Pt. Prithi Nath (PG) College, Kanpur

 Pt. Prithi Nath (PG) College, popularly known as P. P. N. College, is a prestigious institution of Kanpur, established in 1959, recognized under sections 2(f) and 12(B) of UGC Act, and affiliated to CSJM University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. The college is proud of imparting the best education in 20 Undergraduate and 13 Postgraduate subjects in Arts, Humanities, Social Science, Science, Commerce, Business Administration, Computer Applications and D.El.Ed./BTC. Here is a brief overview of the history of Pt. Prithi Nath College:

It was established in 1959 by the efforts of a prominent advocate, visionary educationist, and social worker Late Devendra Swaroop Ji (1912-1995) and named after Pandit Prithi Nath Chak (1859-1910) to mark Pandit Ji’s centennial of birth, who was a prominent Indian freedom fighter, social reformer, educationist and devoted follower of Mahatma Gandhi. Pandit Prithi Nath Chak played a significant role in the Indian independence movement, and firmly believed that education is the key to societal progress and dedicated his life to promoting education among the masses.

The college was initially affiliated with Agra University. In 1966, Pt. Prithi Nath College became affiliated with the newly established Kanpur University (now known as Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University). This affiliation provided the college with more opportunities for growth and collaboration.

There are total 39 classrooms and 23 laboratories in 20 different departments of the college. All the classrooms and laboratories are well equipped with necessary instruments for smooth functioning of the practical classes. All the departments are facilitated with computers having internet facility via LAN and scanners and printers. The entire college campus is Wi-Fi enabled. CCTV cameras are installed in the classrooms for regular monitoring of the classes. The college has a large central library, digital library and departmental libraries which together ensures ample availability of standard books for the students and faculty members of the college.

Apart from academic excellence, the college encourages extracurricular activities, sports, NCC, NSS, Rovers & Rangers and cultural events. It has a vibrant campus life with numerous committees and cells that promote the overall development of the students.

Vision

To empower students by providing them with the knowledge and skills essential for their desired careers while fostering their ability to contribute meaningfully to society.

Mission

• To establish College as a premier institution for higher education, focusing on academic excellence. To offer affordable, quality education and research opportunities to all, including marginalized groups such as females and minorities.
• To nurture critical thinking and problem-solving skills in students, equipping them for success in an ever-evolving world.
• To cultivate empathy, environmental consciousness, and ethical values in students, promoting their holistic development as responsible global citizens.
• To prepare students to excel in their careers while promoting unity and fraternity in society. To instill a sense of responsibility towards environmental preservation and sustainable development. 
  
  

Institutional Strength

P.P.N. College from its very inception has been serious and qualitative teaching oriented which has been our prime strength. Besides this, our happiness index of teachers, employees and students as well remined always positive and touched the highest summit. No case of depression, sadness, suicidal attempt or suicide has been reported up till now, which shows our humanitarian approach towards social well-being. The College has established the ‘Happiness and Well Being Centre’ to make the reach of Science of Happiness to future citizen of India through our teachers and students. We are an institution committed to creation, bearing and fostering noble citizens having all round human traits.

Our teachers and Employees maintain the time discipline constantly. Their regular attendance, their arrival and departure, has been marked on biometric system since 2014 besides the traditional marking of attendance on register. It goes with our belief that discipline shapes and forms the character.

As motherhood is the most precious gift of nature and to manage the responsibilities associated with it brings additional sense of care and worry. In order to make the female teachers and employees free from the worry of taking care of their babies we have established a Day Care Centre in the College.

Besides imparting quality education to our students, we have established Placements for the jobs to our students and provide them proper guidance and counseling at the time of their needs.

The modern competitive world requires smart skills, patterns, and working pace for qualifying various competitive examinations conducted by UPSC of India, State Public Service Commissions and other agencies of job recruitments.

We make our students aware of new dimensions in education by medium of exposure of technology which strengthens the bondage between teachers and taught observing the traditional ‘Guru- Shishya Parampara’ of Indian knowledge system.

Along with teaching and learning of the prescribed academic curriculum and observing the noteworthy discipline cultivating patriotic and humanistic ideology in our students. We insist on character building to achieve the objective of all round development of human personality.

We have two generator sets for power back up.

Institutional Weakness

The Institution is located at the heart of city. The place has been densely populated since the industrial revolution in the town in late 19th century, so we have got very limited space for our college in the second decade of the 20th century. Therefore, we collaborate with the sport grounds of the other colleges and Palika Stadium for other sport activities.

We maintained the hostel facilities for our post graduate male students only with very limited seats on account of certain constraints. We hope that in future the boarding facilities for students will be materialized.

At present we are short of teachers in certain departments because Uttar Pradesh Higher Education Commission and UP Directorate of Higher Education have not recommended the names of the selected candidates for appointments in respective departments.

The college is not having Girls Hostel and staff quarters. The girls joining our college coming from nearby districts face the problem of accommodation. Similarly, newly appointed teachers and staff members have this problem before them.

Computer sets ration in proportion to teachers and students in very low.

We have lesser international connectivity modules to invite foreign scholars to deliver a lecture.

Additional classrooms are needed for upgradation of UG department to PG departments and self-financing courses.

We have shortage of departmental rooms for PG Courses.

Institutional Opportunity

The college is situated the heart of the city, which has been the Manchester of India. The location benefits the college in getting meritorious students, as well as it provides exposure to multi-dimensions of cultural and economic fronts.

We can associate and have collaboration activities with Zonal Centre, Bureau Of Psychology, U.P. State and District hospital GSVM medical college and District Magistrate office on account of our central location.

We can render social services to slums near Gwaltoli, and help inn traffic management system through our NSS Volunteers and NCC Cadets.

We have opportunities of research enhancement on social institutions, city lifestyle, city traffic, small entrepreneurship, also, screenings of important documentaries and movies, book reading sessions by prominent authors, can be conducted in the college auditorium providing students an expanded horizon of exposure.

Having a big roof area, we have the opportunity to expand our solar units to cover the whole area. We may develop a big auditorium to be used for multipurpose activities.

Institutional Challenge

Since we are short of teachers and staff so we have challenges of time shortage because our teachers and staff have to perform various tasks according to UGC guidelines. This time constraint may affect the prime duty of teaching.

This time constraint is also caused by the policies of the State Government which expect large number of other activities from teachers and students such as celebration of various programs ordered by the State Govts.

As we are moving to a digital era, we have to meet out the threats of the transitional phase from non-digital to the digital aspects. We are to bear the growing pains of the digital divide which appears before us as a heavy challenge.

We have funds constraints and man power constraint which affect the performance of the expected role of an academic institution.

The institution faces the challenges of receptibility of innovative/ new methods and techniques among the old. Untrained teaching and non-teaching staff.

The institution identifying emerging fields of study and introducing relevant academic programs in form of value added course can attract students seeking specialized education. By diversifying its course offerings to include disciplines such as technology, entrepreneurship, or sustainable development, the college can cater to evolving industry demands and student interests.

Curricular Aspects

As an affiliated institution of CSJM University, Kanpur, the college is committed to impart effective curriculum while following university guidelines. We meticulously observe the established curriculum and academic calendar. Our teachers play a vital role in ensuring adherence to the curriculum fostering a conducive learning environment.

Extracurricular and social activities are intrinsic to our academic pursuits, including sports, cultural events, and literary programs. We celebrate National and International days, honour National Icons, and organize tree planting initiatives and environmental awareness campaigns. The NSS unit conducts blood donation camps and community outreach programs, instilling a sense of social responsibility in our students.

We emphasize on value-based education detailing the courses we offer. The master timetable, prepared by the Time Table Committee and department in-charge, ensures conduct of scheduled theory and practical classes.

We provide student support, offering remedial and tutorial classes to assist weaker students, along with revision sessions. Our library provides access to study materials, reference books, and journals, supplemented by online resources like NLIST. Well-equipped science labs meet curriculum requirements.

Interactive teaching techniques, including guest lectures and group discussions enhance and enrich the academic experience. During the pandemic, we seamlessly transitioned to online teaching and assessment. Faculty members contribute to curriculum development and assessment processes.
Along with the prescribed curriculum we provide value-aided programs such as … to our students in order to enable them to meet the future prospects of their lives.

Periodic tests and examinations, complemented by experiential learning opportunities such as industrial visits and field trips deepen the curiosity of our students. The feedback system allows students to raise issues and suggest for improvement in the academic process. Service-learning projects, internships, and extracurricular activities enable students to apply their learning in real-world contexts, fostering holistic development.

The IQAC conducts annual internal audits and all departments are encouraged to undertake self-assessment to reflect on their practices. This approach supports the amalgamation of the interests of the stakeholders as well as the Institution.

Teaching-learning and Evaluation

The college has more than 75% enrolment out of which more than 80% seats are filled against seat reserved for various categories. Teacher student ratio of our college is less than 40 for the current academic year. Teachers are highly qualified, and 78% of the staff has PhD degrees. The seats sanctioned for full-time teachers are filled up to 80%. The learning outcome of the last five years is around 99%.

Research, Innovations and Extension

In 3.1.1 Grant received above 20 lakhs from various Government and non -government agencies for the

research project in the college during last 5 years.

In 3.2.1 ecosystem for innovation has initiated for creation and transfer of knowledge like patent filed, incubation facilities in this regard we have one patent registered and we have you tube channels for knowledge transfer and 11 incubations registered in various fields.

In 3.2.2 total 46 workshop seminar conference including programs conducted on research methodology, IPR and entrepreneurship during the last 5 years from various departments of the college.

3.3.1 70 Care listed and Scopus listed and 114 peer reviewed articles have published in various National and international repute journals in last 5 years

In 3.3.2 total 42 book chapter published in National and international level publications in last 5 years In 3.4.1 total 15 extension activities in the neighbouring hood community in terms of impact and sensitizing the students to social issues for

Under 3.4.2 , 12 awards received to the teachers for their special contribution in last 5 years

In 3.4.3 58 extension and outreach programs conducted by institution through NSS and NCC with involvement of community during the last 5 years

In 3.5.1 total 26 MoU 's and linkages and collaborative research from the different reputed institutions and universities during the last 5 years.

Infrastructure and Learning Resources

With a steadfast commitment to quality education, we have meticulously equipped our campus with adequate facilities and setups, focusing particularly on classrooms, laboratories, and student access areas. Offering a diverse range of courses spanning across 13 postgraduate and 20 undergraduate subjects in Science, Arts, and Commerce streams, we ensure a comprehensive educational experience. Our physical infrastructure includes 31 spacious, well-lit classrooms, two of which are equipped with LCD provisions, alongside 23 fully-functional laboratories. To uphold security and discipline, CCTV cameras are strategically positioned throughout the campus. Furthermore, UV filtered and cold water facilities are readily available for both staff and students.

Our library, a treasure of knowledge, boasts over 80,000 books, including reference materials, e-books, and ejournals. Each department is furnished with its own dedicated space, often including a departmental library. Notably, our science departments are equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories, encompassing specialized research labs, electronics labs, and botanical and zoological museums. Regular maintenance ensures the seamless functionality of these facilities. Additionally, internet connectivity, facilitated by leased lines with ample bandwidth, is accessible across college offices, departments, and computer labs. This infrastructure played a pivotal role during the pandemic, facilitating a smooth transition to online classes. Faculty members adeptly utilized technology, crafting computer-aided teaching materials such as lecture notes, PowerPoint presentations, and videos, supplemented by resources from platforms like NPTEL and Virtual Lab.

Our institution's role as a nodal centre for Virtual Labs under IIT Kanpur underscores our commitment to modern teaching methodologies. These facilities undergo continuous updates to align with technological advancements, ensuring our students receive a contemporary and comprehensive education that prepares them for the challenges of tomorrow.

Student Support and Progression

The college has a strong student support system in the form of teacher mentors, besides the various student redressal committees. We have a student redressal committee of a general nature, an anti-raging cell, a student redressal regarding examination-related grievances, a counselling cell and ICC-POSH. Our college was the first institute in the city to start the ‘Counselling and Placement’ and the ‘Happiness and Wellbeing Centre’. We also have a cell to guide students for competitive exams like civil services, UGC/NET/SLET, etc. In a small college of around 3200 students, 17 qualified for the Competitive exam in the session 2018-19; 07 in session 2019-20; 17 in session 2020-21; 30 in session 2021-22 and 55 in session 2022-23. A high percentage of our students progress to higher academics. We offer the following scholarships i) Central Sector Scholarship, ii) Post Metric Scholarship of the State Government and iii) Mukhya Mantri Kanya Sumangala.

Governance, Leadership and Management

The institution's governance aligns with its vision, mission, and motto through implementing the NEP, aimed at empowering students with career-relevant knowledge and skills, fostering interdisciplinary studies, and introducing vocational courses for practical skill development. Efforts to achieve this mission include promoting tolerance, leadership, and brotherhood through cultural events, sports, NSS, NCC, and competitions, which are in line with the institution's motto of enlightenment and knowledge. Strategic planning and deployment are informed by analysing current obstacles and future opportunities, emphasising the use of ICT in teaching, learning, and research. The Principal and IQAC drive social outreach initiatives to incrementally develop the college in accordance with UGC guidelines, with various committees contributing to efficient functioning.

E-governance implementation streamlines operations in administration, finance, accounts, student affairs, admissions, and examinations. The institution proactively enhances faculty and staff performance, welfare, and career development. With regular internal and external financial audits conducted, strategies focus on resource mobilisation and optimal fund utilisation. IQAC plays a pivotal role in institutionalising quality assurance and reviewing teaching, learning, and operational methodologies to ensure continuous enhancement for holistic development. Regular IQAC meetings facilitate academic and administrative audits, collaborative quality initiatives, and follow-up actions.

Institutional Values and Best Practices

The College follows gender equality principles through its well defined gender policy. Any kind of gender discrimination is strictly prohibited in the campus, and if there is any, it can be brought to the counselling cell. The college also has an ICC for POSH related redressal. Gender sensitization initiatives and the establishment of a ‘Women's Cell’ address campus safety concerns.

We have disabled friendly infrastructure and website to cater to the differently abled students. As a green initiative, we encourage the use of bicycles not only among our students but also outside the college campus through our NSS volunteers. The college has engaged an e-waste management company so that the e-waste could be diffused in an environment friendly manner. We have also engaged an external body to conduct green audit, energy audit, gender audit and environment audit.

The college fosters inclusive environment for all sections of the society without any kind of discrimination. We celebrate Eid, Lohri, Diwali, Christmas and Mahavir Jayanti with equal enthusiasm.

The institution has adopted a slum in Gwaltoli, Kanpur, for educational upliftment (BASTI PATHSHALA). Our students and faculty members offer their services for community education in this slum. We can boast of our environmental consciousness in and outside the campus, as it is reflected in the observation of ‘NO VEHICLE DAY’ and having ‘Plant Exchange Club’.

Our college is distinct in having the first Happiness Centre in the State, the effect of which can be seen in the happiness index of our faculty and students.