Institutional Distinctiveness
Distinctiveness of the institution
Empowering First Generation Learners
St. Mary’s was founded by the Servite Sisters, Congregation of Mother of Sorrows, Servants of Mary in the year 1948. Since its establishment it has embarked on its distinct journey of empowering young women of the coastal region, Thoothukudi. Prioritising education for first generation learners is the distinctiveness of the institution. About 70% of students come from families which are marginalised with parents who are daily wage earners, fisher-folk, working in farms and salt pans. St. Mary’s envisions to uplift the women from this lower strata to a status that would alleviate their deprived social condition. All education practices are oriented towards fulfilling this vision—To make young women agents of an egalitarian society through liberative education. The core values of the institution and its motto ‘Fide Vivant - Live by Faith’ rests on the belief system of human values and ethics.
Enlighten? Emancipate? Empower
Educational /Economic Empowerment
Thoothukudi ranks second in the Human Development Index in Tamil Nadu. The institution firmly believes in developing human resources to augment economic productivity. Through an education that increases the potentiality of the learners the disadvantaged young women secure placement, self employment and access financial and moral gains, thereby promoting the individual and social economic status.
The curriculum offers experiential learning and skill development courses that develops and enhances the capabilities of the students. The teaching learning process is framed accordingly. Acquisition of knowledge of the discipline coupled with skill developed through certificate courses along with research enquiry equips them with educational empowerment. Capacity building curriculum and Career oriented certificate courses focus on women empowerment and rights. Certificate course on Women Entrepreneurship and 36 Interdisciplinary Certificate courses are offered to develop competency and employability skills.
Ethical Empowerment
The college trains youngsters to live meaningfully and harmoniously in a multi-religious and pluralistic cultural society. Faith formation is an aspect, which develops the spirit of mutual respect and active dialogue, leading to mutual enrichment in faith. Spiritual animation and inculcation of values through value based education is made part of the curriculum.
Regular prayer, interfaith dialogue, yoga, meditation, pranic healing are avenues to strengthen the inner being with devotion and dedication and governance of emotions leading to ethical empowerment. Ethics the virtue of right living is subtly instilled through the Moral and Ethics classes, forums like the Campus Ministry, Friends of Servite Sisters (FSS), AICUF and Yoga and Meditation club.
Skill/Talent Empowerment
Cultural enrichment is attained through participation in extra-curricular, Inter-collegiate and Intra–disciplinary Competitions. College organizes ‘Talentia’ to tap the latent potentialities of the freshers. Annual Cultural Fest with students’ participation enmasse creates opportunities for the artistically talented youth to channelize their energy through performance. Sports students are given special coaching with players and athletes winning university overall championship 26 times out of 27.
A holistic education is ensured through involving students in academic, curricular and co-curricular activities. Students participate in internship programmes, paper presentations, extra-curricular activities and competitions winning credits for the institution. A collective student participation in rallies, awareness programmes has helped in building team spirit and confidence. Impetus is given to culture and arts. The College Musical Band, the Marian Orchestra and Traditional Folk Art Troupe imprint a significant stamp in the cultural aura.
Value based education is given along with language skills provided by the certificate courses in Spoken English and promotion of communicating skills through Language Development programme. Spiritual life and holistic growth is ensured to a larger extent within the campus both in the learning and living environment - the hostel. The Student Counselling forum leads the students in a regular one to one counselling along with Life Skill Training Programme and a holistic mass counselling. These activities have increased the morale of students. The Mentor- Mentee system too concerns with the students’ academic and individual growth.
Socio-Cultural Empowerment
Interest in Gender, Environment and Sustainability, Human Values and Professional Ethics is evinced in all aspects of teaching and learning design. Across various disciplines 10 Gender related courses, 20 Environment and sustainability courses, 20 Human values courses, 25 Professional ethics courses are offered.
The NSS Units, Community Development Programme, service organisations and forums in the college, develop a sense of social and civic responsibility among students sensitising them to issues and the struggles of the marginalised. The NCC wing has contributed largely to the cause of nation building by instilling patriotic fervor. Cadets have participated in National Level Leadership programmes and trainings. More awareness and orientation is provided on matters of social concern through clubs and forums the RSP, Eco-club, Human Rights, Women’s cell, Red Ribbon Club and others. The members of the Scribes forum especially help the visually challenged neighbouring school children in writing their exams.
Celebration of festivals promotes values of oneness and social cohesion. Centres for Excellence consisting of various clubs promote different activities centred around skill, culture, spiritualism, feminism and eco-feminism empower learners with socio-cultural consciousness. Observance of days of environmental significance like World Sparrow Day, World Forest Day, Wild life week reiterate their duty as future consumers to create sustainable environment. The Community Development Programme is a ‘Lab to Land’ exercise to extend social empowerment to the women of the neighbourhood.
The college fulfils the requirements of its vision by making young girls and more distinctively the first-generation learners to become physically strong, intellectually competent, morally upright, emotionally balanced and spiritually integrated, empowering them to face the challenging issues of the society.
St. Mary’s has always prioritized culture and tradition of the region. Ideals of Women Empowerment have been held aloft. The inner and external growth needed for progress is wrought with the spirit of integration and commitment. The empowered Marian will carry the flame to the very fringes of this semi- urban coastal area Thoothukudi.
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