Institutional Distinctiveness
Hansraj Jivandas College of Education is a teacher training college with a long-standing reputation of forming teachers for the nation and also for the global world. Established in 1969 by a visionary educationist, Dr. Madhuri Shah, the college has come a long way in keeping teacher training dynamic and contemporary. Its distinctiveness lies in the myriad experiences that it provides in every significant field of education and life. The range of pursuits that the college offers helps to develop a spectrum of attributes among its students; hence the institutional distinctiveness is effectively encapsulated in the word SPECTRUM as shown in the figure.
The college provides a wide range of competencies to its staff as well as students thereby promoting holistic education and overall well-being. The endeavours undertaken by the college in the SPECTRUM are as follows;
1. Skill Enhancement
Future teachers need to be equipped with skills that match the needs of the present time. The college conducts various workshops and courses to enhance the skills of students in keeping with the requirements of the present society. Some of the skills that are focused upon are – Information Technology in Education, Artificial Intelligence, Design Thinking, Catering to Foundational Years, English Communication Proficiency, Yoga, Creative thinking, Environment Conservation, etc. The training sessions and workshops are conducted by the in-house faculty and by invited experts/resource persons. The college has collaborated with many organizations like Skill Development and Vocational Training of India, Inurture, Develearn Technologies and offered various skill-based Certificate Courses to the student teachers like: MIS, Entrepreneurial teacher, Online Income Formula and Data Analytics. The college also offers a 2-credit based add on certificate course in the “Basics of Language Proficiency’ which enhances the Communication skills of student teachers. All these courses were offered with the objective of preparing student teachers for future classrooms in the context of the implementation of NEP 2020 in schools.
2. Physical and Psychological well-being
The college follows the adage ‘Sound Mind in a Sound Body’. To this end, the college conducts programs such as Yoga, Indoor and Outdoor games and Sports’ Activities. The college has a Counsellor from DISHA Counselling on the premises for the students. Besides this, there are theme-based Mentoring sessions slotted on the timetable, where the mentors and mentees meet and discuss various academic issues and personal problems if any. Annual picnics, Parent–teacher meetings, Theme-based assemblies and celebration of festivals / cultural events ensure a stress free environment, despite the program being very demanding.
The college has also initiated a Mental Health Cell, under the directives of the Government of India. Sessions are conducted by in-house faculty on ‘Know Thyself’ to enhance the emotional and social well-being of the learners. The college conducts a mandatory 2-credit course in Semester IV on ‘Yoga and Indian Knowledge System’ through which the student teachers are introduced to the science and practice of the various asanas for their wellness.
3. Eco-echo
Several initiatives that echo the spirit of environmental sustenance have been taken by the college since many years. Students participate in greening activities of the college and also participate in eco-endeavours of the university as well as NGOs. An environment related 2-Credit course, EMSA (Environmental Management System Audit) was organized and conducted in Collaboration with Synergy Consultants (P) Ltd. The college has conducted its green audit and also bagged several accolades (APEX & Eco-impact awards) for its green initiatives.
4. Creativity and Innovation
The college encourages creativity in every sphere, Namely, curricular (teaching, learning, assessment) as well as institutional and inter-institutional co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. A creative amalgamation of art, craft and culture is seen in the institute in all its activities. One of the key activities is ‘Care and Share’ wherein, students with special skills / talents their peers, conduct sessions for their peers, thereby inspiring them to pursue some skill / talent. The staff members as well as students have earned laurels at the local and national levels for the college with their creative pursuits.
5. Techno-pedagogy AND e-governance
Technology has seeped into every activity (administrative and academic) of the college. Staff and students incorporate technological know-how to embellish their lessons and presentations. Students are offered a mandatory 2-credit course on ‘Developing Educational e-content’ wherein they learn to create e-portfolios, harness AI and develop educational reels. Most of the administrative work is done online and contemporary software is used for examinations, admissions as well as recruitments.
6. Research
The college has a fully functional Ph.D. centre. All the faculty members of the college are Ph.D. guides and the centre has an intake capacity of about 45 students. The college boasts of an active Research and Development Cell that follows the UGC directives. Through the centre as well as the cell, the college maintains a vibrant research culture. Various short term courses such as Research Methodology and Research Ethics and Publications have been conducted for in-house and external research scholars. Regular meetings of the Research and Review Committee have been conducted for the students’ 6-monthly reports.
Faculty have conducted many nationally funded research projects that include the ones sponsored by NCERT, UGC and RUSA. Besides these endeavours, as a part of the Practicum activity in the semester-4, the student teachers are required to complete an Action Research Project. All the faculty members ensure that the quality action research projects are conducted by the student teachers under their guidance. The objective of this activity is to hone the research skills of student teachers. Students of the college are guided to conduct action research as school interns and are also motivated to publish them.
7. Universalization
This concept includes the wide reach of the college in society through its mandatory and voluntary activities. Education at HJ College is not confined only to its students of B.Ed., rather it reaches out to those aspiring to teach at the following levels too;
For its placement activity, the college invites schools of different boards (SSC, ICSE, CBSE, IB, etc.). Schools from overseas also visit the college to recruit student teachers of the college.
The college gives opportunities to students to interact with international students through the COIL (Collaborative Online International / Intercultural Learning) program which is an initiative of Oxford International Education. Students gather multiple and global perspectives around issues and topics related to education through their interaction with international students.
Networking and collaborating with renowned organizations provide meaningful insights and fresh outlook about our B.Ed. program. The college has collaborated with prestigious institutions like IGNOU & School of Law, Tata Institute of Social Sciences wherein a formal MOU has been signed with this organisation. The college offers various relevant courses like M.A. in Psychology, M.A. in Education, Post Graduate Diploma in School Leadership and Management and organises workshops and training Programs on Human Rights, Cyber Crime etc. in collaboration with both the organisations.
Community work facilitates opportunities for our student teachers to reach out to children from the marginalized and disadvantaged sections of society. Various community centres are catered to by our students and their specific educational and academic needs are looked into. During Internship, besides the prescribed activities, the student teachers also engage in social action by taking up writer’s duty for the learners with special needs in different schools.
The college is an active member of the Department of Lifelong Learning and Extension (DLLE) and one of its faculty members is the field coordinator for ten colleges. The extension activities of the DLLE are carried out by the college students with full vigour and rigour.
The college is an active participant in the Career Katta activity of the State Government. In-house faculty of the college conduct courses for the Career Katta that is offered to the teachers in remote areas. Students of the college participate in the various activities of Career kata and have won laurels.
8. Multidimensional Vantage point
The college views its programs from a multidimensional vantage point. The curricular and co-curricular activities are planned to ensure that the B.Ed. program of the college is multidisciplinary and multicultural. As required by NEP 2020, art and craft are integrated into the various academic and cultural activities of the college.
Through the B.Ed. program, the college trains its student teachers to teach at different levels of education, namely foundational level, preparatory level, middle school level and the secondary school level. Student teachers are trained to teach in schools of different boards, namely State board, ICSE, CBSE, IGCSE, IB, etc.
The college offers four mandatory 2-credit courses (one in each semester) to equip the student teachers with multiple areas of expertise that would hold them in good stead in their future teaching career. The courses are –
The faculty of the college are lifelong learners and are constantly upgrading themselves in newer pedagogies, contemporary ideas and recent trends. Their quest for learning and zest for the profession never fail to motivate the student teachers. The college owes its distinctiveness to the incessant efforts of its faculty, administrative staff as well as the support staff. Together they carry forward the ethos, the ideals and legacy of the college.