Add-on flavour for degree courses

Updated on: Monday, August 31, 2009

Field Marshal K.M.Cariappa College, situated on a sprawling 30 acre campus in Madikeri, has introduced several “add-on” courses for the students pursuing degree programmes in a bid to improve the quality of education.

The University Grants Commission (UGC)-sponsored courses that are taught along with the degree programmes include ‘Travel and Tourism’, ‘Hardware and Networking’ and ‘Functional English.’

The ‘add-on’ courses are in the third year since inception.

“Empowering and enlightening students through quality education is our motto,” Pushpa Kuttanna, Principal of the College, told The Hindu. Students could attain professional qualifications as and when they pass out with the degree exams, she said.
Three stages

The first year would be a ‘certificate course,’ the second year would be equal to a ‘diploma course’ and in the final year it would be ‘advanced diploma’ certificate, Ms. Kuttanna said. Students would have to attend classes from 9 a.m. to 10.m. on given days in a week or after the regular class hours in the evening. There are about 70 students in the Travel and Tourism section, the highest among the three courses, in all degree streams (B.A., B.Com and B.Sc).

The intake in each class should not exceed 30 students as per UGC norms. All three courses involved both theory and practicals. There are about 25 students each in the Hardware and Networking course and Functional English course. Teachers and an expert in Travel and Tourism handling the ‘add-on’ courses would be paid a sum of Rs. 250 for a one-hour session.
Motivation

For a strength of over 1,200 students in the entire college the number of students in the ‘add-on’ courses could indeed look small. Ms. Kuttanna says that it is very difficult to motivate the students to enrol in the ‘add-on’ courses for various reasons. Some may cry off for they think they would not be able to pay the fees while some others may consider it an extra burden. For a few students the timings in the morning and evening might not be suitable since they travel long distances every day, she said.

Students who came from outside also had enrolled in the courses, Dr. Kuttanna said.

‘Job opportunities are more in the field of Hardware and Networking,” said Umesh, who has finished his course along with the degree in B.A. He now works in the college. For Sandeep Rao, there is a shortage of Hardware and Networking people in the State. “Besides learning the minute details of the computer parts, we could help others solve problems faster,” he said. He never considered the course an additional burden.

Deepika and Reshma, who are second year degree students doing BBM and Travel and Tourism course, say it is an interesting subject and they expected to go places. They have already travelled to several destinations as part of their curriculum. They need not lose another couple of years pursuing the travel and tourism course after completing their degree, Reshma said.

Add-on flavour for degree courses

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