1.         Name of the College with complete   :   SACRED HEART COLLEGE, THEVARA              

          address, PIN Code and State.                                  KOCHI 682 013, KERALA, INDIA

          Email                                                                   :   shoffice@sancharnet.in;  

          Website                                                               :   shcollege.ac.in

          For communication:

          Office       

      Residence

2.   Date of establishement of the college                      :    16.06.1944 (dd/mm/yyyy)

2.             .   3.   Type of college                                                            :    Affiliated

               4.   Affiliated to                                                                   :     Mahatma Gandhi University

               5.   Location of the College                                               :     Urban

               6.   Status of the college                                                   :       Affiliat

               7.     Total No. of aided Teachers:

* M-Male , F-Female

8.         Status of the aided teachers:      

 *M-Male, F- Female

 9.         Students enrollment         

 10.       Category - wise enrollment of students as on date :

 11. a) Current number of academic programmes offered in the college under the following categories: (Enclose the list of academic programmes offered)

b) List of the department in the College - Faculty wise:

 12. Give details of the self-financing courses offered by the institution.

 13. Total No. of unaided teachers :

14.       Status of the aided teachers:           

 *M-Male, F- Female

 II.   OBJECTIVES AND SALIENT FEATURES OF THE SCHEME

 (Steps initiated on the following categories may be indicated in not more than one page for each category. This should be as per the budget proposal approved by the UGC for your college under CPE scheme)

1.  To strengthen the academic and physical infrastructure for achieving excellence in teaching,  

      research and outreach programmes

Since the NAAC accreditation in 2000-01 the process of up-gradation and modernization of infrastructure facilities is part of our core agenda. Thanks to the CPE, we are able to make sustained efforts in the direction.

a)   Library has been modernized and computerized making it more user-friendly DELNET services has been introduced in the library. The students and staff can now access the Net from the library.

b)   Steps have been initiated to support ICT enabled learning. Most departments have been provided with OHP. Teachers can freely use all the ICT facilities in the college. The Virtual Learning Centre housed in the Marian Hall and the state of art A/C seminar hall are being used by the students and the faculty.  Fixed LCD projectors are available in both the hall.

c) The audio-video recording studio has been completed. The Centre is equipped with a movie camera and a computer with editing facility using Final Cut Pro licensed software. The audio-visual gadgets available are TV, LCD -TV, MP3/DVD Player and an LCD Projector. The centre plans to bring out course ware, in fact we have developed a package for chemistry students and 4 episodes of e-content (video lecture series - Botany)

d)  The instrumentation centre that will house the costly instruments for research purpose has been inaugurated.

e)  A fully equipped computer lab with 70 pentium 4 dual core machine has started working. The centre also houses the language lab.

f)    The laboratories of the science department have been modernized and equipped adequately so as to meet the requirements of the research scholars. Details of the instruments purchased in item  VI - 'A Brief report of the work done by the college using college with potential for excellence funds'.

2.  To promote flexible and effective governance.

a)      The entire office staff is computer literate and computerized office work has not only added efficiency to its functioning but also become beneficial to all who associate with the college.

b)      The college has an improved website. Departments have been interlinked by Reliance Intercom.

c)      A lot of innovation  and structural adjustments were made for the smooth functioning of the institution. A bridge has been set up connecting the main block and life science block. Two front offices have been opened for the benefit of the students and the public. LAN links the Principal office, the libraries, the department and PG Classes.

3.  To enhance the quality of the learning and teaching process at UG and PG levels.

a)      The newly introduced Net and audio-video facilities enhance and enrich the teaching learning process. Debates lectures by visiting faculty supplement the routine class room teaching.  Teaching with the help of LCD projector has brought about a qualitative change in the class room situation. DELNET and Virtual Learning Centre provide e-learning facilities. These modifications have been made via the CPE.

b)      Seminar workshop and orientation programmes are conducted by the institution for faculty development programmes are either UGC funded or even self mobilized.  Teachers have not only participated in international seminars but some have gone abroad to present research papers.

4.  To promote academic programmes relevant to the socio-economic needs of the Nation.

a) The Department of Zoology has identified Arachnology, Neurobiology of ageing and Marine Biotechnology as specific areas of research. Specialists from the Arachnology division were invited from West Bengal to tackcle spider menace in a certain place. The Marine Biotechnology division and the department of aquaculture serves the specific needs of Kochi, which is a costal city.

c)      Janaparvam: Another 'down-to-earth' student initiative for social connect, the Janaparvam project zooms in on the social uplift of 100 BPL families in Maradu Panchayath, through educational empowerment. Extended over a 10-year period, the project meticulously monitors and evaluates the educational, socio-economic parameters of these families and assists them in effecting a qualitative change in their lives. The faculty and students of each academic year are involved in a range of activities such as surveys to identify the underprivileged and conduct of classes. The project, a labour of love, is sure to bridge the gap between the 'classes' and masses.

d)      Mangrove Conservation: Over the years, the rapid urbanization has claimed thousands of mangrove vegetation lands - a rare reservoir of incredible biodiversity - along Kerala's coast. The Primrose Nature Club, along with many other clubs has launched a major self-funded initiative to conserve and replenish the precious ecosystem around Nettoor. A field survey, an awareness programme involving the public and the formal launch of the project involving the Southern Railway Authorities have been completed. The next phase is the enrichment of the land by planting new saplings of diverse species. These programmes are bound to bring on a sea change in the perception of the students as well as the nature of ecosystem.

5.  To promote skill-oriented programmes.

      a) Campus Recruiment Cell: Campuses have become the happy hunting ground for many multinational companies around the globe. We have a Campus Recruitment and Placement cell functioning in our College. Our campus too has leading firms knocking at our portals for potential recruits. This has catalysed us to a new mode of organizing our academics and training. The cell is aimed at securing appropriate employment opportunities to the students on completion of their various courses. For this, the cell maintains close liaison with prospective employers in and outside Kerala. In the last two years a large number of employers of various companies and industry-associations visited the College and recruited dozens of students. Google has enlisted our College as one of the most reputed Colleges of the world and one of their permanent recruiting centres.  Progeon Ltd has selected this College out of 130 Colleges in the country under their Campus Ambassador Programme (CAP). A number of companies, including Cognizant Technology Solutions, Genpact and Tech Mahindra have shown keenness to visit our campus for recruitment during 2006-07. 35 students of our College were selected and offered placement during 2005-06. Techruit, a Chennai-based H2 Consultancy firm recruited 12 students during 2006-07. Thus a total of 111 students have landed plum jobs so far.  In order to enhance the employability of the students, the cell conducts programmes for soft-skill development. Such programmes are conducted with the help of specialized agencies like ICFAI and other soft-skill experts. The objectives of these programmes are: to improve the communication skills in English, to boost the confidence level of students, to help them to identify their potentialities, to guide them to the industries/areas they are best suited for, to assist them to prepare their resume and to help them in their grooming i.e. dress code, body language, good manners etc. Thus the ultimate goal of the cell is to ensure that our students have ample job opening even before they complete their degree courses in the College.

b)  The Speakers Forum, the ProjectEng Power aimed at improving the use of English, and Basic Mathematic Learning Programme are to promote different skills. They make the students employable.

6.  To promote networking with centres/department and the laboratories around the country.

Our campus is entirely networked via net-wi-fi method. All Departments, postgraduate classrooms, computer lab as well as all common spaces are interlinked by computer networking. Wi-fiing with IGB high-speed switches in 70 points, two broadband connectivities with 512/256 MB respectively, facilitate easy cyber access.

      Networking is of immense academic utility. The six Research Centres (labs), use it for multiple tasks; mailing assignments, projects etc and accessing courseware. Since LAN technology is already in place, the e-learning system, supplementing the usual class work, becomes a viable option. The web page of the individual Department serves as an academic calendar and virtual courseware for its students. The Departmental database also provides the opportunity for the parents to monitor the progress of their children from their homes. The DELNET facility has been found to be immensely resourceful.

      The admission process and the office procedures are already computerized. The networked computer - lab provides the infrastructure for on-line TOEFL Exams - a unique recognition for the College's network proficiency. Digitalizing is taking place at a hectic pace at various levels. The networking efforts have the ultimate aim of transforming the learning procedures into DLS. In the near future, the College envisages a fully functional video-audio conferencing, wider application of DELNET and free net access for undergraduates.

7.  To achieve global standards of excellence in education, training and research.

a)   The launching of a website on spiders for the first time India (www.southindianspiders.com), Biopeptide research,  the effect of deprenyl on ageing process,  the use of mass spectrometer for studying the mechanism of reactions etc. have been taken up by the various department of the college.

b) We have MOUs with Spectrometry division Washington University, USA, National Centre for Mass Spectrometry, IICT, Hyderabad.

c) The College has the distinction of having tie ups with national and international agencies. Our collaborations include Hohenheim University, Germany; St. Mary's College and Notre Dame University, Indiana, USA; CRL, FACT, IRE, HOC, MPEDA, CMFRI, FC COCHIN, SPICES BOARD etc

III. UNIQUE FEATURES OF YOUR COLLEGE (A brief report of not more than two Pages)

Sacred Heart College established in 1944, the maiden stride of the CMI congregation into the higher education arena has ever kept alive and endeavoured to bring to fruition the dreams of its founder visionaries. Nestling on an 11.98 acre pristine greenery on the shores of the Vembanad Lake the College is astoundingly roomy with an area of 1,50,000 sq.ft, and can provide comfortable accommodation to 2500 students. The grand structure, a unique blend of the old and the new with its exuberantly green surroundings has continued to sparkle on the crown on the Queen of the Arabian Sea. This edifice of learning and holistic enrichment has caught the attention of the state and the nation, and has come to global notice as well.

Thevara College, as our College is fondly known, after remaining a male bastion for over 25 years turned co-ed in 1975. Excelling in academic and co-curricular fields, Sacred Heart College has won abundant recognition all these years. The Government of Kerala conferred on it the coveted R. Sankar Award for the best First Grade College for the academic years 1996 - 97 and 1998 - 99. In 2001- 02 the College was selected as one of the centres for the College Science Improvement Programme (COSIP) by the UGC. In 2002 - 03 the UGC honored our College with a special grant in recognition of its 50 years service to the nation. In the very next year the Government of Kerala declared the institution eligible for the 'Special Grade Principal', with retrospective effect from 1-1-1986. And to top it all the UGC recognized Sacred Heart College as College with Potential for Excellence in the year 2004 - 05, thus setting it on a new trajectory of growth. All these recognitions came, of course, after the Five Star accreditation by the NAAC, which gave us the drive and the energy and the resolve to excel. Now in the 62^nd year of its growth, the College possesses the potential and the passion to grow into a centre of excellence.

The College is affiliated to the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. With 2197 students from backward, urban, and semi-urban backgrounds on its rolls, and with a sprinkling of non-Malayalee students in most classes, we have a cosmopolitan campus. Six of our Departments are recognized research centres for PhD under the MG University. The College has on its faculty 76 regular and 41 guest lecturers; 22 of the regular faculty are PhDs and 40 have M Phil. 9 teachers are in the process of completing their PhD and three teachers are on FIP. The liberal ambience of the College provides the right climate for all round growth. Some of the faculty members of our bio-sciences Departments enjoy international reputation in Arachnology and Environmental studies. Globally alert, the Departments of Economics and Commerce have of late sent a letter of suggestions to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretary General for improving the WTO regulations. The UN body has responded positively to the suggestions and has promised to incorporate and execute them.

The motto and the mission/vision statements of the College proclaim the catholicity of the institution. The two murals inside our half a century old auditorium amply illustrate our priorities. Admissions and appointments are never denied in the name of caste, creed or sex. Ours is a two - pronged approach towards education. The programmes of the College are designed to develop our Departments into research centres of international standards. All the same, the programmes simultaneously address the specific practical needs of the community and the country. A few of our teachers have been allotted research projects worth Rs 60, 92,900 lakhs by various agencies.

The numerous awards and endowments instituted by the various Departments, the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), the Student Welfare Trust (SWT) and the Staff Co-operative Society have contributed to stimulating the academic climate in the campus. The Vincent De Paul Society with its succour to the economically challenged and its offer of free computer education to a few, all with funds mobilized from the staff, has been an active presence for years. With the firm conviction that increased access to higher education is also a part of nation building, we allow at least 1000 students to reap the benefits of distance learning offered by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Bharatiyar University and the Central University of Pondicherry.

The College keeps the campus open to the local community during morning and evening and the campus thus turns into a sports and games village. Thus even as it excels in sports and games as has been proved by the champion status it achieved twice in the University, it has been able to create a sports culture and health consciousness in this part of the state. It has a health centre dedicated to the local community.

S.H. can confidently stake claim to being among the most technology savvy campuses in this part of the country. What began with interdepartmental intercoms and photocopiers two decades ago has now turned into a fully networked campus where certain regions have become wi-fi. PG students can access the net from their classrooms free of charge. Pedagogical accessories like LCDs have become the order of the day. The new state of the art computer cum Language Lab with 60 systems and the separate Departmental computer centres with a combined strength of 110 Systems have made the campus fully IT enabled. No wonder our College has become a centre for TOEFL online exams in Kerala. Recently we set up a studio with a movie camera and computerized editing facility with final cut pro software.

We are keeping ourselves tuned to everyday developments in the general employment environment and effecting changes in our training strategy. Raising the employability quotient of the student is on our core agenda and we have devised a few programmes to enhance the confidence level of our students. The Basic Maths Learning Programme (BMLP) offered by the Maths Department, the Project EngPower (PEP) initiative by the Department of English, the free coaching in English Language skills offered to NCC cadets, the various courses offered by the Computer Centre and the add-on courses offered by the science Departments are meant to serve this goal. With the goal of global employability, which calls for core competencies as well as multiple capabilities, the College has signed MOUs with the British Council, ETS (Educational Testing Service) for TOEFL, the Genome project, CCMB, FACT, KRL, HCC and HIL and a few other agencies. The Get Yourself Motivated (GYM) and the Get First Programme are meant to enhance the career preparedness of the campus. In addition to the Career Guidance Centre we have a Placement Cell, which oversees and liaises with campus recruiters. PROGEON, GOOGLE, HSBC, HDFC, and GENPACT are some of the top firms that visit the College.

In addition to the sound value system, which has got embedded in the campus ethos of our institution, we have tutorial sessions for direct teacher student interaction. Further we have regular initiation lectures, legal awareness classes and pro-life lectures that give opportunities to students to interact with people who have made outstanding contributions to different disciplines.

The race for excellence has no finishing point. The philosophy of continuous improvement and the concept of excellence have guided the College from the very beginning. Thanks to the NAAC stipulation, we have an Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) in place. The IQAC enjoys the wholehearted support of the management and the College council. The IQAC has been allotted an office. A paid joint co-ordinator has been appointed to ensure the smooth functioning of the body. The cell serves the functions of monitoring, facilitating and assuring quality. The cell hopes to put in a flawless mechanism for total quality management. The cell would audit all the academic and extra academic programmes. It would harness all the resources of the College, including human resources. The IQAC will grow into a full-fledged body to ensure that every Department becomes a centre of excellence imparting quality education.

IV. STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS (UGC - College with Potential for Excellence)

V. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT

     According to you what are characteristics of a College with Potential for Excellence

 §         In terms of teaching :  The chalk and talk class room method should be balanced by generous use of ICT.

 §         In terms of research :  The research centers must be linked to the industries, research institutes and the universities/colleges  across the country.

 §         In terms of extension   :  People friendly extension work must be taken up. 

 §         In terms of infra-structure facilities :  Facilities with cutting edge technology must be added to the infra-structure without compromise.

 §         In terms of administration : It should be participatory and transparent. Right to information to be guaranteed to the staff and students. 

IV. A Brief report of the Work done by the college using college with potential for excellence funds be attached (If should not be more that Two A4 size pages).

Objectives of Infrastructural Up-gradation

The main objective of the scheme is to improve the infrastructure facilities required for a qualitative change in the teaching/learning process:

To move to e-learning system; To set up an audio-visual studio with the required equipment

To equip the labs with advanced instruments; To enable the students and research scholars to keep abreast of the latest information; To make the students employable by imparting required skills

Digital Learning System : The thrust area identified in consonance with the CPE guidelines was to effect a paradigm shift in the knowledge delivery system. We envisage, in the immediate future, a smooth transition to digital learning without sacrificing the strengths of the conventional class room. A major investment via CPE grant is made on the Audio Visual Studio, in the process of completion. It is to be a full fledged digital learning centre with state of the art technology. The studio is to produce multimedia courseware and audio visual s/w. The courseware could be viewed by the learners from their class rooms and library using the network. The studio on completion will be the digital epicenter that will accelerate the process of digitalization of academic programmes.

Campus networking :  Campus networking through wi-fi/cable methods has brought about visible changes in all segments of the academic and administrative structures. This will result in better liaison between the Principal's office and the different departments as well as more efficient utilization of all learning resources available in the campus. The PG class rooms are part of the network and they are provided with Net access and DELNET facility. Net browsing during leisure time and the virtual learning centre to be installed in the Marian Hall will enhance the academic quotient of our students. The entire furniture for supporting the campus networking in the computer lab, library, Research Centres, Departments and PG class rooms was funded by the Management.

Library : A part of the CPE funding has gone into replenishing the library, the core learning centre. The library has been renovated with individual reader cubicles and computerized with title/ author search facility. The self developed software used for computerizing the library is to be replaced by SOUL library software. In order to keep pace with the latest information and developments in various disciplines a part of the CPE grant was used for procuring latest books and journals.

Lab equipment, Computers, printers, scanners, Chemicals, glass wares, Language lab

The various machinery and equipment installed in the computer lab and Research labs have been purchased mainly using the CPE grant. Chemicals and glass wares purchased were for the Chemistry, Botany and Zoology Departments. The interactive Language lab an important component of linguistic skill development available to our students will function as part of the computer lab. The softwares to be installed will enable scores of students to fine tune their speech skills supervised by the teacher concerned or by using self coaching s/w.

Excellence is the watchword for an institution on the road to autonomy. In consonance with our vision/mission we have chalked out a master plan of development. The academic and non-academic activities of the college are designed to empower the students to meet their social and individual needs. The institution trains them in knowledge and skills to meet the needs of this developing nation. The nation needs a physically sound, professionally competent, intellectually aspiring and spiritually enlightened manpower to take on the 21^st century. Instead of producing a homogenous group of degree holders we aim at enabling the student to take initiative in identifying and realizing his/her individually distinctive potential.

VII PROBLEMS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEME, IF ANY

As the present Plan Period is coming to a close, the college may be allowed to use 2^nd installment of the CPE grant during the coming Plan.

VIII. SUGGESTION TO IMPROVE THE SCHEME, IF ANY

The languages departments particularly the English department, the Humanities and the Commerce department have an important role in the globalised world, so they may be incorporated in the scheme.

IX. FUTURE PLAN

1. What has the College gained from the College with Potential for Excellence scheme ?

The college enjoys a national reputation which has been a boost to our performance.  The gainful use of the CPE fund has given us an enviable position with regard to infrastructural facilities.

2. What is to be gained in future?

To complete the projects we have started.

To have more tie-ups with the national and international institutions of repute.

To start more professional and job-oriented courses to meet the growing demands of industry and technology.

3. Tips for fine-tuning of the scheme : We are happy with this scheme.

         S/d

Signature of Principal

Name : Fr. A.J. Saviance