Teaching-Learning

The Department of Political Science employs a range of student-centric approaches to make the teaching-learning experience more engaging, enjoyable and effective:

• The teachers give lectures to systematically cover all the topics in the syllabi. The students' queries /doubts related to a taught topic are separately answered /clarified in tutorial sessions.
• Remedial classes are held for those students who have difficulties in understanding a topic/theme or who miss scheduled lectures due to stressful situations unleashed by the pandemic.
• The students are asked to make individual presentations as a part of their internal assessment process.
• The students are encouraged to participate in a "Q & A session" that usually follows after a speaker's presentation in a seminar/webinar.
• The students are asked to participate in group discussions on different topics relevant to their syllabi.
• The students are allowed to express their grievances and they are also encouraged to give their feedback on the teaching techniques used by different teachers.
• As a part of the Ability Enhancement Course, the Department of Political Science offers a paper titled "Your Laws, Your Rights". The students study this course in 2nd year (4th semester). In an effort to facilitate experiential learning, the students who study this course are given an exposure to the lawmaking procedures via a field trip to the Parliament. However, this field visit could not be materialized in the current year (2020-21) due to the pandemic situation.
• The Department of Political Science organizes a special training session for the students who aspire to participate in state and nation level competitive examinations so as to make them more fit to operate in the job market.

The teachers make an extensive use of ICT/E-resources (e.g. G-Meet, Gmail, WhatsApp, Google classroom etc.) for carrying out various pedagogical and extra-curricular activities:

• Holding online lectures and tutorials and sharing reading materials
• Organizing webinars
• Conducting add-on courses
• Evaluating assignments and marking monthly attendance
• Uploading Internal Assessment results, setting OBE question papers etc.
• Holding departmental meetings with teachers and student representatives
• Performing events such as freshers' welcome, farewell etc., organizing cultural activities, and arranging intra- and inter-college competitions

The learning levels of students are assessed on the basis of their active (or inactive) participation in lecture/tutorial classes and group discussions. The teachers evaluate students' assignments/notes/presentations, and observe their capacity to retain the information on relevant topics taught in preceding classes. For slow learners, extra lectures/tutorials and remedial classes are organized. And for advanced learners, additional advanced-level reading materials are shared and discussed. The students also benefit from the views of the experts who are invited to deliver various talks/seminars/webinars organized by the Department. The Department ensures the attainment of course outcomes through diverse methods, such as result analysis, students' feedback, and students' performance in assignments/presentations. The teachers regularly undertake orientation, refresher, and faculty development programmes to improve their pedagogical and research skills.

Capacity Building

As a part of its capacity-building initiatives, the Department of Political Science offered three skill-enhancement courses on "Legislative Support", "Public Opinion and Survey Research", and "Your Laws, Your Rights". The Department also organized two add-on courses:

i. NGO Management: This two-month add-on course was introduced on 1st May, 2021. The course was designed for those students who aspire to take up social work as their career. The course was attended by 33 students and it covered the following modules: (i) Sustainable Development; (ii) Strategic Management & Planning; (iii) Operational Planning; (iv) Communications; (v) Leadership; (vi) Fund Raising; and (vii) Project Management.

ii. Introduction to World Politics and Indian Foreign Policy: The Department of Political Science, in collaboration with some of the leading Delhi-based think-tanks (e.g. IDSA, ORF etc.) launched a 32-hour add-on course on "Introduction to World Politics and Indian Foreign Policy" on 3rd April, 2021. The course was attended by 40 students and it incorporated the following modules: (1) Introduction to the Course, Theory and its relevance; (2) Realism: Morgenthau and Waltz; (3) Liberalism; (4) Marxism and Critical Theory; (5) Feminism; (6) Constructivism; (7) World War I; (8) Russian Revolution; (9) Fascism & Nazism; (10) World War II: Causes and Consequences; (11) Cold War: Phases, End, and Polarity; (12) 9/11; (13) Globalization; (14) Environment; (15) War; (16) Security and Human Security; (17) Nuclear proliferation and deterrence; (18) Human Rights; (19) Terrorism; (20) Making of Indian Foreign Policy: An introduction; (21) India and Pakistan; (22) Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka; (23) China; (24) United States of America; (25) The Soviet Union and Russia; (26) West Asia; (27) South Africa and Brazil; (28) Look East policy and Act East Policy.

The Department of Political Science organized not only add on courses to facilitate an advanced understanding of the subjects taught as part of the regular curriculum, but also a special training session called "Pratibha" whereby experts/specialists (e.g. Army officials, IAS officers etc.) are invited to train those students who aim to qualify the competitive exams and enter the state or national level administrative services.

Student Progression

In the academic session 2019-2020, Semester I results (of 110 students who undertook the exam for two core papers) were promising - 1st division: 71, 2nd division: 28, 3rd division: 7. Likewise, Semester III results (of 102 students who undertook the exam for two core papers) were impressive - 1st division: 75, 2nd division: 19, 3rd division: 5. In Semester V, 86 students undertook the exam with 4 core papers and 55 students secured a first division - 1st division: 55, 2nd division: 27, 3rd division: 1. In Semester I and III, over 70% students received a first division. And in Semester V, around 64% students got the same. In the academic session 2020-2021, 78 out of 102 students graduated with a first division. The results of all the students (in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years) are gratifying. Since teaching and learning is being done under tremendous strain in the context of the pandemic, a special care is taken to ensure that students do not drop out of the courses due to personal hardships or lack of resources. While a "students' fee assistance fund" has been created by the teachers to support the needy students, around 10 students were granted scholarships and other cash prizes for their exceptional academic achievements. The following details offer the status of student progression to institutions of higher learning:

Awards and Recognition

Deepshikha, a permanent faculty in the Department of Political Science, was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship (April 1, 2017 - January 31, 2019) by the Centre for Global Cooperation Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany.

Rajshree Chandra, a permanent faculty in the Department of Political Science, was awarded a Visiting Fellowship (March 1, 2020 - May 31, 2020) by the Institute of Human Sciences (IWM), Vienna.

Debahuti Brahmachari, an adhoc faculty in the Department of Political Science, was awarded Veerta Puraskar 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 for her excellent contribution to women empowerment by the NGO "Veerta: The Youth Power of India".

Curriculum Development

The teachers of the Department of Political Science regularly participate in university activities related to setting of question papers and/or evaluation of answer scripts. In the past few years, some of the teachers have also contributed to the process of curriculum development.

Faculty Research Projects

Student Research Projects

The Department of Political Science is currently pursuing the following faculty research projects (each research project received a fund of INR 15000/- from JDMC):

Best Practices

The Department of Political Science aims to provide a platform for all round development of the students both in curricular and co-curricular activities. To achieve this aim, the Department pursues the following best practices:

Holding an annual festival - POLITIQUE

PRATIBHA: Centre for the preparatory foundation classes for competitive exams (e.g. (UPSCs) coordinated by the faculty members

Publishing the Annual Department Magazine - SPECULO

Annual organization of sports events for teachers and students - Khel

Bystander Intervention Programme under University of Munster.

Regular organization of lectures - Distinguished Speaker Series - as part of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of JDMC

An International Webinar in collaboration with the IQAC was organized in June 2020 on the topic "World order and Non- Traditional security". Eminent speakers who graced the session were Asanga Abeyagoonasekerea, Cleo Paskal , Uttam Sinha and Ashutosh Mishra.