IQAC

1. Title of the Practice

STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN PROFESSIONAL FORUM ACTIVITIES

2. Objectives of the Practice

• To facilitate professional networking.
• To facilitate students’ learning through organizing Workshops, Conferences, Seminars Alumni Interactions through Professional Forum Activities.

3. The Context

Each student should attach himself / herself to any professional body / network (ex: PASW, NIPM, ISTD, NHRD Network etc) in his / her field of specialization. And prepare them to knock the campus interview or any other competitive examinations.

4. The Practice

Participation in Professional Forum Activities could also include participation in seminars / workshops organized by Forums of other Colleges, Association, universities, etc

Through this the students not only develop their professional network, but also gain practical knowledge.The students are encouraged to present or publish their research papers in these forums.

5. Evidence of Success

Such students are asked to present their learnings& experiences to their class mates after the event. Ans also the student should present evidence of participation in at least three different events of such professional bodies / networks before the end of the semester.

6. Problems Encountered and Resources Required

The students could explore more learning after attending such events which can be presented the same to other students which encourage the others to take in part similar events in coming days. Events attended students can easily deliver the subject matters when compare with others. As an outcome of such participations the college has earned a greater number of results in Campus, UGC NET exams, got awareness on other competitive examinations.

1. Title of the Practice

STUDY VISITS TO COMMUNITY, SOCIETY AND INDUSTRY FOR UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPTS.

2. Objectives of the Practice

The aim of this objective is to make them aware of their future workplace/field area/research area.

3. The Context

The students are provided with specialization-based Study visits (Similar to Study Tour) to four organizations in and around Chennai during the course particularly in their third semester based on their thrust areas of the field work for better understanding with real time exposure and experiences to collect / gather from the visits.

4. The Practice

The students are facilitated to understand organizational focus areas and challenges and learn their best practices. Since the study visits are done immediately after the theoritical orientation for the second year, it serves as a stimulus for better understanding of prospective field work organizations with much rigor and specialization focus.

In this process, learners are helped in planning, implementing and evaluating learning experiences under the guidance of their faculty supervisor.

5. Evidence of Success

The students are able to analyze the best practices of each organization what they visited. This helps them in presenting themselves during placement interviews.

6. Problems Encountered and Resources Required

Clarification of their misconceptions / misunderstanding on the concepts with their real exposures during the Study visits to the field experts with its functioning & process. This would be a group learning experiences inculcated by the field escorts along with filed experts. During their travel they are discussing with all sorts of doubts to the field escorts and it can be clarified at the time study visit spot areas.

1. Title of the Practice

Project Field Work

2. Objectives of the Practice

• To indoctrinate the students towards the social issues through action research.
• To address social issues through street play, puppet show or other suitable interventions.
• To acquire skills in recording and documentation.

3. The Context

Project field work is a unique component of the field work programme adopting the model of “Instruction- Training- Skill development- Presentation” by involving the internal faculty and experts / professional trainers from outside for specific skill development (Community interaction & communication skills) among the field work trainees.

This component involves students in small groups working intensively on a relevant social issue with study and action components to highlight the issue and to take appropriate action possible given the time and resources within their command.

4. The Practice

In this learning component, the students are given an opportunity to learn community interaction and presentation skills through:

1) Street play & Puppet show workshop cum training sessions for a period of 2 weeks.

2) The students thereafter (during the next 2 weeks of the project field work period) will be put under the supervision of an internal faculty supervisor. Under the guidance and supervision of the faculty supervisor the project team should design a suitable programme to spread a social message of their choice in the community setting.

3) Presentation and Documentation of the project undertaken.
Basic skills necessary for social work practice such as, community interaction skills, Communication skills, Presentation skills, analytical skills, Team work, Project planning and implementation; Leadership, initiative and motivation; Coordination and cooperation; Identification and mobilization of resources; Implementation and evaluation; Communication, Public relations and Liaison; Documentation and presentation.

5. Evidence of Success

The urban slum community are generally selected for conducting project fieldwork. During the last five years the student trainees focused on various social issues starting from the identifying the socio-economic status of the community to addressing the issues like child abuse (physical), domestic violence, alcohol, drug abuse and also participation in thefts.

In many cases the student trainees address issues not just through street play or puppet show; but also make the community to write a petition to the concerned officials.

6. Problems Encountered and Resources Required

The students in the beginning find that the members of the community are reluctant to answer or identify the local social issues of the area. Conducting Action research to encounter the existing problem of the society/community with the help of Government/Non-Government organizations. As an outcome of that action research to conduct awareness campaigning, Signature campaigning, Signing petitions, Human Chains, Protests, rallies, hoarding, flash-mobs and other sorts of attention campaigning to encounter problems what the people faced.

1. Title of the Practice

ADOPTED VILLAGES FOR COMMUNITY EXTENSIONS STUDY/RESEARCH.

2. Objectives of the Practice

• To provide exposure on rural setting to the students from urban areas.
• To conduct the study / research to find out the requirements of the villagers.
• To provide the awareness on social evils among the villagers.

3. The Context

The college had a community extension project at Karlambakkam village at Thiruvallur District for the last 50 years. The students are placed to exercise their field learning on rural areas in the adjacent areas. From 2018, adopted the nearby Five villages for conducting our interventions and village survey under Unnat Bharat Abhiyan. As an outcome of this survey college is arranged to donate five tailoring machines to the villagers to run tailoring coaching in the main village at Karlambakkam on 10th February 2021 for giving training to make cotton masks and gloves as a part of Skill India campaigning during the Covid-19 pandemic. As per the Government SOPs the college conducted the series of Awareness campaigning on Covid-19 to protect them on their own.It was greatly appreciated by the officials of the Panchayat Board.

4. The Practice

The Villagers are now trained with self-dependent in all sort of skills in tailoring and run their own tailor shop for their livelihood at their villages. Our students are monitored with their progress and arranging the loan to them with the help of NGOs, Grameen Bank, Cooperative bank for running tailoring shops. Agriculture is failed in this area due to insufficient monsoon in 2019 and immediately in the next year Covid-19 pandemic also heavily affected their livelihoods. As an outcome of the continuous effort made by the college, the villagers are now self-dependent to run their life. The students are also doing their filed work and research to monitor their progress and promoting the awareness given by medical professionals on the pandemic with the collaboration of the Government Hospital. At the end of the session, they are served with Herbal Immunity Booster Hot Water (Kapasurakudineer).

5. Evidence of Success

As an outcome of the survey conducted under Unnat Bharat Abhiyan and continuous effort made by the college, the villagers now running their tailoring coaching center on their own to train younger ones and arranging for employment in nearby areas and cities. This continuous effort is escalating their livelihood in a sustainable manner from 10th February 2021 onwards during the lockdown period for earning from home concept. As an outcome of the awareness campaigning, these villagers are not affected much during the pandemic.

6. Problems Encountered and Resources Required

Initially the college facing difficulties to identify the sponsors for Tailoring machine. After the initiative made by the IQAC the college has given five Tailoring machines to the villagers to run the tailoring coaching center with coaching staff. Now the first batch learners are deemed to be a trainer for that Tailoring center. Even they are required more number of tailoring machines to run a Tailoring coaching center by accommodating more villagers to trained.

Best Practice – I

1. Title of the Practice

STUDENT ENRICHMENT PROGRAMME

2. Objectives of the Practice

An enrichment program enables students to realize their potential in multiple settings beyond the traditional boundaries of the classroom. Through student enrichment programme, MSSW aims to ensure that students develop a sense of self—awareness and a clear understanding of their potential. The Programme is designed to prepare students for a fruitful learning experience on campus and an exciting professional life thereafter. The specific aims include:

• 1. To create an environment for professional and personal enrichment.
• 2. To enhance employability skills of the students.
• 3. To explore the opportunity by providing networking platform for students.

3. The Context

Human Resources related career field is evolving, with the focus changing from the administrative tasks to the strategic input and having a seat at the management table. This is facilitated by the evolving needs of current organizations and by technology, which enables more efficient processing or approval of transactions, budgets, and other financial activities. To meet the challenges of these times when companies hire new employees or analyze their job performance, preference is given to those candidates who are able to demonstrate distinct competencies and particular knowledge or skills required for a profession. Certifications help students to showcase their competency, commitment for the profession, additional knowledge and skill in the chosen professional subject area, and thus helps with job advancement. MSSW identified the need to bridge the gap between academic and industry needs by introducing Value Added Courses and Professional forum activities as a part of Student Enrichment Programme.

4. The Practice

The Student Enrichment Programme is designed as a mandatory part of the curriculum for course completion. As a part of the SEP, each student is expected to complete two Value Added Courses (VAC) offered by other departments and participate in at least three professional forum activities organized by National/International Organizations or Universities for each semester during PG Second Year.

Each VAC is 30 hours long and includes an assessment. These are designed in such a way that it includes all practical skills to be used at the work place. Each VAC is followed by a series of tests conducted at the completion of course that helps to assess the capabilities and expertise of an individual in his chosen subject area. This assures employers about the capabilities of an employee that he/she can successfully complete a job. The courses floated by VAC are industry- relevant and are designed by MSSW to enhance the job-readiness of its students. A few of these courses are:

• Building a Green Economy (MA – Social Entrepreneurship)
• Human Rights & Human Trafficking for Social Workers (MSW)
• Childhood disorders-assessment and counselling (MSc – Counselling Psychology)
• Circular Economy (MA – Development Management)
• Labour Laws & Employee Relations (MA – HRM)
• HR Analytics (MA – HROD)
• Social Innovation & Design Thinking (MA – Social Entrepreneurship)

VAC courses are updated for each academic year. 71 Courses were offered in the last 5 years. NHRD, NIPM, ISTD, Pondicherry University, NIMHANS, Bangalore University are some of the notable external agencies involved in providing VAC.

SEP also involves compulsory participation in at least three professional forum activities like conference / seminars / workshops organized by forums of other colleges, association, universities, of national or international repute. The students not only develop their professional network, but also gain practical knowledge of their future workplace. The students are constantly encouraged to present or publish papers in these forums leading to their holistic development.

Thus, SEP at MSSW has been designed to align with its mission to create outstanding professionals by providing students practice-oriented pedagogy involving multi-disciplinary social sciences perspectives.

5. Evidence of Success

SEP at MSSW has been in place for more than five years. It has been enforced as a mandatory part of the course curriculum so that all students are able to use this opportunity. The VACs that are offered as a part of the SEP are decided by the department after deliberating on the emerging requirements in the industry and job market. This ensures that the list of courses on offer is updated each year alongside keeping the department aware of what the industry expects from

the students. The professional forum activities offered as a part of SEP have emerged as a common platform for practitioners and students to interact on various topics related to the current scenario thereby leading the practitioners to identify potential future workforce for their organization. For instance, HR Coffee Club brings together corporate HR experts to address students on contemporary HR issues related to work environment, labour issues and business. This continuous networking help students to have direct interactions with practitioners, thus paving way for internships during their course of study and also for off-campus placements after completion of course. Our placement report is the evidence of success of SEP at MSSW.

6. Problems Encountered and Resources Required

SEP at MSSW has been uniquely pitched to ensure that the students are prepared for excelling in their professional areas. One of the biggest challenges that we face with regard to SEP is scheduling the sessions on weekends. Ensuring student participation in these VACs and professional forum activities are a challenge. The departments orient their students and highlight the need for corporate networking for a fruitful career path. The professional forum activities require guest experts from different areas. Getting the best external resources person for all these programmes have proved to be challenging since most of them have difficulty in allotting time from their work schedule. However, SEP’s professional activities have often leveraged on its extensive and illustrious alumni network to bring the best minds to the campus. With regard to the resources, MSSW is fully equipped Audio-Visual center to conduct VAC in the premise.

Best Practice – II

1. Title of the Practice

RECOGNITION FOR HUMANITARIAN SERVICE THROUGH MCJ AWARD AND MCJ LECTURE

 2. Objectives of the Practice

MSSW, in the journey of creating professionals in the field of social work and allied disciplines, follows the best practice of recognising outstanding contributions made by individuals or organizations in the field of social services. The prestigious Mary Clubwala Jadhav Award for Humanitarian Service has been instituted by MSSW to encourage distinguished work contributed to the betterment of weaker and vulnerable sections of the society. The specific aim of the MCJ Award include:

To encourage humanitarian service by recognizing outstanding contributions in the field of social service by individuals or organizations.

3.The Context

MSSW founder Ms. Mary Clubwala Jadhav, was a humanitarian at heart who made profound contributions to society. During her lifetime, she established and served in over 150 social welfare organizations. In recognition of her stellar contribution to improving the lives of soldiers, destitute children, women and the differently abled, she was honoured with the “Outstanding Service Award” by the International Council of Social welfare in 1972 and India’s highest civilian honours – the Padma Shri, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan. MSSW in its endeavour to carry forward the legacy of Mary Clubwala Jadhav and honour her memory has instituted the annual MCJ Award and MCJ endowment lecture series. MCJ award for humanitarian service is conferred on individuals /organizations for outstanding contributions in social service. The Award serves to recognize and advance the efforts of the recipient organization, and to sensitize the student community to have a humanitarian focus in their personal and professional lives.

4.The Practice

The annual MCJ award and MCJ endowment lecture series for humanitarian service was instituted during the diamond jubilee celebration of MSSW in the year 2012. Since then, every year the award has been given to individuals / organizations who have contributed to the betterment of weaker and vulnerable sections of the society. The award carries a cash prize of INR 1,00,000 and a citation. By recognising the professionals in the field, the awards help the individuals and organisations to demonstrate great courage and creativity in their work, the power to inspire others, the ability to lead as well as to follow, and incredible integrity in difficult circumstances.

One of the most unique features of the Award is that it involves multiple stakeholders of MSSW at different levels in the process. While the faculty and students are involved in identifying the resource person for the annual Lecture series, an independent jury scrutinizes the Award entries. This concerted team effort involving students sensitizes them to the need for humanitarian approach in their professional lives and exposes them to the work of those recognized.

• Principal proposes a particular social cause in the Executive Council meeting every
• Once discussed in the Executive Council, the matter is approved in the HOD’s meeting. The modalities and plans are charted, and information is shared to the public.
• The HODs or staff are free to suggest an appropriate resource person to deliver the MCJ Endowment Lecture with wide-ranging experience of working in the thematic area for that year. The date for the programme is finalized in consultation with the resource person and roles and responsibilities are delegated to the staff under different committees for planning and executing the same.
• For the MCJ Humanitarian Service Award, an independent jury consisting of experts from

diverse backgrounds is constituted, they scrutinize the entries for the award, shortlist the organizations and conduct interviews and submit a report recommending the organization for that years MCJ Award. The independent external jury’s decision is final, and the recommended organization is intimated.

• The programme is executed by the various committees to precision making it a concerted team effort.

5.Evidence of Success

 Every year around 700 students are sensitized through the lecture and introduced themselves to the social issue and resulting in a positive impact in the fight against the humanitarian crisis. Some of the prominent winners of the MCJ Award in the recent years include:

• International Justice Mission (2020, Anti-Human Trafficking)
• K. S. Senthil Kumar – Anbalayam (2019, Mental Health)
• Noori Saleem – South Indian Positive Network (2018, Welfare and social integration of Transgendered Person)
• Meerabai Ekambaram – Anbalayam (2017, Women and Child Welfare)

Some of the illustrious names from social work area and allied sciplines who have been invited to MSSW as a part of the MCJ Endowment Lecture series include:

• Vandana Gopikumar – Co-founder, Banyan Home (2020, Mental Health)
• Nirmala Menon – CEO & Founder. Interweaver consulting (2019, Diversity & Inclusion)
• Meera Shenoy – Founder, Youth for JOBS (2018, Ability in Disability)
• V Suresh – National General Secretary, PUCL (2017, Deepening Democracy – Challenges)

The inspirational endeavours completed by this award’s recipients will establish a sustainable foundation to provide ongoing value and benefit to their beneficiary, clients, patients, and the public at large.

6. Problems Encountered and Resources Required:

Finalising the Award winner is a challenge as all nominated organisations do a remarkable work in terms of impacting the society in their own way. Till 2018, this award was confined to Tamil Nadu, but from 2019 it was decided that the MCJ award for Humanitarian service will be extended to Indian states. Advertising the Award at the National level is quite challenging. Last year the Award theme was in the area of Anti-Human trafficking, getting nominations from organization from working in the area of anti-human trafficking was a great challenge.

MSSW takes care to ensure that expert jury is on board to decide on the winner of the MCJ Award. Each year the MCJ jury committee is formed and the judging criteria is reviewed and it is transparent. MSSW aspires that this award will be a recognition that will acquire a global stature in the times to come.