PRACTICE 1
Unity in diversity- a living reality Objectives
In a globalised world with fading borders, the diversity in St. Philomena‟s campus consists of students from around 30 countries and 20 states of India on an average.
- To formulate an effective strategy, given the cultural, religious and linguistic diversity on campus, to create a conducive atmosphere for students to overcome various
- To provide an appropriate platform and to mould a mindset for harmonious co-existence, interaction with mutual respect, learning and working together to become competent global citizen.
- To weave a rich tapestry of many colours each representing a strand of the student community, put together to form a harmonious portrait reflecting the student
- To set a benchmark on „unity in diversity‟ for other institutions.
Context
The diverse nature of our student population needs sensitive handling of issues.
The world scenario and social conditions prevailing in the country and its negative impacts felt in the educational campus have to be addressed.
The student community in St. Philomena‟s College consists of youngsters from urban and rural areas as well as from varied socio-economic, religious, cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
Practice
Aligning with the objectives of melding all sections of the student community, steps have been implemented by the visionary approach of the institution. The management and faculty in the campus are impartial in their dealings with the students. This is evident from the admission policy of the students and in the appointments of staff.
The student community is welcomed into the campus with a weeklong orientation programme, which encompasses all the aspects required for their smooth acclimatization. The programme includes a multi- religious prayer service, ice breaking sessions, talks and discussions on human values and all-round total personality development. The students are also familiarised with the facilities and the systems on the campus.
The academic programme with specific internal assessment carried through group assignments ensures better interactive skills, team building and leadership qualities. The motive is to groom graduates into effective leaders in their respective field and responsible citizens, imbibed with human values. The college has introduced a Life Skills course (soft skill development) with topics like advantages of diversity in the prevailing social scenario. This is an interactive programme where the students are encouraged to express their individual perspective on various issues, debate and discuss to form the right values and mindset. These motivational classes are engaged by competent persons with experience and exposure. Classroom discussions on social issues have helped in bridging the gap between the different perspectives of the diverse group of students.
The college has a mentoring system, with 20-25 students assigned to every teacher. They develop an ecosystem of trust and openness to sharing the challenges faced academically and personally. Mentoring and personal rapport with the teachers help the students psychologically as well as in academics.
Participation in various extracurricular activities helps the students to develop creativity and an attitude of team building. The college encourages active participation in celebrations of National festivals, Ethnic day,
and various competitions organised, to create a platform for everyone to work together and respect differences. Involving the students in the activities of various Clubs such as the literary club, Dramatic club, and Nature club teaches them to work as a team. To foster healthy interaction, mutual respect and gender equality, International Women‟s Day is celebrated involving students and faculty. Using sports as a medium with various events and competitions, the college encourages team spirit and nurture sporting potential. Given its rich diversity, the college has provided everyone with an environment and a platform to retain their identity and be part of the Philomena family.
Every year during the month of December, “Family Day” is organized along with Christmas celebrations. The management and employees, with their family members come together to share a meal and receive a gift. This unique event is a part of our tradition where some alumni also take part.
Evidence of Success
Harmonious co-existence, the hallmark of St. Philomena‟s College, has been appreciated by various visiting dignitaries and acknowledged by parents and students alike. Our best practices ensure unity in diversity that is evident in the campus, where the management, teachers, support staff all work together. Students from different backgrounds feel at home and live harmoniously and build strong communities. The interactive life skills sessions help students to foster a broad appreciation for human values and to acquire a common set of intellectual, physical, and aesthetic experiences. The mentoring programme of the college has helped the teachers and students build a strong bond enabling students to achieve their best in academic and personal life. Celebrating National festivals, North-East Students‟ Day, International Students‟ Day brings about a sense of oneness and unity among the student community. The “Family Day” makes every employee feel a sense of belonging to the institution. This is a testimony to the unity in diversity on campus on a day-to-day basis.
Many of the foreign students and those from other states learn to interact in Hindi and Kannada. A Nigerian student, Ado Abdul, took part in a Kannada reality singing show and won accolades and appreciation. By virtue of being a part of multi-cultural, religious, linguistic milieu, the students appreciate the richness and value of diversity.
Problems encountered and resources required
The diversity of students coming from various socio-economic, religious, cultural, ethical and linguistic background demands enormous time and effort for the college to mould them into one harmonious unit. Students who come from disturbed family backgrounds, turbulent political and social situations and those with different psychological needs require special personal attention and a conducive environment. The management and the competent faculty have ensured that a system and an atmosphere are in place to take care of this aspect.
Some students from orthodox background experience a culture shock and those from foreign countries and rural areas have communication problems initially. Proper guidance and counselling along with English coaching classes are given till they get acclimatized to the new environment and feel comfortable with communication.
Teachers speak to the students in the vernacular language and boost their confidence at the beginning of the academic year. Guest lectures and seminars organized by the Sociology, Social Work and Psychology Departments have addressed these difficulties and helped the students to become confident and competent.