The Principal’s Message on the occasion of the 2nd Commencement Ceremony of the Faculty of Post-graduate Studies (Autonomous) of Scottish Church College, Kolkata on 10th December 2008 in the College Assembly Hall.

The Rt. Rev. PSP Raju, President of the College Council, Prof. Suranjan Das, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, University of Calcutta, Prof. Dhrubajyothi Chatterjee, Pro Vice Chancellor, CU, Prof. Basab Chaudhury, Registrar, CU, Prof. Chayan Kar, the Vice Principal of the college, Dr. Bhattacharya, Dean and Prof. Da Silva, the Controller of Examinations, Scottish Church College, Members of the College Governing Council and Senatus, former Principals & Vice Principals, invited guests, dear colleagues, graduating seniors, students, parents, ladies and gentlemen.

Today is a very special day for Scottish Church College as we hold the 2nd Commencement Ceremony of the Faculty of Post-graduate studies today. It is just a tremendous honour and a great privilege to have all of you here on this auspicious occasion. I welcome you all to the function. Thank you very much for responding to our invitation. I also would like to congratulate the graduating seniors, the commencing seniors, here today. Congratulations, you’ve made it, well done!

For the past 178 years, Scottish Church College has nurtured, challenged and empowered men and women who left the portals of this great institution with a purpose – a purpose to bring positive changes to their communities. It was and is a noble task; a task that will take many forms. Graduating seniors, I don’t know where future will lead you to. But as I stand before you, I see the next generation of change agents and all those who supported you – our entire Scottish family. I am confident that our faith in you will be justified; you will emerge as successful citizens of India and Scottish will feel proud because you were once here.

Scottish Church College has been built on a foundation of high expectations, great expectations – to impart liberal education pervaded by the universal principles, and spiritual and moral values, as taught by Christ Jesus. It also aims at producing intellectually sound, morally upright, socially concerned men and women, to be of service to the nation. John Ruskin once said, “Education is the leading of human souls to what is best and making what is best out of them”. Scottish Church College also subscribes to the same theme. This institution has now further moved forward in academic excellence, leadership development, improving our environment and visibility of achievements.

I would like to share with you some of the visions and dreams of my colleagues, which they used to share with me during the past few years. The new century throws up formidable challenges posed by advancement in science, technology, economic changes and globalisation and, most recently, with economic recession and terrorism. The vision of the college for repositioning itself among the topmost colleges in the nation can be nurtured only by responding to these challenges. The college has to be immensely innovative in identifying goals and performance-improving measures for all our principal activities. We must create exemplary academic opportunities based on a research-oriented learning experience. There needs to be a culture of research where knowledge will be created and not just consumed. Starting the post-graduate courses was one step along this line.

In order to regain the cosmopolitan character the College once had, it is essential to develop national and international linkages and partnerships with higher education institutions and agencies. We have already started moving in this direction by associating with the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia (UBCHEA) and Colleges and Universities of Anglican Communion (CUAC), both based in the United States. Leadership development through international linkages must also be considered as a priority area for action. The college has already been selected by United Board for sending faculty members abroad for leadership training. However, all these require restructuring of academic programmes and improving amenities on the campus such as

* adding international components to the courses and educational programmes wherever possible
* making the educational system more compatible with systems in other countries
* improving infrastructural facilities to the level of international standards
* enhancing communication and accommodation facilities on the campus

With this in view, the Lady Dundas Hostel will be reconstructed within a year as a fourstoried structure with one floor set apart for students and faculty members from abroad. The No. 1 Campus is already Wi-Fi enabled. That will be extended to the main campus in a couple of months’ time.

We should be superbly effective, in discovering and nurturing the talents of our staff and students. Leadership training programmes have already been started. Two-day workshop for the Heads of Departments and a five-day national workshop for young teachers of colleges in India are the two we carried out so far. We also send staff and students for leadership programmed to various institutions in the country. A senior level national leadership programme is planned in the month of February 2009 with the help of United Board. Similar programmes are also planned for non-teaching staff as well as student representatives of the college. One of our faculty members has the provision to attend a six-month leadership programme in one of the reputed institutes abroad. All these innovative programmes have made Scottish, a premier academic institution in India making it a destination of preference to various stake-holders in higher education. I am glad to say that the college is listed one among the top fifty colleges in India, according to one of the media surveys.

The realisation of our vision for tomorrow demands energy, commitment, courage, tenacity and most importantly, harmonious co-operation and team work. It also requires painstaking execution. This is an enormous challenge to us. However, we approach it with confidence and enthusiasm, and above all, with immense trust in God.

I take this opportunity to thank The Rt. Rev. PSP. Raju, the President of the College Council who always has been a source of inspiration and of strength for the activities of the College. I thank Bishop Raju for encouraging us, for leading us forward.

I express my sincere gratitude to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Suranjan Das, for his consistent support to Scottish Church College. As former Pro Vice Chancellor of the Calcutta University, he responded positively to all our requests for help and assistance. Sir, kindly accept our sincere thanks for all the good work you have done and you have been doing for the College. I hope that you and your young team will take the University much forward in the days to come. I also thank Prof. Chatterjee and Prof. Chaudhuri for their kind support they are offering to the college. In fact, Prof. Chatterjee was instrumental in starting Microbiology Honours Course in the college and he inaugurated the PG course in SCC.

On this occasion, I should thank the entire PG team of the college, teaching and non-teaching, in taking the PG stream to this level. I specially thank Dr. Bhattacharya, the Dean of PG Studies and Prof. Da Silva, the Controller of Examinations.

Once again I congratulate the graduating seniors and wish them all the best in their life.
Thank you very much.
God bless you all.

J. Abraham
Principal
Scottish Church College