-accredited with A grade for the third cycle by National Assessment and Accreditation Council.
Besides, Maharaja’s has found its way among the priority one colleges of the UGC.
With these credits, the Department of Science and Technology has sanctioned a fund of `68.5 lakh. Now the college is entitled to maximum funds from the UGC and many projects can be taken up.
The NAAC team visited the colleges during the beginning of this year and assessed the curriculum, teaching and learning process, quality of education, research wing, infrastructure, innovative programmes and student-teacher relationship.
“NAAC experts gave the accreditation based on the seven criteria. They also evaluated the progress made from the last accreditation point of time. The college won accreditation for the first time in 2000, then in 2006. Though the third accreditation was due in 2011, the procedures were delayed,” said Francis who is part of accreditation panel of the college.
The UGC has also rated the college among the priority one college. “Already the UGC has rated it as one of the seven colleges with potential for excellence in the state and among the around 150 such colleges in the country,” said Shaji of the UGC Cell of Maharaja’s.
He said a scanning electron microscope will be set up in a common facility for science students with the DST fund.
The state government has also recognised it as a Centre of Excellence.
Rajagiri College of Social Sciences
The college which was graded with five star 15 years ago has been graded A with 3.7 score.
The innovative teaching learning methods, use of the latest technological information and devices, continuous community intervention programmes were taken note by the NAAC peer team.
Students’ active involvement in social issues, the innumerable research programmes undertaken by the faculty and the Research institute sponsored by the State and Central governments as well as NGOs, well qualified and committed team of teachers, international linkages and partnership for staff and student development, International Exchange programmes with various foreign universities, yoga, meditation, value added certificate programmes, ‘Rajasadass’- the open forum that debates on current burning social issues, know your neighbourhood programmes are some of the programmes specially noted by the NAAC team.
The various community outreach projects such as road construction bio-fencing, participation in the social security programmes of the government, eco-friendly endeavours, water and energy saving attempts, economic, social and health surveys for various organisations, volunteering services of the students for various NGOs and government departments, students learning programmes through the ‘live labs’ were taken note of, said dean and administrator Mary Venus Joseph.