Dear colleagues, parents, students, alumni and well-wishers,
Let us thank God Almighty and express our deep gratitude to our founder Patron, the late Bishop Mar Mathew Pothanamuzhy; the present Patron, Bishop Mar George Madathikandathil and the Manager, Very Rev. Msgr. Cherian Kanjirakombil for their vision and the powerful sense of mission that has guided us in our march towards excellence. Let us pray for our former managers, principals, teachers, members of the non-teaching staff, alumni and well-wishers for their hard work which made this institution a leading centre of higher education with ‘A’ grade reaccreditation by NAAC.
Named after John Henry Cardinal Newman, the greatest educational visionary of all times, the college has identified three key areas as its mission: academic excellence, spiritual vitality and social concern. As the oldest institution of higher learning in the district of Idukki, the college has played a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of the high ranges of Kerala. The forefathers of the college had envisioned the delivery of quality education, wedded with spiritual values to the emerging young population of the region.
The college has 68 regular faculty members in various disciplines and 33 members on the non-teaching staff. The college enrols 600 students on an average every year to its fourteen nine undergraduate programmes and eight post graduate programmes. The college has three research programmes and four career-oriented add-on programmes. All the UG and PG programmes in the college are conducted in the semester system. The college has tied up with the Ford Foundation, USA; Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi; University Grants Commission; Indian Council of Social Science Research; Indira Gandhi National University (IGNOU); Inter – University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune; Indian Institute of Science and Religion, Pune; Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment; Kerala State Higher Education Council; Kerala Institute of Parliamentary Studies; Kerala Sangeet Natak Academi, Thrissur; Gandhiji Study Centre, Thodupuzha; Centre for Rural Management Kottayam, and Kudumbasree Mission, Idukki District for undertaking various projects and programmes on the campus.
The college has a web-enabled Central Library with over 45000 titles in various disciplines. The Library is linked to the UGC sponsored INFLIBNET, enabling on-line access to over 2500 national and international research journals. The college is regularly publishing two bi-annual journals with ISSN numbers and one annual journal. The faculty have published 16 books and more than 150 research papers in national and international journals. The college regularly conducts six memorial/ endowment lectures every year and ten inter-disciplinary seminars and over 20 invited talks by experts, on an average.
The college has become a role model in the extension activities. The ‘Sastragramam’ project is an initiative of the college to promote scientific outlook in the villages. Our faculty used to visit villages in the district, interact with school children and elders and spread the message of environmental protection, energy saving, no-use of plastic, organic farming etc. We also organise awareness and training programmes for the benefit of parents, civil society activists and elected representatives in the local bodies on a regular basis. The well functioning units of Centre for Women Empowerment and Centre for Gandhian Studies are in the forefront of such extension activities. The DRC testing facility offered by the Department of Chemistry is of great help to the farmers in the neighbourhood. The Department of English regularly organises short term English Communication and soft skill development programmes for High School students in the surroundings. The other clubs/ associations in the college conduct inter-school or inter-collegiate competitions in the fields of Quiz, Elocution, Debate, Poster Designing, Light Music and Patriotic Song. The Career and Counselling Cell, the Placement Cell, the UGC-NET Coaching Centre and the practice of remedial teaching provide necessary orientation and training to students to develop their future. The Equal opportunity Centre, sponsored by the UGC, is established to integrate the socially marginalised students into the mainstream. The National Service Scheme, National Cadet Corps, Debating Club, Quiz Club and Catholic Students Movement are very active in channelizing the creative sparks of the students.
The students have been consistently contributing to the image of the college through their outstanding performance in the University Youth Festivals, Sports, Games and intellectual pursuits. They maintain high standards in University examinations with occasional ranks and distinctions.
The college gives due importance to the integral development of human personality. In this perspective, we have facilities for computer training, yoga practicing, body building and spiritual renewal. The practice of reaching out to the entire college community through the public address system and educating on topics of common interest on a daily basis for five minutes is a great opportunity for students to learn something extra, useful for community life. The recreational facilities like departmental day celebrations, inter-departmental competitions, Onam and Christmas celebrations and food festival are the means of unearthing the best talents hidden in each student.
The UGC has given substantial financial support under UG and PG assistance and merged schemes during XI plan period. All our PG departments have been selected for PG development assistance, which enabled us to provide modern equipment in our laboratories and PG classrooms. Our Career Guidance and Placement Cell is very active and has been successful in securing maximum campus placement for our students. Our Alumni Association is also very active with many innovative programmes.
On infrastructural front, the college has state of the art facilities. It has four air-conditioned conference halls, nearly 125 computers and accessories, six photocopying machines, 16 DLP projectors, four refrigerators, digital duplicator and inter-active board, among others. The English language laboratory named, “Msgr. Palamattam Centre for English Communication” with 30 web enabled computers is a centre for training students in the use of correct English. The Ladies Hostel, Cafeteria, Post Office, M.G. University Study Centre, M.G. University Information Centre, IGNOU Study Centre, Staff Co-operative Society, Electronic Equipment Maintenance Centre, Chapel, Counselling Centre and Ham Radio Centre are the other facilities existing on the campus. The college administration is assisted and advised by the Governing Body, Staff Council, Parent Teacher Association, Alumni Association and the student representatives in its march ahead.
The emerging system of higher education demands increased importance to skill development in order to make our students more employable by acquiring necessary analytical and soft skills. Aptitude tests, group discussions, interviews, personality tests etc. have become essential components of any selection process. Hence students are encouraged to join clubs / associations for co-currricular activities and take maximum advantage of the facilities available. Let us develop a new culture of innovation and hard work with a firm desire and determination for achieving our goals. We have to be punctual and systematic, humble, sincere and honest. Let us nurture deep rooted values and faith in God along with an uncompromising search for truth, knowledge and excellence in all our endeavours.
May God bless you all