2012-13

NAAC Sponsored National Seminar

A two day NAAC sponsored National Seminar entitled ‘Nurturing Quality in Higher Education’ was organized in collaboration with the IQAC of the college on March 1st and 2nd 2013. Fifty two participants from institutes of higher education benefitted as they discussed, debated and deliberated on pertinent issues with respect to Higher Education. Fr Dr Sebastian Anand, Principal of St Xavier’s College, Jaipur presented the keynote address. In his address entitled ‘Raising the Bar in Higher Education with special reference to the weaker section in Indian society’ Dr Fr Sebastian Anand said that nations need liberal minds that oppose blind faith, ethnocentrism and religious fanaticism.

Speaking on the sub theme Role of Stakeholders in Sustainable Quality Assurance Prof Suresh Patil, Head of Dept of Statistics, Kirti College, Mumbai said that sustainability includes the three P’s viz, people, planet and profit and hence can never be considered in isolation. This calls for new ideas, innovations, response to the call to action, proactiveness in decision making and minimizing of negative impact.

Prof Sudhakar Solomonraj, Head of BMM course, Wilson College while speaking on the subtheme

‘Exploring Global Avenues for Total Quality Management’ highlighted the importance of qualities like

enthusiasm, exuberance, empowerment and excellence. Referring to the PISA programme launched by OECD, he led the audience to reflect on their roles in a fast changing global scenario.

The next sub theme was Developing New Trends to build a Culture of Quality Consciousness. Lead Speaker Mr Preetham D’Silva said that without one’s in depth involvement, quality is incomplete. In the market driven economy of today, quality is a priority. The products of an institution have an added advantage if the institution is acknowledged as a ‘quality institution’. A system of checks and balances help to keep track of quality or standards.Dr Veena Deshmukh, Hon Prof, Smt K.K College of Education,  Santacruz speaking on ‘Institutions that bear a hallmark of quality’ elaborated the five core values incorporated in the NAAC’s Value Framework for Assessment of Higher Educational Institutions.

A panel discussion on Nurturing Quality in Higher Education was moderated by Dr Cynthia D’Costa. Panelist Prof Jose George elucidated concerns of Quality Assurance in institutes of higher education. Panelist Dr Usha Borkar discussed at length the question of employability as students who pass out of Teacher Education Institutes need to be equipped with skills required to face an ever changing school system. Panelist Ms Fatima D’Souza spoke on how institutes of higher education, both academic and professional are influential in creating a work force for the globalized market. She elaborated her experiences as a teacher in an IB school and showed how the IB curriculum helps to develop wholistically. The panel discussion ended with the moderator summing up the discussion offering recommendations for quality assurance which were based on the work of Juran, Deming and Crosby. Twenty three papers were presented on the subthemes. A session was conducted wherein the participants drew up a plan of action to address issues related to quality.

The valedictory address was presented by Sr Mary Conradine, Provincial, Mumbai Province of Congregation of Carmelite Religious. The seminar fostered intellectual deliberations and the participants benefitted from the expertise of the speakers. Dr Mariamma Joseph was the Convenor and Dr Mabel Pimenta was the Organizing Secretary of the seminar. The proceedings of the seminar were published in form of a book.