Date:02/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/02/stories/2009070254680700.htm

Tamil Nadu - Tuticorin

Autonomy status for St. Mary’s College

Staff Reporter

Do not overburden students with volumes, says VC

Photo N_Rajesh

QUALITY MATTERS: S.T.Sabapathi Mohan,Vice Chancellor of M.S.University, addressing the autonomy inaugural function at St.Mary’s College in Tuticorin on Wednesday. —

Tuticorin: St. Mary’s College, Tuticorin, was credited with the status of autonomy and gained the significance of attaining value as the first and foremost educational institution in the district.

In his inaugural address, S.T. Sabapathi Mohan, Vice-Chancellor, M.S. University, Tirunelveli appealed to the educational institutions against framing of additional volumes of subjects as it would overburden students.

“ It is good that colleges get autonomy status based on the output of qualitative education they offer and it should be improved further to find ways and means to convert autonomy into university status gradually” the Vice-Chancellor said. The St. Mary’s College should play an exemplary role, he said.

He urged the managements of autonomous colleges to frame the syllabi in consultation with corporate sectors so as to enhance employment opportunities in the cut-throat competitive world.

Rev. Yvon Ambroise, Bishop of Tuticorin Diocese, in his address said there is credibility and growth of responsibility when autonomy status is reached. “Therefore, we are enabled to take up a challenge in the interest of students to cater to their educational needs. Commitment will bring creativity in life and creativity will blossom in your life to benefit the nation and the entire mankind.”

Fr. Rajarathinam, Principal, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous College) Tiruchi, in his felicitation address mentioned that compassion and excellence should be the watchword in all autonomous colleges.

The status was accorded to colleges after the assessment made by a UGC team to enhance the quality of education.

“The managements can formulate governing bodies, academic bodies, and board of studies and controller of examinations on their own discretionary powers. Now the college has got full academic freedom to frame the syllabi with sheer commitment to approach evaluative measures to effectively gauge the teaching and learning prowess of both the staff and students.

Apart from regular course of studies in autonomous colleges, a few villages were adopted for development and service centre extension programme wherein students got exposed to rural reality in a substantial manner and preference was given to academically, socially and economically poor students” he added.

“Our college has been functioning since 1948 and we have been relentlessly working to mould our students as quality is always what we aspire to reach,” Sr. Arulananda Mary, Principal, added.

Sr. Alphonse Roseline Mary, Secretary, St. Mary’s College, A.P.C.V. Chockalingam, Secretary, V.O. Chidambaram College and A. Francis, Member Syndicate, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli were present.

Earlier, Bishop Ambroise led the holy mass at THE Chapel on the premises of college.