National Education Policy 2020 Implementation

National Education Policy 2020
Implementation

Interdisciplinarity/ Multidisciplinarity:

The college visualizes a future where women empowerment is no more a goal but a reality. The institution inculcates the belief in self by empowering them. The vision of this institution is to transform itself into a holistic multidisciplinary institution by imparting knowledge, social and technical skills required for living and working in the modern world and are flexible in their approach to careers.  In accordance to National Education Policy (NEP), this institution encourages in organising inter departmental seminars and webinars, which ensures exposure of the students to interdisciplinary research fields. The webinar organised by Political Science Department in collaboration with SPARSH would stimulate respect and sensitivity for others through exposure to cultural diversity, languages and human rights, especially women’s rights. The College offers several Add-On Courses to create and develop professional competence of the students so that their knowledge receives the attention it deserves. Our co-curricular activities celebrate this objective. The Photography club, college excursions equip the students to embrace challenging and emerging professional as well as life skills to cop up in this globalized Indian economy. We believe that true education is one that lasts with the students forever. So, life skills, critical thinking, problem solving and interpersonal skills are a major part of our pedagogy.

The core values defining the College are- Respect for learning, gender equality, diversity, inclusivity and integrity. The flexibility of the institution helps the students to get exposed to innovative curriculum that includes credit –based courses (CBCS). The main objective of the college is to foster a vibrant atmosphere conducive to the all round development of students and National Service Scheme (NSS), National Cadet Corps (NCC), Yoga course, Self defense course (Sukanya) ensure their capacity building initiatives and inculcate social awareness and responsibilities.   Webinar on “Women’s Rights, Discrimination Against Women”, Blood Donation camp, “Gender Sensitization” by Swayam disseminate the knowledge of social responsibility and sensitize the  young girls towards social concerns.

The crucial role played by the Principal and the faculty members of the college in preparing an eco-friendly college campus needs to be appreciated. The College has assigned Global EHS Consultant, Kolkata to conduct green audit as per the Criteria 7 of NAAC. The aim of the Green Audit is to survey the existing environmental mental practices and to assess the significance of the features found to facilitate the development of Environment Action Plan (EAP) with clear, long-term objectives and the program for implementation. The environment of the college campus is being safe guarded with various activities. The utilization of the renewable resources is being observed through rainwater harvesting unit, reuse of waste water, rooftop solar panels for increasing electricity efficiency, and the green coverage across the college campus.   Waste management is also effectively managed through safe disposal systems of wet and dry waste. In a nutshell, The College has relentlessly endeavoured to impart value-based education in order to ensure the holistic development of young women in every aspect of life.

Skill Development:

In the changing landscape of knowledge and skill acquisition, there is a need to re-evaluate programmes offered by the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in India as well as the need to revise traditional modes of knowledge delivery. In adherence to National Education Policy (NEP), the College encourages a curriculum which shall not only build character, impart essential values, but at the same time prepare students for gainful employment.  In accordance to NEP, skill development with the introduction of vocational training as well as following the Online and Distance Learning (ODL) methodology, the college has facilitated multidisciplinary education and promoted research.

The College offers Travel and Tourism Management (TTMV) vocational course to the students. The course has been drafted as a three-year semester wise undergraduate course under CBCS as prepared by the U.G. Board of Studies in Commerce, Calcutta University. Breaking the confines of traditional career modes while at the same time learning essential skills, this course teaches students business management, marketing foundations, human resources, project management, sustainability, cross-cultural understanding, and much more. The skills and information acquired through this curriculum are valuable and transferable to a variety of vocations. By the end of the course, students have a broad understanding of several important business principles. As a part of skill enhancement initiative, the college also offers courses such as, Soft Skill, Media Writing, Speaking and Communication, Embroidery, Cutting & Tailoring, Nutrition and Dietetics with the help of industry experts who are alumni of our college, Self Defence by master instructor, Shihan Supriyo Biswas, instructions in Spoken English by various expert trainers along with offering many more courses. These courses are delivered using the ODL methodology and blended approach as needed. These courses have recorded good enrolment as the college persistently encourages its students to opt for them in order to better place themselves in the future job market. Even for the Majors offered by the college, the institution takes care to re-enrol a student if they, owing to unavoidable circumstances, leave the course mid-way.

The College has relentlessly endeavoured in providing value-based education to nurture positivity, ethical, constitutional and universal human values along with advocating scientific temperament. Free psychological counselling is provided to students and outsiders at the college premises under the aegis of the cell formed for the purpose, Jagriti. To promote mental health awareness, the college further has plans for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with “Turning Point”, a voluntary Non-Governmental Organization engaged in mental rehabilitation in Kolkata. The college observes important events such as the National Science Day, International Yoga Day, International Women’s Day along with conducting medical camps for disease awareness like Thalassemia and AIDS. The National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS) and Bratachari sessions (comprehensive programme of physical, mental, and intellectual culture) conducted in association with Bengal Bratachari Samiti for the college students also strengthens the fostering of universal human values of truth (satya), righteous conduct (dharma), peace (shanti), love (prem) and non-violence (ahimsa). The college thus encourages all-round skill development.

Appropriate Integration of Indian Knowledge System:

The various constructive recommendations of National Education Policy (2020) for promoting Indian art and culture by integrating them in the main curriculum has been a primary concern of the College. India holds a distinct position at the global stage because of its cultural developments, civilisational values and rich literature in all the fields. Therefore, all curriculum and pedagogy envisioning in Muralidhar Girls’ College strongly prioritises inclusion of local knowledge that is rooted in Indian tradition.

To promote and preserve India’s cultural wealth, the Sanskrit Department of Muralidhar Girls’ College imparts Sanskrit language training to not only learn the language and its rich literature, but also for students to practice conversing in the same. The World Sanskrit Day is celebrated with aplomb on the day of Rakhi Purnima by the college and its students to promote the rich history of this language. Muralidhar Girls’ college has always maintained its tradition of being closer to its roots by beginning any programme by chanting Vedic mantra of Swastivachan. The Department also conducts quizzes, deploys micro teaching techniques using the Sanskrit language to facilitate its use in day-to-day academic activities in the college. An additional course called “Sanskrit language and Indian Culture” is under development by the Department to attract more students to learn and speak the ancient language. The course is due to be taught by a trained professional who is also an alumni of the College.

The Bengali Department of the college is similarly entrusted with training students and promoting the Bengali language with its study of diverse literature. International Mother Language Day on 21stof February is observed in the college with students participating in various cultural programmes such as traditional Bengali folk songs, folk dance, Rabindra sangeet competition and many such activities. Basanta Utsav or Holi, the festival celebrating Spring and the colourful tradition of our country, is observed in the college where students and faculty members from all the Departments participate in various cultural activities.  To promote Indian art and craft, the college also arranges for the festivity, “Anandamela” where students display their extra-curricular interest in this field, while developing their entrepreneurial skills.

Cultural programmes and activities that celebrates India’s wealth of knowledge to introduce students to its rich historical significance has been a top priority in the college. All the Departments in Muralidhar Girls’ College uses bilingual teaching mode during its offline and online classroom teaching to communicate and impart learning to all section of the students. The curriculum of this nature would ensure that education is relatable, relevant, interesting, and effective for our students. It will also lead to strong identity formation as the young generation would be well versed with the rich culture and heritage of India and can take pride in it.

Outcome Based Education:

Muralidhar Girls’ College focuses on achieving set outcomes that are clearly defined by all the departments. All the departments have formulated course/ programme outcomes, which are uploaded in the college website, so that both students and faculty have a clear academic path in mind. While outcomes are reached through the prescribed syllabus, the college also arranges co –curricular activities to more effectively reach those outcomes. All the departments of the college take the initiative to organize field visits and excursions in accordance to the courses. Outcomes-based learning attempts to focus clearly and deliberately on student learning. The Department of English, in adherence to Outcome-Based Programming is collaborating with institutions with existing language laboratory facilities to sharpen the communication skills of all the students at the end of the formal, traditional education. The subjects under the Humanities stream aims to inculcate the respect for other culture and religion among the students and become a responsible citizen. Memorandum of Understanding (M.O.U.) between departments of Muralidhar Girls’ College and other renowned colleges of Kolkata offers a great exposure of the students to this global economy. Activities like faculty exchange programme, student exchange programme, hybrid mode of teaching, the principles of M.O.U. engage the students with the current industrial needs, trending and contemporary activities in academia. Department, like Geography contributes to science as a part of the broad, creative, multidisciplinary effort to advance the frontiers of knowledge. After Graduation, the students can opt for jobs like schooling teaching, competitive exam like WBCS, UPSC, and Meteorological assistant in IMD. They can also get a diploma in Jute technology, Remote Sensing and GIS. The Department of Chemistry fosters a spirit of understanding the present and future industrial needs. All other departments of Science and Humanities inculcate the spirit of enquiring, analyzing and working in this present global economy.

Distance Education/Online Education:

The college took great strides to adopt itself to blended/ online mode of learning during the pandemic. The classes were held according to the regular routine in the online mode during the lock down. Learning Management System was utilised for smoother teaching -learning and evaluation. Resources were distributed to the students through online modes and the teachers have continued the practise of online distribution of resources even after the resumption of physical classes. Online groups were created of the teachers with the classes were created for hassle free exchange of information. This practise is still in use since it has proven to be beneficial for ensuring smooth flow of information amongst teachers and students.

The add on courses offered to the students for increasing their employability are offered in the online mode for convenience of both trainers and students. The college hosts a study centre of the Indira Gandhi National Open University, which provides a readily available avenue to the existing students for pursuing higher education. The college is ready to adapt itself with newer modes of pedagogy to fit in with the changing demands of the times and the vision of the NEP. The dynamic staff update themselves on modes of online/ blended education by attending regular seminars, workshops and conferences on these topics.