DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS

INTRODUCTION.

    The department of Mathematics, ever since its inception in 1980, has been in the forefront to provide quality education in the field of higher mathematics. The department was able to achieve this goal with the combined and devoted efforts of all its members. The inter collegiate quiz competition, started in 1988, by the department was a major step towards fulfilling our goal in this direction and we are the pioneer among a dozen  colleges in Mahatma Gandhi University to have such competitions. Due to the strong foundation laid to it by the founder Head of the Department Prof. T.M. Joseph the department has been able to secure a name among its stake holders as one of the best departments of the Mahatma Gandhi University

1.     FACULITY PROFILE

(A) MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY

Sl. No:	Name	Designation	Qualification (At the time of appointment)	Qualification(After entry into service)	Experience in years
1.	Prof.  Josekutty Antony	H.O.D	M.Sc. B.Ed	M.Phil (F.I.P)	31
2.	Prof. P.J. Joy	Associate Professor	M.Sc.	M.Phil (F.I.P)	30
3.	Dr. K.S. Bastian	Associate Professor	M.Sc.	M.Phil, Ph.D.	30
4.	Dr. Sunny Joseph          Kalayathankal	Associate Professor	M.Sc. B.Ed	M.Phil, M.C.A,                  Ph.D.	25
5.	Mrs. Stancy V.          Sebastian	Associate Professor	M.Sc. B.Ed	M.Phil	16

    (B)   GUEST FACULTY

Sl.No.	Name	Qualification	Teaching    Experience
1.	Ms. Sreeja K S	M.Sc	3
2.	Ms. Edithstine Rani Mathew	M.Sc.	2
3.	Ms. Aswathy Remesh	M.Sc.	1
4.	Mr. Vivek  S	M.Sc.	1

  

 2.    CHANGES MADE IN COURSES AND PROGRAMMES

Being an affiliated college of the Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam, it follows the curriculum designed by the University. However the members of the department are actively involved in the curriculum design of the University either directly or by the interaction through the members of the Board of studies. In the academic year 2009-2010, the university started Choice Based Course Credit System in the U.G. Level. Prof. Josekutty Antony and Mrs. Stancy V Sebastian participated in the 5-day workshop conducted by the Board of studies in Mathematics at N.S.S. Hindu College Chaganacherry. Prof. P J Joy attended a workshop at C M S College, Kottayam in connection with the restructuring of the M.Sc. Syllabus. In the present Syllabus there are provisions for students of other disciplines to opt for specialization in Financial Mathematics, Mathematical Economics, Operation research and mathematical modeling.

Students of B.Sc. Mathematics Course have enough flexibility in choosing optional papers such as Mathematical modeling, C programming and Operation Research. The department collects feedback from students on curriculum and their suggestion are taken in to account at the time of restructuring of the curriculum. Compared with other universities in South India, the syllabus followed is regularly updated and contains modern topics such as fuzzy set theory and logic, lattice theory, Graph theory etc. Students who opt for higher studies and research are very much benefitted because of these new topics in the syllabus.

3.     LEARNING RESOURCES OF THE DEPARTMENT

3.1.  Physical Facilities

      The department of mathematics and all the P.G. and U.G. classes of the department are functioning in the 2^nd floor of the new block. The department and all the class rooms are well equipped, well ventilated and spacious. The management is very particular in providing all the required physical amenities to the staff and the students of the department.

3.2. Library Facilities

The college has a very good collection of books and journals on various topics in mathematics in the general library. Apart from this, the department has a library for its own for the ready reference of the faculty members and the P.G students of the department.

Prof. Stancy V.  Sebastian is in charge of the department library. Stock registers and issue registers are maintained and updated regularly. 

                                                                                                                                                                

3.3.Computer Facilities

The college has a well equipped computer lab with 60 Nos. of Desktops. For the use of the Faculty members, a computer and a Laptop is provided to the department. Software’s such as Math lab, Math code, SPSS, Latex, and PDF Converter are available in the department for the use of teachers /students /researchers. Students are encouraged to use power point presentation of topics of their interest and project work.

3.4. Best Practices

The department constantly gathers suggestions/complaints from the students and their parents and does everything possible to make them comfortable in the campus.

4.  MODERN TEACHING METHODS PRACTICED

   Teaching learning and evaluation is done through proper planning and through the dedicated efforts of each member for its proper implementation. The department is very particular in making the learning process more students-centric. Though we follow lecture method it is supplemented by notes charts models etc. A lot of effort is taken by the teachers for conducting regular internal assignments and monitoring their progress .Weekly test papers are conducted for final year B.Sc. students and P.G. students. After each terminal examination the progress of each student is evaluated in the presence of their parents (open house evaluation).

Weak students are encouraged to associate with bright students to uplift them to the main stream. Bright students are encouraged to do seminars on topics beyond the scope of the syllabus. Evening classes and extra classes on holidays are arranged to get more time for the extensive discussion of each topic. Bridge courses are arranged by the department to fill the gap between the current knowledge level of the students and their prescribed syllabus.

The department of mathematics has an effective class teacher system. Each teacher is entrusted with a batch of students. He/she collects the Bio-data of and a photograph of each student and a diary is maintained. The class teachers identify the slow-learners of each class and remedial coaching is arranged for them with special focus on SC/ST.

5. ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL COUNSELING

      The members of the department are very vigilant in the activities, both academic and non-academic of the students. The class teachers keenly observe every movement of the students entrusted to them. Informal meetings and discussions are held among the teachers of the class concerning the progress of the students in their studies and behavior. Personal counseling programme is arranged every week in the college for those who are in need of it. In some cases counseling is given by the class tutor or by the class teacher or by the Head of the Department. This kind of interaction between the students and the teachers helps the teacher to have a better understanding of the students which enables the teacher to render timely help and advice which benefits the students to a great extent. The inspiration and encouragement given to the students have worked wonders.