GOING PLACES: Hindu College students who were part of the NAAC exchange programme narrating their experiences. — Photo: T. Vijaya Kumar

GUNTUR: Better learning experience through elaborate practical classes in all subjects including statistics, economics and digital library at Shri Shivaji Science College in Nagpur floored a group of students and faculty from Hindu College in Guntur.

Ten students and two faculty members selected through a series of screening tests for NAAC student-faculty exchange programme, the first of its kind organised under this scheme from this region, proved an eye-opener for many students on the excellence of their own institution.

These students had gone to another State without parental escort for the first time and there was enjoying no bounds, which apart, it was a rich experience on distinct style of education system in the college affiliated to Nagpur University and Hindu College.

While the infrastructure was more or less comparable, there was more equipment in laboratories, better library with INFLIBNET connection to nodes providing a great opportunity to students to surf through digital library. Discipline and maintenance of the college was no comparison to Hindu College, opined Mymunnisa, member of the Hindu College student team.

Making friends

Seven girls and three boys from science and arts/commerce faculties gained rich experience during four days of stay in Maharashtra college, while they made good friends in the Nagpur College, the group members chosen from different departments never knew each other though studying under one roof. "Now we are inseparable friends," says Vara Lakshmi.

The demerits of their examination system was that they had only winter and summer examinations and if a student failed in of them, he had to wait for one whole academic year, whereas instant supplementary here allows them to make up for the loss. Their communication skills were far below that of the Guntur students and shied away from the team members unless they spoke in Hindi.

The medium of instruction was only English in Shivaji College, which did not add any advantage to the students there.

The parking of vehicles was haphazard, but dress code was stricter compared to Guntur. "Jeans are not allowed and most of the girls wore salwar suits," Pavani observed.

Venkatesh, Prashanth Kumar, Asha, Aswani, Alekhya, Parinitha and Sivachari, the other members of the group were escorted by two science lecturers -- P.V. Ramu and V. Jaya. The visit would be returned by a team from Shivaji College some time next year.

Students attended some of the academic classes during the four days and found the examination system better as the theory was divided into three papers of 40 marks each.

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