Criterion I – Curricular Aspects
The educational process at St. Xavier’s is geared to creating a society based on human values. Besides academic excellence, emphasis is given to moulding and forming students who are sensitive to their surroundings and socially responsible. Though the curriculum is designed by the University, the goals and objectives of the College are transmitted to the students by the efforts of the faculty by teaching beyond classroom and beyond the curriculum. Value education offered through a character building movement at the First Year BA level helps in inculcating noble values in students. The mission and goals of the College are also communicated to the students through orientation days.
The College offers 13 undergraduate programmes (5 in Arts and 8 in Sciences) and two postgraduate programmes (1 in Arts and 1 in Science). The College also offers a post-graduate diploma programme in computer applications and two vocational courses in Sciences. Economics and Psychology are offered both in Gujarati and English media. Some departments such as Economics, Sanskrit and English offer optional papers, to keep abreast of the changing needs of the society. The Arts subjects have two types of non-core options, first subsidiary and second subsidiary. Besides subsidiary subjects, the Sciences offer an extra course in computer science. A few departments also adopt inter-disciplinary approach to learning.
The University’s permission to start new programmes both UG & PG is a slow process. The College is the first in Ahmedabad to introduce computer education. The courses are well received by the industrial sector that they send their personnel for service training. Marquette University USA has granted credits to those who have studied at the center and who wish to continue their higher studies in computers.
The College has a well-equipped Research Center. This Center has 10 students from the final year undergraduate programme to work on minor research projects. The students are motivated to do research and their achievements are rewarded by way of Cash Awards and Certificates. The College also has to its credit an industrial training unit which caters to the students of the biotechnology department to get hands on experience of entrepreneurship.
The classroom teaching is supplemented with seminars, projects and study tours. Extra curricular activities like Saturday Activities are held (from 10.45 am to 12.30 pm.) to develop aesthetic potential and team spirit of the students. Each year is dedicated for theme based activities like Environment, National Integration, IT, Career options, etc.
An effective and systematic feedback on programmes and interaction with academic peers and employers could help the College in keeping abreast with the changing times.