CLUSTER OF COLLEGES - IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE
The aim of the cluster of colleges is to maximize the potential of each member college by mutual co-operation and intellectual and physical networking to achieve excellence in higher education. The cluster enables maximum utilization of available intellectual and infrastructural resources. In fact, the idea of establishing clusters was mooted by the Kothari Commission, recommended by the National Knowledge Commission and is encouraged by the UGC.
Cluster enables partnering colleges to pool their resources to share the benefit of mutual co-operation and exposes the students and teachers to new areas of knowledge. It exposes the students of big and small colleges to expertise and experience of stalwarts in different fields. Clustering provides the sharing of national goals of access, equity and academic brilliance in higher education. The structure of cluster provides opportunity for the optimum utilization of existing infrastructure and promotion of new cooperative ventures. The focus of cluster will be on Equal Status, Collective Decision Making, Autonomy and Accountability,
The features of cluster will transform the total educational scenario of our campuses and it will systematically and continuously improve the quality of the knowledge provided to our students by using all available human capital resources. Cluster involves integration of all functions, processes and stakeholders in order to achieve the continuous enhancement quantitatively and qualitatively. In other words everybody, every level, every function, every process, every day would contribute to total development of our students.
The Ernakulam cluster has chalked out following programmes in the light of the vision statement in a sustained way to uphold and improve the tenets of academic excellence.
Objectives: -
· Sharing of resources such as laboratory, library, auditorium etc.
· Faculty exchange programmes
· Common facilities for research/projects
· Innovative credit courses at UG/PG level
· Training programmes for teachers and office staff
· E-learning and network connectivity
· Digitization and networking of libraries
· Add-on/certificate/diploma courses
· Scholarships and other measures to promote merit and equity
· Common examination and evaluation systems
· Common sports activities/competitions/cultural activities
· Common programmes for NCC/NSS volunteers
· Institution of chairs
· Extension lectures
· Common programmes for entrepreneurship, career guidance and counselling
Governing Body
Chairperson - Prof. M S Viswambharan, Principal, Maharajas College
Secretary - Prof Rajagopal, Principal, The
Members :-
· Smt. P
· Prof. Aleysuba, Principal, Govt. College, Tripunithura
· Prof. K P Prasanna, Principal,
· Sri Mohammed Basheer, Joint Secretary, Higher Education
· Prof. V N Chandramohanan, Syndicate member, MG University
· Sri. C P R Balu, Secretary to management, The Cochin College
· Prof. Mohammed Rafeeque, Teacher representative,
· Dr. Venugopal B Menon, Teacher representative, The Cochin College
· Prof. K Prasanna, Teacher representative,
· Dr. N K Asok kumar, Teacher representative,
· Sri. Abbas Latheef, Student representative, Maharaja’s College
· Sri Manumohan, Student representative, The Cochin College
· Kum. Megha S Raj, Student representative,
· Kum. P S Dhanya, Student representative,
· Two educationists nominated by the government (Vacant)
First phase
Common Facilities
Office automation and website for the Cluster of Colleges
Extension of Edusat facility and virtual class room with mini studio in cluster of colleges
Educational Multimedia production centre
Remedial classes for slow learners
Common Instrumentation centre
Common sports activities
Digitization of rare documents and palm leaves
Common centre for computing and data analysis
Community Radio station (Initial Phase)
Multi-lingual lab
Research Journals (4 streams -Quarterly)
Seminar/ workshop
National Workshop on Nanotechnology
Workshop on Ornamental Fishes
National seminar on Scientific Literature in Sanskrit
Seminar/ conference in different disciplines (English, Malayalam, Sanskrit etc.)
Lecture/seminar series (Research Forum) in all cluster colleges
Short term courses
Servicing and maintenance of electronic appliances
Computer hardware assembling and software maintenance
Coaching for NET/JRF/GATE/JEST
Job oriented computer based Functional Hindi
Certificate course in Human Rights
Certificate course in Women Rights
Certificate course in Digital Film Making
Certificate course in Journalism and Mass Communication
Certificate course in Music and Physics
Certificate course in Creative writing
Subsequent phases
· Institution of chairs in the names of
Epic poet G Sankarakurup
Historian Prof. P S Velayudhan
Mathematician K S S Namboothiripad
Diploma/certificate course
· Word processing of Sanskrit in computer
· Philosophy of culture and tourism
· Futures and derivatives (Economics)
· Journalism and Mass communication
· Patanjala Yoga- theory and practices
· Education in human values
Training Programme
· Quiz, elocution, debate training
· Exchange programmes for + 2 schools.
· Apiculture
Seminar/Workshop/ lecture/Film shows
· Literary Criticism
· Cultural studies
· Language and literature
· Political science
· Business cycle with special focus on recession
· Koodiyattom
· Western literary theory
· Indian theatre
· Socially relevant documentaries
Forum
· Science, research, quiz, debating and elocution
· Collection and documentation of local knowledge
· Social issues, value education club
Competition
· Quiz, elocution, debate
Publications
· News letters, Research journals, Bulletins
Maintenance and documentation
Opening of Zoology museum for students and public
Sports
Coaching for football, cricket, Badminton, wrestling, bodybuilding and judo
Cluster sports, Adventure sports
Cultural activities
Theatre training, Concerts, Lecture - Demonstration in Fine Arts,
Training for talented artists
