Gramonnati Mandal's ACS College, Narayangaon

Previous NAAC Cycles

Previous NAAC Peer Team Report Cycle 1 : 2003

NAAC report of Gramonnati Mandals Arts, Commerce and Science College

Section 1: Introduction

Gramonnati Mandal's Arts, Commerce & Science College, Narayangaon, was started in 1993 having a motto 'EKAGRATA YASOBEEJAM' as an objective of providing relevant higher education for rural development to girl students and rural youth who cannot travel long distances in pursuit of higher education. It is affiliated to Pune University.

A great leader, educationist and social activist Guruvarya Rajaram Parshuram Sabnis was instrumental in enthusing the local community to participate in village development activities and initiated the process in 1944 by starting a primary school. Over the years, the local community continued the efforts of the founder and today the community manages several educational, technical and vocational and skill development institutions to empower the local youth in developing self help attitude. The present members of the Management Committee continue to strive to translate the ideals of the founder in to reality by realizing the objectives and the social causes for which the several institutions that were brought into being. The members of the Peer Committee when they interacted with the members of the managing committee, they were impressed by the facilities developed by the Gramonnati Mandal like auditorium, modern computers, multimedia projector, swimming pool with a filtration plant and fully equipped gymnasium.

The college has a campus of 25 acres consisting of a main building with classrooms , laboratories, library, offices etc. The college offers courses leading to B.A., B.Sc. and B.Com. degrees. It has a strength of 908 students, 32 faculty members, out of whom 23 are permanent teachers, nine are Clock Hour Basis (CHB) teachers. There are 10 non-teaching staff in the college.

The college besides imparting formal education, conducts some co-curricular and extra curricular activities such as NSS, Computer Training schemes for all round development of the personality of students.

The college having concern for quality in higher education offered itself for assessment by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). The NAAC constituted the Peer Team for the assessment and accreditation of the college comprising of Dr. K. Kuppuswamy Rao, Former Rector of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University as Chairman, Dr. S.C. Choksi, Principal, J. G. College of Commerce, Ahmedabad, Gujarat and Prof. K.M. Kaveriappa, (Convener), Professor of Applied Botany, Manglore University as members. Dr. Antony Stella, Advisor, NAAC Co-ordinated the visit.

The Peer Team visited the college on 28th and 29th November, 2003. After going through the Self Study Report and accompanying documents submitted by the college, visiting the Departments and the facilities of the college and discussing with the Principal, faculty, staff, students, parents and alumni, the Peer Teem records its observations on the various criteria defined by NAAC.

Section 2: Criterion-wise Analysis

Criterion I: Curricular Aspects

The college is a multi-faculty undergraduate, affiliating type. Some subject-options are available for arts students. The Arts and Commerce programmes are under grant-in-aid, while Science, programme is under self-finance scheme.

The college offers three conventional UG programmes, in three faculties through five subjects in Science, (Chemistry, Math, Botany, Zoology and Physics) and five in Arts (English, Marathi, Hindi, History and Economics) and five in the Commerce faculty. As an affiliated college of Pune University, it follows the syllabi prescribed by the university

After strengthening the existing U.G Programmes the college can think of starting other U.G and some PG Programmes in management, Computer science etc. The college may obtain feedback from their academic peers and employers, and use them to modify its curriculum and suggest changes in the University's regulations.

In the present system it takes about one year to introduce a new programme and the college intends to propose many certificate and diploma level courses which are career oriented and helpful in moral development of students.

The goal of the institution is to empower youth committed to village development and encourage women to pursue higher education. The enrolment of women student in the college is at 50% level.

Criterion II: Teaching-learning and Evaluation

The students are selected on the basis of the marks obtained at the qualifying exam. The college does not assess students knowledge and skills before or after admissions. It may consider doing this, as it will enable teachers to identify the academically weak students. After admission, further attention may be given to student's progress by organizing bridge / remedial courses. Extra remedial courses for weaker students in English, Mathematics and economics may be arranged. The existing personality development programmes may be formalised.

Every teacher maintains teaching diary and makes teaching plan and plan for academic activities in the college. The chalk and talk method of teaching may be supplemented by the use of OHP, charts, models, C.D's, VCD's , slides, Computers etc. in the classrooms.

There are 238 working days, of which 180 are teaching days. Classes are held between 7:30AM and 12:30PM. Ratio of full time teachers to part time teachers is 23:9 and that of teaching to non-teaching staff is 32:10. Nearly 85% of the faculty are permanent. Some staff are appointed on CHBS. As per the University's requirement, the college conducts unit test, term examination and tutorials.

The teachers are recruited by a Selection Committee according to the norms laid down by UGC, University and the State Government. Only two out of 23 permanent faculty members are ladies.

In the last two years, eight teachers have participated at the national level and 16 teachers at the state level seminars. The teachers are being encouraged to attend seminars. A good number of teachers have also attended orientation and refresher courses, in the last two years.

The college does not have U.G.C. recognition. Since it has got permanent affiliation from the University of Pune recently, it has approached the U.G.C for recognition.

Establishment of language laboratories for English, Hindi and Marathi would be of great help for the students. The commerce department faculty have made a beginning starting a commerce teaching lab by raising funds from their students.

Two teaching faculties have received some awards. The college has established linkages with C.DAC, GMRT and VSNL

Criterion III: Research, Consultancy and Extension

Out of the 23 permanent teachers two are Ph.D. degree holders and three have M.Phil. degrees. The Principal of the college is active in research, and is guiding some M.Phil students of Pune University. The college encourages teachers to attend seminars, workshops and conferences.

Attention should be paid to develop a research culture in the college. The management may think of providing seed money and encourage faculty members to do research and apply for research grants from different funding agencies.

The faculty members should use their expertise and offer consultancy services to the public. In this way they may earn some revenue for the educational projects of the institution. Linkages within research institutions and university departments could go a long way to strengthen teaching and research in the college.

Some faculty members have been placed in additional charge of extension activities. The extension activities are limited to regular NSS activities. The broad areas of extension activities are community development, social work, blood donation camp, debate competition and spreading environment awareness among local community. Some of these activities are organised in collaboration with GOs and NGOs. The college has no NCC unit. There is need for a NCC unit in the college.

The college has implemented its 'Earn and Learn' Scheme of Pune University.

Criterion IV: Infrastructure and Learning Resources

The college is located in a rural area, having a campus of 25 acres. The existing space and infrastructure are not sufficient to support all the programmes. Currently, some facilities of Gramonnati Mandal are available for the college. The salary grant of Arts and Commerce faculties are fully supported by the State Government. The salary of Science faculty is covered under self financing scheme.

Audio Visual aids like OHP, TV, VCP, Tape Recorders are used by Commerce and Physics Deptt. Audio cassettes for languages are also available in English Deptt. All the Deptts must make the use of Audio-visual aids for teaching.

The college has to develop playground of its own. It uses the facilities of Gramonnati Mandal for sports and games. Similarly, indoor games gymnasium and swimming tank of Mandal are used by the students and staff jointly with other Institution.

Every year students participate in intercollegiate, interuniversity (zonal) competitions in athletics and Judo. Coaching in other sports and games may be of help.

Library facility has been developed in the new building. There is a library advisory committee. The library functions between 08.00 a.m. and 04.00 p.m. It holds around 7256 books out of which 1520 are outdated. There are a few magazines in the library. More text books and reference books must be added to the library. There is also Book Bank facility, but not fully made use of. The library must be computerized and more books have to be added.

There are two computers in Physics and Commerce departments. There are 15 computers, a scanner and a printer in the computer centre. The students may be given an opportunity to have hands on experience in computers. The college may organize computer literacy programmes for both the teaching and non-teaching staff.

There is no Health Centre. Annual health check up of students of first year degree is done as per The University norms with the help of local doctor. This may be extended to the second and final year students also. A health centre is required for this college as there is no hospital nearby.

Criterion V: Student Support and Progression

The student dropout rate is 20% in Arts, 8% in Commerce and 31.12% in Science. If remedial courses in English, Economics and Maths are formalized drop out rate may be lowered and the performance of students may improve. Student support services such as health services, scholarships, informal guidance of students, and group insurance schemes are notable features.

The college publishes its prospectus annually. It may think of establishing a personal counselling and a career counseling cell, for the benefit of students. The Central and State government scholarships are available for the students. The college encourages meritorious students by instituting scholarships.

The alumni association has just been started. There are nature club, students magazine club and science association.

Criterion VI: Organisation and Management

Being a government aided college, the administration functions within the framework prescribed by Pune University and the state government. Although the Trust Manages eight institutions, there is a separate managing Committee for the college. Various administrative and academic responsibilities are assigned to staff as per the directions of the management. The management is very enthusiastic about the development of the college in all spheres of activity. The management believes in democratic functioning, decentralization of managerial powers, which helps create proper academic atmosphere in the college.

The college has initiated the process of internal quality checks. The office up keep is good. Accounts are maintained properly. Total computerisation of office accounts and office procedure may help in the smooth administration. Similarly, non-teaching staff will have to be trained in latest managerial skills to improve their efficiency. There is welfare fund for teaching and non-teaching staff. There are also loan schemes available for them.

Nothing tangible could be done with reference to curricular aspects, as the college is affiliating type and it has to follow the curriculum prescribed by the affiliating university.

Criterion VII: Healthy Practices

The college has some healthy practices

The college run by the Gramonnati Mandal, which has a vision to fuse Rural Development through higher education. Local community is actively associated with the college development activities.

Performance of staff is evaluated through their self-appraisal reports and departmental result sheets.

The college is getting sensitized to latest managerial concepts.

Value based education is imparted to the students through social service, NSS activities.

Students volunteers are involved in National Programmes such as national integration activities, helping in the construction of houses for the downtrodden, construction of natural water sheds in the villages, undertake environmental awareness programmes, etc.,

Bahishal Shikshan undertakes a good activities of the college for community development.

Special communicative English classes are conducted for first year student.

Section 3: Overall Analysis

The Institution is in a rural set up and has serene atmosphere. The Peer Team after visiting its various infrastructure facilities and after having discussions with the management, principal, faculty, students, and alumni, records its observations and suggestions which are as follows:

The peer team is impressed by the efforts and the keen interest shown by the management in developing this institution into a premiere institution in this area.

The college is now functioning from a new building where the Arts, commerce and physics departments library computer center, college office are located.

The building space appears to be adequate for the above departments and offices. However, the class rooms, staff room, office room and library have to be properly furnished.

At present, the departments of Botany, Zoology and Chemistry are located in an old building. The laboratories of these departments including Chemistry which is offered as the only major subject in B.Sc degree lack basic equipment, furniture and other infra structure. This deficiency may have to be met on priority basis.

The departments of the Botany, Zoology and Chemistry must be shifted to a new building and their laboratories are properly equipped and furnished. The President of the management has assured the peer team that they will construct an additional floor to the existing new college building for these departments. Incidentally, the physics laboratory which is located in the new building is sufficiently equipped.

The existing library in the new building requires proper furniture. More titles of books have to be added. Some important journals in different subjects have to be subscribed. The library has to be computerized and photocopying facility has to be provided.

Currently, the sports and games facilities of the Gramonnati Mandal which are available in about two kms from the college is being used by the students. The college is yet to develop its sports and indoor games facilities. Since it has sufficient land in the new campus for developing such facilities, this may be done early.

Since, 50% of students in the college are ladies who travel from the nearby villages by bus to attend classes, a ladies common room facility is necessary.

The college is yet to create canteen and health center facilities. Since it is located in a rural area without any hospital nearby, a health center is essential.

Starting of a N.C.C. unit in the college may be considered.

During discussions with the management and the principal, the peer team observed that they have plans to start some courses in management, computer science etc. at the degree level. There is also scope for starting courses in microbiology, plant biotechnology, food technology, etc. in the institution provided necessary infrastructure starting from the building space is created.

The peer team is pleased to know that the management intends to make the degree programme skill oriented and plans to introduce some vocational short-term courses in collaboration with the agricultural unit of the Mandal.

Two faculty members including the principal have research degrees The principal himself is a recognized research guide. Other faculty members are yet to acquire Ph.D. Degrees. It is notable that many members and the faculty have passed NET/SET examinations. If the management can encourage the faculty to set up research work in the institution itself, research can be carried out on different aspects of the rural development horticulture and agriculture. This will be in tune with the philosophy of the founder.

The extension activities of the staff may be oriented towards awareness programmes like water conservation and rain water harvest in the rural area. Imparting knowledge on uses of non conventional energy such as solar light for cooking, and water heating will be of great help to the local community. Since the college in an agricultural zone, farmers may be informed about the eco-friendly agricultural methods.

Computer literacy for non computer students and remedial courses in English, Economics, and Mathematics, will help the students to perform better in various competitive examinations

Alumni association has been recently found under the name, 'self help ex-student welfare association' with the main objective of developing its the alma meter. The peer team hopes that the association will play a greater role in the development of this college.

As suggested by one of the parents a parent association may be formed and a poor student aid fund may be created in the colleges.