Section 3: Overall Analysis
After a three-day programme of visits, perusal of documents and interactions, the Team is in general agreement with the perception of those associated with the College that the St. Xavier’s is an excellent indeed.
Regular inputs from the Jesuits – financial, pedagogical and ideological – are a great source of strength to the College. A number of structures created by the Jesuit Society in the College campus provide facilities for training, research, social service and personality development, normally not available even in very good Colleges.
Another point of strength is the judicious mix of liberal education with self-financing and vocational courses. Though the latter are the need of the day, the Team is happy to record that the basics have not been neglected. Rather innovative methods have been adopted in teaching and evaluation.
Concern for the socially underprivileged is highly commendable policy of the College. This policy is adequately reflected in all the activities of the College. This policy has not only proved beneficial to the weaker section, it gives a healthy orientation to the students in general and is a step towards national integration.
It is basically an undergraduate College with only two post-graduate departments but the research activity on the part of teachers and the research culture being generated amongst the students is more than what is normally expected of a College.
Students’ participation the College affairs is a strong point which contributes to a healthy academic atmosphere in the College. Besides, every student is being provided with fora for expressing and developing their creative faculties. No wonder, the alumni/alumnae are by and large proud of what they received in the College.
The Team has noticed numerous strong points of the College which are duly mentioned in the main body of the report. But there are certain points of concern. Actually from a College like Xavier’s, the expectations are higher and an objective assessment of the college would adopt more exacting standards.
The lack of formal structures is a point which needs to be looked into by the policy-makers in the College. An informal set-up was perhaps adequate in the formative stage when the teachers and students were motivated by missionary zeal and nobody could think of questioning the authority. Now, with the change in the attitude of the younger generation and due to a number of other factors, formal structure may better meet the expectations of the teachers and students. The College can consider setting of formal mechanisms, say for grievance redressal.
The Team endorses the policy of not holding elections for the students organization. But the students should not be left with the feeling that they do not get a hearing from the management. A formal provision for feedback from the students and an organizing of interface with the students once or twice may be more in accordance with the desire of the students.
The Team notices that the constraints arising out of affiliation system have almost become a part of psyche of the students and teachers. By imaginative planning and vigorous efforts, these constraints can be overcome to a great extent. It is to be appreciated that the University has to cater not only to the excellent institutions like Xavier’s but has to keep in mind a number of other factors as well. Constraints like this should not be allowed to stand in the way of future development of the College.
The peer team is of the opinion that this exercise will be useful to the institution in initiating quality enhancement activities for further growth and development. The peer team wishes all success for the future endeavours of this fine institution.
Signature of the peer team
1. s/d Prof. R.K. Misra
2. s/d Dr. Sr. Annamma Philip
3. s/d Dr. K.S. Arya
I have gone through the report and agree with the evaluative remarks made there in.
Signature of the Principal
S/d Fr. Francis Parmar, SJ