CHENNAI: The serene beauty that swimming swans set takes your breath away as you enter the campus. Dr MGR-Janaki college of arts and science for women was established in 1996 and aims to provide quality higher education for women. It offers 10 UG programmes — biochemistry, computer science, psychology, microbiology, maths, BCom, BCA, BBA and English literature — and five PG programmes — IT, applied microbiology, bioinformatics and human resource management. The college also offer a bachelor’s in natya, which can be converted into a master’s by continuing the course for another two years.
The college’s mission is to develop independent women. “They come in as girls and go out as mature women who can take care of themselves,” says Dr Usha Krishnan, the college’s principal.Mentoring the lives of economically-weak students seems to be at the top of the agenda for the college. “The USP of the college is its ability to relate to the needs of the financially weak. Most of our students are first-generation learners. We prepare them for the fiercely competitive job market. We offer many add-on certificate courses that will give them an edge over the others,” says Dr R Manimekalai, vice principal and also the HoD of biochemistry and bioinformatics department.
Way ahead of others
The college runs the Dr MGR school for the hearing impaired. It’s one of the few city colleges that admits hearing-impaired students. The college has various clubs like NSS, Rotaract and Youth Red Cross that regularly organise blood donation camps, AIDS awareness programmes and assist orphanages and old age homes. The college has well-equipped auditoriums and lab. Financially weak students are also given a fee concession.
The college conducts various intercollegiate and interdepartmental activities. It also boasts of state-level fencing and handball champions. Noted singer Vinaya is a distinguished alumni of the college.
Feels like home
Final-year BBA student Vinodhini is absolutely at home in MGR-Janaki. “It doesn’t feel like a college. Coming from AP, I feel so much at home here. The teachers are great and the ambience is pleasing. Frankly, I couldn’t have asked for more,” she says. Sankari, a final-year BSc biochemistry student echoes her sentiment. “The staff are patient and their teaching methods are novel. They not only focus on academics but also stress on valuable life lessons. The wide choice of extracurricular activities provide us with immense exposure,” she explains.
Many students of MGR-Janaki college have been placed in top firms like Cognizant, TCS and BPOs like Scope International with decent pay packages. In more than one way, the college is way ahead of its contemporaries.
—shilpa.vasudevan@expressbuzz.com
