The Hindu : New Delhi News : Delhi college to promote research

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Tuesday, May 20, 2008
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Delhi college to promote research

Parul Sharma

Focus on nurturing under-graduate students as autonomous learners

NEW DELHI: Acharya Narendra Dev College of Delhi University is planning to set up a Centre for Promotion of Undergraduate Research and Training on its campus.

The college located in Kalkaji has in the past couple of years upgraded its facilities by setting up an instrumentation laboratory, an investigative projects laboratory and research laboratories for its students and faculty.

“Students are not just taught facts. They are exposed to attitudes, approaches, values and a vocabulary that teaches them to think independently. The effort is to nurture them as autonomous learners. We are planning to set up this centre to encourage research among our college students. We will soon be submitting a proposal to the University Grants Commission for funds,” said the college Principal, Dr. Savithri Singh.

Despite being located in a modest school building, the college that is meant primarily for the science stream has in the last few years generated a decent infrastructure for its students. For instance, the investigative projects laboratory is stocked with the latest test and measurement equipment. “Physical experiments are now being done through computer interfacing. We have acquired data acquisition systems that make results of the experiments more accurate. Our students learn actual applications. They are trained in the software that will ultimately be used in the industry,” said Dr. Amit Garg, a faculty member of the Department of Electronics.

Another thing quite unique to the college is a “cluster laboratory”.

“The lab is a training ground for students to understand how large numbers of computers can be linked together to function as one ‘super computer’ using discarded computers. The lab helps students to understand the working of computers, teaches them the phenomenon of clustering and later they can identify projects that can be run on this, like analysing dynamic data,” explained Dr. Singh, who is also a member of the National Knowledge Commission’s working group on “Retention of Students in Science and Maths”.

Three new research laboratories were set up last year to be used by the faculty members for their research projects. Students also make use of the facilities and equipment as they assist the teachers on their projects. Summer training and hands-on projects for undergraduates are encouraged in the college.

Most importantly, the college has a students’ aid fund that provides financial assistance to needy students coming from the underprivileged sections of society.

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