• Sankar Nagar, Mattoor, Kalady P.O.,
    Ernakulam - 683 574
  • Email info@ssc.edu.in
  • Contact0484-2462341

BEST PRACTICE I

SMART

(Sree Sankara Management Aid for Research and Transformation)

Objectives of the Practice

  • To foster a research culture among teachers of various departments
  • To provide national and international exposure to students, especially PG and PhD students
  • To enhance research aptitude in the institution through presentations and publications, leading to self-actualization and academic enrichment of the college
  • To provide support for organising skill enhancement programmes for students, in order to meet challenges in employment and higher education sector
  • To provide Skill Trainings and employability Skills to students to cater to the changing needs of industry and other employment sector by providing expert sessions

The Context

  • Achieving excellence in higher education is a vision of this institute. The changing education scenario mandates
    • Stimulating academic environment for promotion of quality in teaching, learning and research
    • Enhancing critical skills and to gain experience in the critical assessment of available scientific literature
    • Up-dation of research activities happening across the globe
  • Many of the students of Sree Sankara College comes from humble backgrounds and most of them are first generation learners. Hence, they are deprived of national and international exposure in terms of research and development in their disciplines, which back fires while they aspire for research positions in reputed institutions nationally and internationally.
  • The faculty members were facing challenges in terms of financial support for organising academic events such as research seminars and workshops, training programmes for students, etc.

The Practice

The SMART Scheme, aimed at stimulating the institution’s academic environment, provides financial assistance to departments to organize Conferences/ Seminars/Webinars/Workshop/Symposium at International/National and State level on various subjects of academic relevance. A financial support, to a maximum of 20,000 /- is sanctioned to 10 departments of the college.

The Procedure

  • IQAC calls for proposal from all departments of the college for conducting Seminars/Webinars/ conferences.
  • A selection committee scrutinizes the proposals, and ten departments are selected based on the following criterion: -
    • Completeness of the proposal in every respect
    • Innovation/Relevance
    • External funding
    • Level of the programme
  • Based on the scrutiny, the selected departments are sent acceptance letters
  • Fund is released after the submission of the following:
    • Brochure and Programme Schedule
    • Report of the programme
    • Utilization Certificate
    • Statement of Expenditure
    • Photographs
  • In 2022-23, a change in policy was introduced to include Student Skill Development programmes too.
  • Proposals which include activity-oriented skill training were given priority

The scheme implemented in 2019, has provided assistance to 10 departments every year until 2022, for conducting quality academic events such as Research seminars, workshops, conferences, student beneficial programmes like ISRO exhibitions, Science stage programmes, Educational fests, etc.

Evidence of Success

The SMART programme launched in 2019 has since then motivating the departments to actively involve in convening academic programmes which results in academic and research updation of their respective areas of interest. The number of applications is increasing year by year and it has become challenging for the committee to select the best ten applications for fund approval. Students are highly benefitted in such a way that they get exposed to the global scenario of academics as well as research and as a result, quite a number of students have got motivate to register for research programmes in esteemed centres inside and outside the country.

Problems Encountered and Resources Required

Since the college hosts 16 Undergraduate and 10 Post-Graduate Programmes, the funds are not sufficient to meet the requirements of all departments. International speakers can be availed on online platforms only, as the funds are insufficient to meet travel expenses.

Notes (Optional)

The Practice is proved to be an effective and efficient one to impart quality education to students and motivation to teachers towards pursuing research and developmental activities. The scheme has brought in huge enthusiasm in teachers for active participation in research oriented events inside and outside the institution.

 

Click here for the Report on  SMART

 

BEST PRACTICE 2

HARITHA SANKARA

(Eco-Conservation Drive in the Campus)

Objectives of the Practice

  • To preserve the biodiversity of the campus
  • To enhance the greenery of the campus
  • To create a clean, plastic free and green consciousness among students
  • To inculcate an empathetic attitude towards mother Nature
  • To create suitable habitat for fauna and flora
  • To instil the sense of sustainable Development from young age
  • To learn respectful co-existence among nature and its habitants

The Context

Keeping the growing ecological concerns in mind, Sree Sankara College is of the firm belief that the need of environment protection and sustainable development is the need of the hour  and that  immediate action  is to be carried out to promote eco-friendly and sustainable  practices. That the college offers a PG programme in Environment Science and management is a testimony to the commitment in moulding a generation committed to the cause of environment.

The primary objective of the practice - Haritha Sankara - is to promulgate knowledge and awareness on the necessity of promoting sustainable and eco-friendly practices. Ambitious of stimulating every student and faculty on the need to safeguard the environment, the institution engages in enhancing environmental consciousness and social responsibility by endeavouring campus-oriented and beyond the campus initiatives. The college firmly believes that, when it comes to environmental conservation, awareness must be followed by sustainable practices.

In this endeavour, different departments, along with the institution’s various associated and dedicated committees, have undertaken several initiatives and organised different activities to reduce our institutional and societal carbon footprint and inculcate greener practices Conserving water by planting locally adapted, native plants; promoting applications of vermicompost for plants; providing food, water and shelter for birds, planting suitable plants for   butterflies, maintaining Nakshathra Vanam (Star Garden) , commemorating ecologically significant days etc. are some among the activities undertaken by our eco warriors to protect our campus.

 

The Practice

Various Clubs functioning in the campus such as:

  1. Bhoomitrasena Club
  2. Birds Club International
  3. Forestry Club
  4. NSS
  5. NCC, etc are keen on taking up the Green Campus Policy of the institution. The policies are implemented through various activities organised by the above forums from time to time, especially on nature relevant commemorative days. The measures undertaken by the above clubs in implementing the practice are listed below:

Enrichment of Campus greenery by planting trees and maintaining gardens

  1. Star Garden
  2. Vegetable Garden
  3. Butterfly Garden
  4. Medicinal Garden
  5. Proper Waste Management
  6. Water Conservation
  7. Campus Cleaning Drive
  8. Promotion of usage of Renewable Energy Sources
  9. Regular Energy, Environment and Green Audit
  10. Awareness Programmes and Expert Sessions
  11. Skill Based UGC approved NSQF Programmes in the Green Job Skill Sector

Evidence of Success

The rich green campus sprawling across 18 acres is the evidence of success of the practice. The students and staff have taken up this as a mission towards a cleaner, safer and sustainable life.

Problems Encountered and Resources Required

  1. The Green Campus initiative is a rather expensive practice. It needs expert advice and an investment of resources.
  2. Sufficient manpower is needed to sustainably maintain green practices.

Despite the challenges, the college continue its focus to achieve the goal of spreading environmental consciousness amongst all the stakeholders.

Click here for the report on - Haritha Sankara