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THE SCHEME OF CLUSTER OF COLLEGES
DRAFT REPORT
(For
Discussion with the Stakeholders) |
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A committee was constituted by
the Governing Council of Kerala State Higher Education
Council to study in depth various aspects of the scheme of
cluster of colleges preparatory to implementing it in the
Kochi region with Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam, as the
nodel agency. A sum of Rs.1 crore was known to be earmarked
for the scheme in the state budget for 2007-08.
The
first
meeting of the committee, herein after called the Cluster
Committee (CC), was held at Thiruvananthauram on 31-08-2007
and attended by Dr.K.N.Panikkar, Vice Chairman, HEC,
Prof.Thomas Joseph, Member Secretary, HEC and all members.
The meting came up with the following proposals. |
| (i) |
The
following five colleges be included in the cluster to be set
up at Kochi on an experimental basis
Maharaja’s
College (Nodal Agency)
St.Theresa’s College
St.Albert’s College
Sacred
Heart’s College
Cochin
College |
|
(ii) |
Steps be
initiated to implement capital investment programmes
involving the setting up of E-library, E-learning/ Video
Conferencing facilities and a Seminar Hall at Maharaja’s
College as a Common Facilities Centre, ensuring maximum
access to all colleges within the cluster. |
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(iii) |
Department
be identified in the member Colleges for the conduct of
seminars, symposia or workshops in which they have the
faculty and infrastructure. |
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(iv) |
A scheme
for sharing of faculty among the member colleges be drawn up |
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(v) |
The next
sitting of the CC be held at Kochi on 21st and 22nd
September 2007 to facilitate interaction with the following
stakeholders: |
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1 |
Representatives of the Managements’ Association and
Managements of member colleges |
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2 |
Representatives of teachers’ organizations |
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3 |
Representatives of students’ organizations |
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4 |
Representatives of Principals’ Council and Principals of
member colleges. |
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Detailed discussions took
place at the meetings held at Kochi between the members of
the CC and representatives of the stakeholders. The
meetings were attended by Dr.K.N.Panikkar, Vice Chairman,
HEC, and presided over by Dr.K.Babu Joseph, Chairman, CC.
It was clarified to the
stakeholders that the Cluster Scheme was not intended to
infringe the autonomy of the member colleges but was focused
on the prospect of sharing of existing facilities and
creating new facilities to the extent possible.
Representatives of the
Managements’ Association and managers of the member colleges
agreed in principle to sharing of E-learning facilities
among the colleges.
Though misgivings were
expressed by representatives of teachers’ organizations,
students’ organisations, principals’ council and principals
of member colleges, there was consensus on setting up the
E-learning facilities in the first phase.
Dr.K.N. Panikkar explained to
them the long-term perspectives of the scheme of cluster of
colleges. He said that the goal was to improve the quality
of academic life, promote the sharing of facilities and
encourage the introduction of joint programmes in teaching
and research. It is intended to generate the necessary
condition for quality improvement. It would also enable the
participating institution to promote teaching and research
in new areas. An important possibility that would accrue
from it is academic collaboration which would enrich the
academic atmosphere in the colleges. |
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VISION STATEMENT
The Scheme of Cluster of
Colleges envisages the setting up of local clusters of
colleges in all districts, to promote mutual co-operation
and common initiatives in achieving academic excellence.
There will be sharing of resources among the member colleges
in each cluster. Joint ventures may include the introduction
of undergraduate courses in innovative or emerging areas and
need based PG courses and the credit system. Areas for
Cluster co-operation may include joint research programmes,
sharing of laboratory facilities or costly equipments,
library and sports facilities, organizing joint
seminars/symposia/ workshops, establishing career guidance
and employment cell, adopting a village for rural
development, inviting eminent academicians and so on.
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PROGRAMME OF ACTION
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| 1 |
Request the State Government
to fill up the teaching vacancies in colleges on an
emergency basis. |
| 2 |
Steps be taken to set up
E-learning network at the cluster at Kochi with Maharaja’s
College as the nodel agency. |
| 3 |
Recommend to the government to
authorize the Deputy Director of Collegiate Education at
Kochi to take all the necessary administrative steps
required for realizing the objectives stated in (2) above. |
| 4 |
An academic committee be set
up for the cluster at Kochi with the following members. |
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i |
Principal, Maharaja’s College,
Chair |
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ii |
A Senior teacher from
Maharaja’s College to hold charge of the scheme |
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iii |
Principals of Member Colleges |
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iv |
Representative of Managers of
member colleges |
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v |
A teacher representative from
each college |
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vi |
An eminent academician from
outside the cluster, preferably a University Professor. |
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The state government be
requested to appropriate funds for activities of the
cluster. |
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U.G.C may be approached to
grant funds for extending the Cluster project to other parts
of Kerala |
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The HEC may work at a suitable
mechanism for periodical evaluation of the functioning of
the clusters |
