Institutional Best Practices for SSR (Cycle IV)

BEST PRACTICE 1

1. Title of the Practice: Campus Recruitment Training (CRT)
2. Objective of the practice: The students admitted to the college are from varied backgrounds and aptitudes. It is crucial that the students acquire life skills which can prove to be advantageous in terms of employability. The CRT aims at going much beyond the textbooks and teaching the students qualities of life skills like focus, self-control, effective communication, decision making, critical thinking, taking challenges, self-awareness, assertiveness, etc. Though the requirements of the individual student vary, predominantly most of these skills are common and are unquestionably required to build confidence for various competitive examinations and campus interviews.
3. The Context: This college is basically a science college and till 2021 most of the courses conducted were conventional dealing with pure sciences. Most of the students who have completed BSc from this college, prefer to take up higher education and pursue MSc. Very few of them pursue LLB, MBA, BEd, etc. However, it was observed that due to the paucity of professional exposure in the university designed curricula, these graduates are not employable. It was felt that the students needed to imbibe professional knack for developing themselves. So, it was thought to impart life skills in the form of a module termed ‘Campus Recruitment Training (CRT)’ to the final year students who are on the verge of completing their graduation and are gearing up to encounter the job market.
4. The Practice: As the students who encounter the job seeking market, finding a job means going through rigorous procedures set up by recruiters. However, there is no guarantee that the student will get the job. The basic aim of campus recruitment drives helps the students to bypass the task of hunting a job. At the same time, it is essential for the trainers to harvest the raw potential of the students and convert these individuals into skilled employable youths. But the students must excel at multitude traits, like logical reasoning, numerical skills, verbal ability and competency, cognition and decision making, to list a few before they are shortlisted for the group discussions and interviews.
Looking at the need of the hour, the training and placement (T&P) committee used to invite various resource persons to deliver lectures for professional development of the students. These lectures were of a short duration. However, it was later thought by the T & P committee that the certain set of qualities and skills in the individuals which need to be imbibed in the raw students requires continuous exposure. Thus, the idea of organizing a series of about 30 to 40 lectures materialized, which would include preparation for the quantitative ability, reasoning, logical ability, speaking skills, communication skills, etc. of the students.
Classes for such extensive exposure started in March 2020 and continued for a few days. The resource persons were the experts in their respective domains of communicative English and quantitative ability. However, due to the unprecedented situation of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown w.e.f. mid-March 2020, the classes were later conducted in an online mode. These classes were divided into two parts, Campus Recruitment Training (CRT) and Self Development for Career Development (SDCD).
The CRT course was conducted for the MSc students from 08 June to 29 June 2020. In the CRT course introduction to communication skills, time management, effective interpersonal communication and basic arithmetic for competitive examinations was taught. The SDCD program was conducted for BSc students from 11 June to 26 June 2020; in which various skills like- body language in profession world, introduction to communication skills, time management, effective interpersonal communication, career planning, quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, CV and resume writing, public speaking, reading and listening skills, decision making, etc. were taught. Looking at the response of the students, it was decided by T&P committee that these classes should be conducted every year.
5. Evidence of Success: Since 2020-21, the CRT classes are being conducted on a regular basis. To make the course more professional, the college conducted the course with the faculties of Management Department of Shri Ramdeobaba College of Engineering and Management, Nagpur and Insta Education, Nagpur. Though the CRT training has not given any immediate results that are observed in the professional colleges, but on the whole the students have given positive feedback about the development of their communication skills, time management, effective interpersonal communication and basic arithmetic for competitive examinations. They feel that they have become more confident to face various competitive examinations and interviews. According to the input received from students, the CRT training has trained them to deliver their best in the selection processes due to the improvement in logical thinking, interview skills and aptitude levels which are key points in campus placements.
6. Problems Encountered: The college offers CRT to support the students and help them to connect with potential employers. Most of the students wish to pursue higher education and very few students are interested in college-to-career transition.
Ideally the CRT course should be designed for 60 to 80 contact hours in duration but due to other academic constraints, this course is restricted to 30-35 lectures. This puts lots of restrictions on the completion of the proposed syllabus of CRT with full justice.
There are some students who stay in the nearby villages and are dependent on public transport for traveling. It becomes quite difficult for them and especially for the girls to travel in the late evening hours after the CRT classes are over.

‘Healthy Mind for Successful Education’ Lecture by Mr. Raja Akash on 21 Sep. 2019 conducted by T&P committee

Screenshot of online lecture delivered by Mrs. Pratishruti Singh

Online lecture by Mr. Ritesh Bawankar and Mr. Nitin Uprikar (Resource persons)

Payment vouchers for remuneration to the resource persons

Timetable and links of the lectures by Mr. Ritesh Bawankar (Resource Person)

BEST PRACTICE 2

1. Title of the Practice: Vermicomposting from readily available organic waste
2. Objectives of the Practice
Over-use of inorganic fertilizers in agriculture not only gradually decreases soil fertility but also results in increasing salinity of the soil. Organic farming is a means of sustainable agricultural practice. Vermicomposting is an easy and quick technique used for generating organic fertilizer.
The objective was to generate organic fertilizer from easily available and cost-effective organic waste available in college premises. Botany Department has successfully produced vermicompost and compost from garden waste generated in college. The objectives are:
Production of vermicompost from organic waste
Involving and training students to produce vermicompost
To make vermicompost available to the people at low cost
3. The Context
Due to the ever-growing demand of public for organic food, the vermicomposting market is gradually gaining a strong foothold. Since a considerable section of our students have rural background, the college tries to impart to the students’ skills based on agriculture and allied practices which can lead to self-employability. Vermicompost can serve as one of the arenas where scientific knowledge can be applied with minimal resources for generating reasonably good profit. Commonly called the ‘gold from garbage’, vermicompost can be easily produced from agricultural waste. To produce vermicompost in a cost-effective manner, it is essential to design project in an efficient way. The vermicompost unit can be set up easily in an open space. Considering the consistent heavy rainfall and very high temperature during summer ranging from 40 to 47℃ (during the months of May and June) in Nagpur, it was essential to design the project in a protected way.
4. The Practice
Two permanent brick-walled vermicomposting pits are constructed above-ground level. These pits are well ventilated.
Above the vermicomposting pits, a permanent tin shade roof is mounted at the height of about 12 feet to protect vermicomposting process from rain and direct heating by sunlight.
Initial raw material included about two quintals of cattle dung which was procured from a local area.
In both the composting pits, 1 kg earthworms were inoculated equally to start process of vermicomposting. Moisture is maintained up to 60 to 70% during the process of composting by regular sprinkling of water.
Garden waste generated in large quantity in the college premises during the months between July to October is also utilized, instead of burning it or discarding it as waste. This garden waste is kept for composting by aerobic process. From this organic waste, a large quantity of nutrient rich compost is produced. This compost is added to the vermicomposting pits to increase the quality of vermicompost. The pit contents are turned after a month to facilitate aeration and ensure proper decomposition.
Within 3 to 4 months, good quality and quantity of vermicompost is produced. The final product appears black and granular. Watering is stopped when the compost is ready. This ready compost is then transferred over partially decomposed cow dung so that the earthworms are provided with fresh food material. After a few days the produced compost is separated and sieved.
5. Evidence of Success
Cattle dung in the form of farmyard manure (FYM) and agriculture waste are a good substrate for vermicomposting and cost about ₹ 1000 to 1500/- per quintal.
One time inoculation of earthworms is sufficient and inoculations during successive cycles of vermicomposting in the same pits are not required.
Within 3 to 4 months, good quality and odourless compost is produced which has a high nutrient value.
Packaging of dry vermicompost was carried out in 2 kg and 5 kg reusable polythene bags and the product was sold to the public, staff members and students during 2020-21 and 2021-22 sessions. On selling vermicompost, an amount of about ₹ 4000/- and ₹ 4500/- respectively, was generated during 2020-21 and 2021-22 sessions.
Due to the success of earlier years, during the session 2022-23, a larger set of new cycle of vermicompost is initiated, with the aim to produce larger quantities of vermicompost.
Students are trained and taught about the vermicompost process and production. This gave them good exposure- right from production of vermicompost to packaging and marketing. This activity might appeal to some students who have entrepreneurial interests and may set their own small-scale businesses. Many enquiries were received from customers regarding supply of vermicompost on large scale.
6. Problems Encountered and Resources Required
The major problem encountered was availability of water supply during summer months required to maintain moisture level properly. Considering the hot and dry weather conditions in Nagpur it is tough to maintain the required humidity level. Thus, due precautions were taken to ensure that the humidity level was maintained.
All the raw materials required for vermicomposting were available easily and at a low cost. Thus, availability of resources was not a big problem. One time investment for designing the set up for vermicompost was needed. Minimum labour was required during the packaging of vermicompost. Students and non-teaching staff willingly helped during the packaging and marketing. Due to awareness regarding organic compost, people willingly purchase organic fertilizer and there is no issue of selling the product. The college has initiated a good practice which not only provides eco-friendly organic fertilizers at low cost but also involves students.