Walk With a Scholar (WWS) scheme proposes to arrange specialized mentoring programs for students in Under Graduate Programs in Arts, Science and Commerce and to provide guidance for their future. The scheme introduces the idea of mentoring and builds on the concept of mentor as a 'Guide' and 'Friend'. It helps the students in Arts, Science and Commerce Colleges to get necessary orientation to prepare them for employment or guidance necessary to select areas for higher study. The mentoring scheme for students will be purely voluntary in nature. It will be open for all students entering the first year of the Under Graduate Programme of Study. Students selected for the Programme should have secured at least 60% marks at the Higher Secondary/Plus Two level. This stipulation of minimum marks is not applicable for SC/ST students
Maximum number of students identified under WWS Scheme, is 30. If the number of applicants exceeds 30, the College council will evolve a method of selecting the required number of students so that the neediest students and those genuinely interested in the scheme alone are selected.
The Scheme aims at giving necessary orientation to needy students, to prepare them for employment and give them necessary guidance, motivation and necessary mental support to identify appropriate areas for higher study as well as employment. The mentoring scheme is planned to identify the opportunities available for the scholars, the areas suitable for them, and the manner in which the scholar should proceed before them and evolve ways by which they can be acquired.
Identification of Mentors
The main objectives of the scheme are:
- For the purpose of mentoring, two categories of mentors are identified. One will be 'Internal Mentor' and the second will be 'External Mentor'
- The Internal Mentor has to be a faculty from the Institution in which the student (Scholar) is studying. They should be persons who are able to do mentoring and support the scholars and act as a Guide, in building their career. Each Internal Mentor will be in charge of 6 students.
- Internal Mentors will be given training/instructions by the Directorate of Collegiate Education/Higher Education Department.
- External Mentors have to be identified from persons working in Industry, as well as from Professions like Engineering, Medicine, Architecture, Law, Hospitality, Media, Business, Teaching, Administration or from any filed as found necessary according to the local needs of the Institution/students. External Mentors can be persons working in the State and Central Public sector. Reputed persons from Private sector are also be identified as External mentors. Proven expertise and merit must be the criterion followed for identifying External Mentors.
Implementing the Scheme
The main objectives of the scheme are:
- Students selected under the Programme will be paired to two mentors. An Internal Mentor and an External Mentor. As far as possible, women external mentors should be allotted to girl scholars
- The college identifies 100 hours in an academic year (20 hours per Internal Mentor for 5 Mentors) for Internal Mentoring
- The college identifies 30 hours (5 sessions (hours) per External mentor for 6 External Mentors) in an academic year for External Mentoring
- The progress of the Scholar is evaluated at regular intervals by the Internal and External Mentors and necessary corrective measures will be taken to meet the desired objectives.
Co-ordinator : Sri. Rajesh P.N.
Assistant Professor, Economics
WWS Report 2016-17
The programme already had 60 students carried forward from the last year. Selection for the first year students was held as soon as the admission closed. There were 65 applicants for the programme from various departments. 30 students were selected on the basis of marks in the qualifying examination plus entrance examination to the programme.
The programme commenced only on 21.01.2017 as there was delay in sanction and release of funds. Never the less, all the programmes except the tour for the first year students and one external classes were completed before 31st March 2017 itself. The New Initiatives had accorded extension for completion of the progrmme up to 30th June 2017 because of delay in release of funds. Hence, those two remaining events have been scheduled for June 2017.
The programme invited such eminent external experts as Mr Ashok Das, Mr Alex Mathew, Dr Mathew, Mr Suresh Kooderi, Mr Reghunath, Mr Prakasan, Dr Pathmakumar, Mr Jayan etc. The motivation visit was conducted to various institutions in Banglore in the month of February. Handouts of various external experts were distributed as study materials as also the India year book published by the publication division of Government of India.
Internal mentoring classes also progressed smoothly. Some of the mentors took their mentees to various events outside the college and a strong link was forged between the mentees and mentors. All except 3 mentors had completed their mentoring schedule before March 2017. As the programme has got extension up to June 2017, it is expected that the remaining mentors will also complete the sessions by then.
The Interview/GD/Mock test session for the final year students was handled at various stages by three experts. They are Mr Ashok Das, Mr Alex Mathew and Dr Mathew K A. The students were immensely benefitted from these events.
Dr Rajesh P N
Coordinator, WWS