Institutional Best Practices
Institutional Best Practices
Practice 1
CONCERTED EFFORTS BOLSTERING AN EMPOWERED SOCIETY
Objectives of the Practice:
The institution is offering quality education to the downtrodden people. Apart from quality education, the institution has extended its helping hands in shaping the society also. It has helped to sensitize the different strata of the society namely common public, school students, self-help groups through its numerous initiatives. These steps help in inculcating historic values and patriotism, nurturing the scientific temper and transforming them to responsible citizens. The tradition and education is taken beyond the college campus through these programmes.
Context
The College arranges various activities like marathons, rallies, expos and opens its portals to sensitize the school students and public. Catching them young to nurture the spirit of good values, the institution offers a plethora of opportunities to the target government school children who are deprived of such chances in their villages. Pruning them, young and moulding them, benefits the society at large. The public also have an opportunity to enrich their knowledge in participating in such exhibitions. The third sector is empowering self-help groups through different training programmes initiated.
The practice
Youth are responsible for India’s future. They need to be adequately supervised and guided. In light of these, our college has planned a number of activities for students to promote their cultural, ethical, professional & moral values. 3 mega events were organized to popularize and spread the light of patriotism and scientific temper.
| General Public | |
| 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi
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· The institution, in collaboration with - DVAC, raised awareness of patriotism among the general public by hosting a one-week exhibition to commemorate of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
· Students from various schools learnt about the rich history of the liberation struggle in India. The general public also took part. |
| Space Week Celebrations in Association with ISRO
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· Our college had arranged a massive science exhibition in collaboration with ISRO to participate in the Space Week Celebrations, from October 9, 10 and 11th, 2019,
· There were actual rocket models on display, and a whopping 40,000 people attended. · Pupils from several schools in and around Tuticorin, particularly those from the villages, participated and fully understood how rockets and satellites operate and are launched. This inspired them to pursue careers as space scientists in the future |
| MINI MARATHON
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· A Mini Marathon, a major event with 1700 participants from several schools, was held to mark the 100th birthday of South Indian freedom warrior and visionary V.O. Chidambaram.
· Together with teaching the importance of fitness for leading a healthy life, the programme raised awareness of the life of VOC. |
| Academic Peers | |
| UGC PARAMARSH
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· NAAC has identified our college as a mentor institution in the year 2020, to sensitize the colleges in and around Thoothukudi district on the revised NAAC reforms.
· Five colleges including Sri Sankara Bagavathy Arts & Science College, Kommadikottai, Don Bosco College, Keela Eral, Geetha Jeevan College, Kurukkusalai, Bishop Caldwell, Maravanmadam, J.P College of Arts & Science, Tenkasi were recognized as mentee institutes and schedules containing training modules were drafted and executed in this purpose. |
| School Children | |
| DST Inspire for School Children
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· Being educated is a sign of empowerment as it opens up greater avenues for any person. Contributing to make the literacy rate go higher can help build a more educated, empowered and a sensitized aware society. Education can help anyone know what is right and wrong and give them a chance to restructure their life.
· The scientific camps mentor the school pupils from grades +1 and +2 by mentoring them when they are young. They are inspired, introduced to many facets of science, and given information about potential future careers. · Over the past seven years, we have been offering the DST INSPIRE programme to higher secondary students (Government & Matric Students) in and around Tuticorin. · Several distinguished scientists from all fields, including Geology (N.G.R.I, Hyderabad) Chemistry (IISC, Bangalore), life sciences (ICMB, Hyderabad), and Physics (BARC), have visited and offered their expertise with the pupils at school. · Notable among them are Dr. Sivathanupillai, Director of BRAHMOS, and former ISRO Chairman Mayil Samy Annadurai. |
| Young Student Scientist Programme in Collaboration with TNSC & ST
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· As part of the YSSP initiative, which is supported by TNSC & ST, public school students in the districts of Tuticorin, Kovilpatti, and Ramanathapuram have received training to become Young Student Scientists.
· Moreover, scientific awareness lectures have been delivered to the students. These programmes were carried out with TNSC & ST's support. |
Self Help Groups
Training for SHGs to become Entrepreneurs
In order to empower women SHGs to become financially independent, they are also offered training in entrepreneurship in a variety of areas, including vermicomposting, fish products, azolla cultivation, Aari Work and Tailoring Classes.
Extension Activity
Sharing is Caring - Extending helping hands during the Kerala Floods
Showing initiative and effort towards things that are important and volunteering for the society is necessary. Making students volunteer to work towards the benefit of our society is a primary duty of every educational institution which is evident in the magnanimous contribution made up to Rs. 1,03,299/- (in terms of money) and relief materials worth Rs.3,85,357/- which includes food items for children, grocery, medicines and dress materials. A Demand Draft of Rs.1,00,000/- has been contributed by V.O.C Educational Society, Thoothukudi to the Kerala Chief Ministers’ Relief Fund.
Corona Pandemic
The college had been appreciated for the commendable contribution of Rs.200000/- in terms of cash to the collector of the district towards the corona relief fund and surgical instruments like MS Stretcher Powder -5 Nos. and Wheel Chair powder coated -4 Nos. to the Government Hospital, Thoothukudi
Evidence of Success
All these societal contributions have created a positive opinion of the institution among the public. Numerous students have been inspired to enroll in our college to build a bright future for them. Our institution's demand to supply ratio has also improved. The institution's outstanding social service is what led to the CSR initiatives.
Problems Encountered
Though the projects implementation didn't run into many issues. Nonetheless, planning such massive events required careful planning and execution. This herculean task was successfully completed with the assistance of the staff and student volunteers, this was overcome.
Notes
Institution - Society has a well-established bond with the institution. Recipients end up being the institutions' well-wishers. They learnt about the institution's philosophies and always offer assistance.
Practice - 2
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION FOR TRANSFORMING RURAL STUDENTS
Objectives of the Practice
V.O.Chidambaram College was founded in 1951, by the great visionary A.P.C.Veerabahu, for the upliftment of the people of the areas surrounding Tuticorin. Most of the students are first generation learners from the economically challenged sections of the society. To empower these students from rural areas, the college has been offering a multifaceted approach to education empowering the students both economically, socially and morally.
The Practice
When they enter the portals of VOC, the students are exposed to a multitude of multifarious opportunities throughout their stay in the campus. The institution provides a variety of skill-building elements under various skill-clustering categories, including technical and soft skills. In addition to regular academic activities, opportunities are created to improve abilities through a variety of modes.
Context
The need of the day is to up skill the students to become effective job seekers. The government of Tamilnadu has introduced the Nan Mudhalvan scheme and keeping in pace with this, various courses are being designed for the benefit of the students.
| Skill Courses offered
1. Employability skills - 19 2. Life skills - 08 3. Social Skills - 05 4. Entrepreneurship Skills - 19 5. Digital Skills - 35 6. Communication Skills - 07 |
The students apart from their regular curriculum are trained in a number of skill programmes. |
| CSR Initiative – Industry 4.0 | V.O.Chidambaram College in association with National Engineering College and IECD, Bharathidasan University, Trichy offers courses such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Robotics, IOT (Raspberry Pi) and C programming to inculcate the trending and demanding IT components. |
| Training the students for Competitive Examinations | |
| 1. SURESH IAS Academy | · V.O.Chidambaram College has a partnership with the leading institute for training for bank exams and other state government examinations.
· The students can pursue their trainings under nominal concessional fees. |
| 2. VEEOCEE Academy | · The college takes several steps to bridge the gap between the institution and industry. To make the students employable, the VOCC academy offers several courses for competitive exams.
· The academy regularly conducts training programmes on Interview Skills, Personality Development, Resume Writing and Aptitude and Mental Ability Tests for preplacement training. |
| 3. BITSTEP Training Academy | · To build employability skills and improve their proficiency in English communication, the college has entered into an MoU with Bit step communication and soft skills to excel in job placements and personal interviews thus improving their employability and getting placed once they complete their graduation. |
| 4. Global Talent Track Foundation for Skill Development | · Our college entered into an MoU with Global Talent Track (GTT) to provide Job Readiness Workshops – Barclays Life Skills Program on Interview Skills, Corporate Readiness and Mock Interviews & Group Discussions for students in the Tuticorin district. |
| CSR Breakfast Scheme for Girl Children
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· The health of the students, especially the women students are given utmost importance.
· A free breakfast scheme was introduced for girl students. Around 150 students are offered free breakfast daily, to care take that they do not go hungry to their classes. |
| Health and Fitness
· Multipurpose Gymnasium · Indoor Stadium and Fitness Center · Flood lit Synthetic Tennis Court |
The students are exposed to an all-round development including sports.
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Entrepreneurship Skills
- IIC
The Institution Innovation Council promotes innovation and encourages startup ideas, by conducting various programmes.
Workshop on design thinking lectures on IPR and startups, Personal experiences shared by successful entrepreneurs are the highlights.
- EDC
In tune with this the EDC (Entrepreneurship Development Council) registered under Tamilnadu EDI also trains students to prune their entrepreneurial skills.
- RYLA
To get practical experience on entrepreneurship, students are periodically sent for training under RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards).
Under this entrepreneurship training, 22 students have participated and won many awards & laurels for Best Business Graphic, Best Business, Video and Silver Medalist for Best Business Startup etc.
Student Support Service
- Passport
- Driving License
Facilitating to obtain passports and driving license in a hassle freeway.
Multilinguistics
Knowledge on foreign languages like German & French are promoted through the Multilinguistic Centre. Spoken Hindi is being taught.
VOCC Symphony – Music Classes for Students
Music, Theatre arts & Culturals are encouraged by offering courses in keyboard, guitar and silambam by VOCC Symphony Academy.
Evidence of Success:
The students have excelled and gained significant heights after completing such different training programmes. This is seen from the impressive positions they have attained in banks, corporate sectors, IT firms, and as business owners
V.O.Chidambaram College is a life changing gateway for all alumni who have graduated from this college.
The passport drive came in handy for the students who were hired by the Singapore-based company FOSTA. So far, 19 pupils have been assigned.
One of the attendees, RYLA R. Arockia Joewin of II B.Sc Computer Science, earned a free flight journey to Singapore to take part in the events "Fly to Singapore"
Many positions in reputable businesses and banks have been attained by skilled students.
The overall placement statistics demonstrate a sharp rise in the number of placements following the introduction of the various training Programmes.