Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Rs. 1 crore bonanza for two city colleges

By Swahilya

CHENNAI, SEPT. 14. Two city colleges — Loyola and Ethiraj — were today formally conferred the `College with Potential for Excellence' status.

The status, which will be in force for three years starting this academic year (2004-05), entitles the colleges to Rs.1 crore each from the University Grants Commission to upgrade their facilities.

The Vice-Chancellor of the Madras University, S.P. Thiagarajan, invited the Principals of the two colleges today to formally receive the letter of "College with Potential for Excellence".

Father Albert Muthumalai, Principal, Loyola College, told The Hindu that the certification was based on a number of factors — curriculum, performance, innovative methods of teaching, learning and evaluation and research consultancy and extension programmes. The pre-conditions are that the colleges should be autonomous and be accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council.

Other parameters viewed for the selection were on how far the curriculum has been improved on the choice-based credit system and with regard to teaching and learning evaluation.

Action plan

Loyola college will have now have spell out how it proposes to spend the Rs. 1 crore over the next two-and-a-half years, the Father Muthumalai said, pointing out that the amount cannot be spent on new buildings, but on research, inter-disciplinary programmes, updating of laboratories, new instruments, library books and computer facilities.

Indhrani Sridharan, Principal, Ethiraj College for Women, said "The award is a recognition of the fact that the college is now on the national map. In all, 47 colleges in the country including eight in Tamil Nadu have received the award," she said.

The college has to make a presentation at the UGC in New Delhi on how it plans to maintain the status of excellence.

The UGC has listed various heads under the Rs. 1 crore can be spent, including library automation, language laboratories to train students and community service, which enhances social accountability. These heads come under some 20 parameters identified by the UGC. "It (the award) is a big responsibility placed on us, to take the institution to real heights of excellence. I am confident that my teachers will be able to go that extra mile and accomplish it," Ms. Sridharan said.

According to Dr. Thyagarajan, the colleges would now make a presentation before a UGC expert committee in Delhi in October. It is good that the colleges are getting recognition for the efforts they had taken, he taken.

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