Govt. Hrangbana College, Government of Mizoram, India

STUDENT CENTRIC METHODS:

Centering the learning process on the students is of primary importance in Govt. Hrangbana College, students’ needs and abilities are assessed and activities/methods are planned accordingly.

The college stands for students and their all-round development. Learning is, therefore, essentially student-centric. Curriculum is designed by the University in such a way that on completion of certain program, students are well equipped with sufficient academic knowledge for their future life. Learning is focused on the needs of students, their abilities, interests and learning styles where the teacher acts as a facilitator.

Classroom teaching is one-to-many, but to make it more students centric, various strategies are adopted by the teacher. Teaching methods are adopted as per the requirement of the prescribed curriculum. Interactive methods are used to discuss fundamental concepts and students are encouraged to ask questions.

Students are motivated to work on their own and prepare learning models, charts and make presentations. Small modules/ assignments are given to students for self study.
Learning receives an impetus by using ICT, language laboratory and library resources.
Moreover, the various program offered to the students, various teaching-learning methods adopted by the college, the extension services provided to the students like participation in NCC and NSS (motto “Not me but You”) activities, Remedial Coaching, Service Coaching, various cultural programmes (like quiz, debate, essay writing, Singing, recitation, extempore speech, elocution, news reading), indoor and outdoor games, Students Union, Students Self Support Union (motto “Earn while You Learn”).
Personal and Academic Counseling, establishment of IGNOU Study Centre, national integration camp organized in various places of India, Independence Day/Republic Day Parade, College week, Inter College Sports etc. are all institutional strategies to make learning student-centric and to contribute to attainment of life skills, knowledge management skills and lifelong learning.
Various departments use different system to development skills for interaction. Some departments like Commerce, Psychology, and History divide their students into group so that they can work on a topic together.
Department of Political Science has visited the assembly sessions with every student to understand their subject better. They even visited Parliament during session.
The College library is very well established and it gives the students opportunity to freely access the materials they need.
There is a provision of free-wifi in the campus which will enhance exploration of the websites on campus.
Awards are given to students who secure top ten positions in the examination to encourage them to do better.

Nurturing critical thinking, creativity and scientific temper among the students to transform them into life-long learners and innovators

The emphasis of the College on promoting original and critical thinking is innate. Students are given ample freedom to air their views and given a hearing with respect and appreciation. Faculty members serve as catalysts in the process of enabling them to grow in this respect. They are encouraged, to stay focused on growing through learning.

The College has a well-defined understanding of the kind of holistic growth that needs to be fostered. It is our conviction that, once a taste for ideas is inculcated in students, they will remain lifelong learners. Govt. Hrangbana College enables students to develop clarity on concepts like critical and free thinking, creativity and scientific temper.

Experts are often invited to give lectures on various issues relating to current socio-economic and political scenario , inculcating knowledge and life skills to the students etc. e.g., The Department of Economics organized a special lecture on NEDP which is a comprehensive growth strategy for the state of Mizoram formulated by the present government of Mizoram.
Through departmental activities, students organize various co-curricular activities such as lectures, seminars, workshops, exhibitions, and various competitions like making posters, undertaking projects and writing essays. This gives them an opportunity to share their experience and knowledge with peers/ faculty, develops leadership qualities, and enhances their potential in their respective subject areas.
Students are sent to Government Department offices to study the practical aspect of office management and administrations. Department like Public administration sends their students to study such workings. Department of Political Science send their students to visit the offices of the political parties in Mizoram
Since accounting and management can be learnt from industries, the Department of Commerce has engaged their students to visit industries to learn and get information from such places. Students therefore, individually or as a group explore their areas of interest.
Very often students are assigned project which are guided by a faculty. This enables the student to learn and develop a mode of thinking critically for him/her.

The college week provides a good platform for students to express themselves. Various competitions are organized like essay writing, painting, debating, and extempore speaking are held within the college. Students also participate in such other competitions organized outside the college

RESOURCES FOR STUDENT-CENTRIC LEARNING

The institute has a number of modern teaching aids and tools like computers, projector enabled classroom, a computer laboratory, high speed broadband internet connectivity of all computers, INFLIBNET facility.
It has also Journals/Magazines – local, national and international, Educational Journals readily available for use in the library.
Field study trips, excursions, visit to industrial units and places of geographical importance are also arranged to ensure that students have effective learning experiences.
NEILIT has also made provisions for the students of the college to have free computer classes.
Research projects are undertaken and presented as seminar papers, field works and surveys on various industries and business enterprises by Commerce students, as practical applications to their subjects.

EXPOSURE to advanced level of knowledge and skills

Teaching learning is a continuous process and being in tune with recent developments helps both the teachers and students to sharpen their skills. Many opportunities are created by the college to expose students and faculty to advanced levels of knowledge and skills.

With the advent of facilities like ICT, audio-visual facilities and language laboratory, the faculty has started exploring the use of technology in teaching, which has resulted in implementing the blended learning process for students. Computer assisted learning and digital materials are made available to the students to supplement classroom teaching.
Students participate in state-level debate and quiz competitions and have been awarded top positions in these competitions.
The Career and Counselling Cell conducts Personality Development Programmes, Spoken Hindi and Spoken English Class.
Renowned personalities are invited to lecture students on their subject of interest. Experts of various subjects are invited to give lectures.eg.,Pu Zoramthanga, Ex-Chief Minister and President of MNF Party was invited to give Special Lecture on ‘The Mizo National Movement’ by the Department of Political Science.
Workshops and Seminars are conducted. Teachers have been actively participating in training program /workshops at centers of higher learning and excellence. Every year a number of seminars are organized by various departments wherein students and teachers get exposure to advanced levels of knowledge in their respective field.
Different departments arrange field visits as well as educational excursions to various places like national laboratories, universities, industries and other places of academic interest every year.
Faculty members are encouraged to pursue further studies like M.Phil and PhD.
The college provides high speed internet and faculty members can access online journals through Inflibnet.

Academic, Personal and Psycho-social support and guidance services:

The faculty of the Department of Psychology have undergone training for personal counselling and made themselves available for all time to counsel students, a counselling room with suitable settings is available for such needs.
A tutor-ward system has been adopted by the college under which teachers work as mentors for specific students and guide them. The tutors provide support and advice to their wards on a one-to-one basis. Each tutor is available for personal consultation as and when required.
Departments have a decentralized system wherein the faculty in-charge along with other members of the department micro-manages the students ‘concerns and demands.
Every student is thus given academic, personal and psycho-social support and guidance services through professional counselling, mentoring and academic advice.
Need-based psycho-social support is provided in exceptional cases by a group of dedicated teachers under the banner of Career and Counselling Committee. These mentors help the students to come into the mainstream by solving their psycho-social problems.
Teachers also take care of social, financial hardships, and help students cope with these problems.
The Career and Counselling Committee regularly organises career guidance programme and personality development programmes, to address the various issues that arises with respect to employment, social and economic conditions.

Innovative practices on student learning

The College as an institution is committed to the pursuit of excellence. The conventional teaching methodology and lecture mode has been augmented with innovative methods throughout the years.
In addition to this is the tutorial system which facilitates the individual teachers to adopt and adapt new modes and methods which they implement without affecting the curricular structure designed by the university.
Every department adopts innovative methods for teaching which help the students to understand the subject thoroughly. The college gives freedom to departments to explore new effective methods in teaching-learning.
Such innovative methods help students to grasp the subject and its intricacies, making learning an enjoyable experience. The college has developed ICT infrastructure to keep pace with the changing methodologies in teaching-learning processes at a global level.

A few instances of the innovative practices are as follows:

The Department of Commerce has annually conducted seminars on "Emerging Trends of Business in Aizawl" wherein the students, in groups of 6-10 identifies a business enterprise, conducts a field study and then prepare paper which are presented in a seminar. Similar seminars, for each semester is also conducted. In addition, industrial tours are undertaken, and reputed entrepreneurs are regularly invited for special lectures.
The Departments of Psychology and Education, conduct educational visits to various schools within the district, conducting psychological and educational tests and encouraging hands-on learning. The Department of Psychology has Innovation Club which comprise interested students striving for innovative activities to further the cause of Psychological studies.
The Department of Political Science and Public Administration organises academic trips to the State Assembly while on session and to the Aizawl Municipal Corporation for Q&A sessions.
The Department of Mizo has definitely raised the scale of innovation, with students going for historical field study and even owning a number of publications.