Within a short span this self-financing college (estb.1992) has succeeded in impacting the educational establishment in Chennai in a big way through its teaching-learning innovations

Sited in Nungambakkam in the heart of the port city of Chennai on a modest 1.3 acre campus, the six-storey M.O.P Vaishnav College for Women has transformed into an epicentre of women’s empowerment in the yet conservative southern state of Tamil Nadu (pop. 62.1 million). The main building, which is built around a verdant circular courtyard, and presided over by a Ganesha deity is well insulated from the bustle and noise of its commercial surroundings.  

Established in 1992, with the objective of providing complete education for holistic development of women, M.O.P was born out of a collaboration of two philanthropic trusts- M.O.P Charities constituted by the late Dewan Bahadur M.O. Parthasarathy Aiyengar, a leading city barrister and advocate of women’s education, and the Sri Vallabhacharya Vidya Sabha, the governing body of D.G Vaishnav College (estb. 1964). Today, eminent industrialists and administrators from both these promoter organisations constitute the board of governors and managing committee of this self-financing college which has an aggregate enrollment of 2,745 students.

The mission and goals of M.O.P, as articulated by its founders, venture beyond conventional college education and aim at promoting academic excellence, developing self-reliant individuals, providing career opportunities and creating socially responsible citizens. In pursuit of these goals, the college has adopted several innovative strategies to empower its women students.

The recently concluded academic year 2004-2005 was especially significant for this all women college. On September 7, M.O.P was conferred autonomy by the University Grants Commission and attained the distinction of being the youngest self-financing college in the country to be granted this coveted status.

“The conferment of autonomy has given us the freedom to venture beyond traditional education, introduce job-oriented courses, modify the curriculum and include non-credit programmes like projects, internships, skill-oriented professional courses and student development programmes into the credit system,” says Nirmala Prasad, the energetic principal of M.O.P Vaishnav College who has been actively implementing progressive pedagogies from the time she took charge of the institution in 1997. An alumna of Andhra and Utkal (Orissa) universities, Prasad also earned a doctorate in commerce from Madras University, served as professor and founder of the postgraduate department of commerce in Chennai’s Ethiraj College for Women before joining M.O.P eight years ago. Under her leadership, M.O.P was adjudged the best managed collegiate institution in Tamil Nadu and awarded the “Managerial Excellence Award” in 2003 by the Madras Management Association (MMA).

Undoubtedly, within a short span of 13 years, M.O.P has succeeded in impacting the education establishment in Chennai in a big way through its teaching-learning innovations and brand development initiatives. The distinguishing feature of the college is the value additions it has introduced in its study programmes. These include publication of a journal by every department, introduction of personality development courses, communication workshops, soft skills training, and special professional courses dovetailed with market requirements.

For instance to nurture young entrepreneurs, M.O.P established its entrepreneurship development (ED) cell in 1999. ED stages a self-employment project presentation competition every year, which culminates in a M.O.P Bazaar hosting a wide range of stalls by students with varied products on sale. Consequently the ED cell has proved to be a launching pad for several students-turned-businesswomen.

But it’s in academics that this relatively new women’s college has excelled. Starting with just three study programmes- B.Com, B.B.A, B.Sc and 170 students on its rolls in 1992, today MOP Vaishnav offers 13 undergraduate and four postgraduate courses to its 2,745 students instructed by a faculty of 96.

The college management has structured its market-relevant courses into various schools- School of Communication and Media Studies, School of Information Technology, School of Social Sciences, School of Business, School of Food Science and School of Languages- and follows a cafeteria approach, allowing students to choose inter disciplinary courses to add value to their core competencies. “Our biggest achievement is transforming our students into smart, skilled individuals who stand out wherever they go,” says Prasad.

Unsurprisingly at the start of the current academic year in August the college received nearly 7,000 applications for the 950 seats on offer despite its relatively pricey study programmes. But for its prices the college ensures that its students are well provided for in the form of state-of-the-art infrastructure which includes an air conditioned media lab with modern equipment valued at Rs. 2 crore, a high-tech networked computer lab (4,000 sq. ft) with 124 nodes, a multimedia lab, a micro processor and digital electronics lab, nutrition and science lab, a fully equipped press, amphitheatre, air conditioned 450-seater auditorium, photography studio, fully computerised bar-coded library with 20,336 volumes and 102 journals and periodicals, a virtual library, nine seminar halls and a conference room.

With its growing reputation in industry in southern India, the college enjoys an enviable 90-95 percent placement record. Campus placement jamborees are held in July every year and among the prominent companies that have recruited M.O.P students are Citi Bank Associates, Ernst & Young, TVS Sundaram Motors, Hewlett Packard, ABN Amro, Chennai Ford, Lintas, MRF, Birla Sun Life Insurance, Hyundai Motors, Wipro, Cognizant Technology Solutions, ICICI Bank apart from recruiters from the print media, advertising companies and television channels. 

In its onward journey towards excellence, M.O.P has plans to tie up with reputed universities abroad for faculty and student exchange programmes. Developing the ED cell to produce more “job creators” is also on the cards. “A mere degree certificate is of limited value. We need to produce well-educated individuals able to take on the world beyond campus gates. I believe there’s hope for even for those who don’t excel academically, as they all have hidden talents waiting to be discovered,” says Prasad. 

Admission and fees

M.O.P Vaishnav College for Women is structured into six schools- School of Media, School of Information Technology, School of Business, School of Food Science, School of Social Sciences and School of Languages- and offers 13 undergraduate and four postgraduate courses.

Admission: The selection process comprises an entrance test for all undergraduate and postgraduate courses held in May with 60 percent weightage given to the board exam scores and 40 percent to the entrance test. Tuition fee (annual) 

Undergrad. Rs. 21,300-43, 900

Postgraduate. Rs. 30,900-62,900

For further details contact the Registrar, No 20, IV Lane, Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600034. Tel: 28330262; e-mail: mopvcfw@giasmd01.vsnl.net.in

Hemalatha Raghupathi (Chennai)