Best Practice -1
Title of the Practice
Promoting Psychological Well Being
- Objectives of the Practice
With a focus on improving psychological well-being, the institution aimed to:
- provide a safe learning environment to students
- create forums for expression and sharing
- build peer bonds as well as bonds between students and teachers
- remove stigma surrounding mental health concerns
- promote personal and social adjustment of all stakeholders
- The Context
19 pandemic led to an increase in mental health concerns at the global level. Students shared difficulty in adjusting to the changed circumstances and dealing with feelings of social isolation. It was a challenge to re-envision the college as a space for sharing personal stories and venting, beyond the prescribed academic role.
- The Practice
Higher education institutes in India are spaces for students to embark on their independent journeys. In the Indian context, this is the first time students’ step away from sheltered lives of home and school. It was a challenge to examine our role in engaging with students’ personal lives without intruding on their privacy. As an initiative towards promoting psychological well-being of students, the Applied Psychology Department of the college set up a counseling helpline for its students and staff. Additional fee concessions, online reading material, workshops, seminars, and regular mentorship sessions, also served as support mechanisms.
- Evidence of Success
The counselling helpline was an active space where students could freely share their concerns. Many students developed close bonds with their teachers and mentors, and urged to continue such practices in the future. The success of any endeavor is often measured through tangible gains often in terms of high numbers. In contrast, our success is in being able to ensure zero dropouts due to financial stress, or psychological concerns.
- Problems Encountered and Resources Required
The number one problem that arises in addressing psychological well-being is the continued stigma that surrounds it. We are continually trying to reach out to students and working towards creating safe spaces for them to share their thoughts and develop awareness around mental health concerns.
Best Practice - 2
- Title of the Practice
Digitalizing Administration
- Objectives of the Practice
The aim of this best practice is to ensure judicious use of IT-enabled infrastructure and resources. Within this larger ambit, we strive to use digital resources to improve academic abilities, inclusive educational opportunities, greater efficiency and environmental sensitivity.
- The Context
The use of information and communication technology is the need of the hour. With a host of activities around us, we strive towards improving efficiency in communication and functioning. In addition, use of paper is not just a strain on financial resources but also incurs greater environmental costs. With the onset of the COVID’19 pandemic, the college decided to convert the challenge of maintaining quality in academics by making the most judicious use of online resources and learning management systems.
- The Practice
The college has taken several steps towards digitalising education and administration. These include:
- use of learning management systems for providing resources to students
- digitalizing Admission, Examination Processes and Results, etc.
- online payment system- students fee payments, remuneration, salary, etc
- use of social networks such as WhatsApp and google groups for communicating with students and staff
- e-communication of office notices, salary slips, etc.
- providing access to digital libraries through DULS and N-List
- maintenance and augmentation of computer laboratories, projectors in classroom and conference halls
- wider outreach through a dedicated college Youtube Channel
- setting up of online helplines for facilitating online admissions
- availability of laptops to students and teachers on need basis
- Evidence of Success
The college provided several trainings and workshops to teachers towards use of various IT resources. In addition, workplace email ids have secured communication within the organisation and eased out digital meetings. Teachers and students have greater access to e-resources through online facilities. The use of paper has considerably reduced and almost all records have been shifted online.
- Problems Encountered and Resources Required
Two of the biggest challenges in implementing digitalization are financial constraints and training of teachers. The college is slowly striving towards making judicious use of available infrastructure, maintaining and augmenting the same, along with organizing regular training programmes for teachers.
Documentary Proof for Best Practices
Activities Under Promoting Psychological Well Being
List of Digitalization Initiatives
Digitalization of Administration and Teaching Learning Process
Internal Assessment and Grievance Redressal
Departmental News Letters and Magazine
Previous Best Practices