CURRICULAR ASPECTS :

Being an affiliated college under Gauhati University, it offers B. Sc. programmes in

• Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology and Mathematics (both Major and General)
• Statistics, Economics and English (General Course.)
• Information Technology (multidisciplinary) is offered as a vocational course.

Distant Learning Course Curriculum of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), which is being continued in the college campus since January 1992, facilitates its learners including students and staff to pursue various courses offered by IGNOU.

In keeping with its commitment of imparting education in the emerging interdisciplinary and application oriented areas, the College has introduced multidisciplinary subject Information Technology (IT) under Vocational Education Scheme of UGC and has submitted proposal to UGC for granting five more career oriented course. Further, the College has started few skill and knowledge generating programmes, such as, Certificate Course in IT, Mushroom growing and Patchouli cultivation, Butterfly rearing technique, Orchid preservation as well as demonstration of cultivation of medicinal plants which are supposed to motivate students towards entrepreneurship.

A Modular Curriculum has been introduced in the Certificate Course in IT. The practice of interdepartmental exchange of faculty in the matters of teaching on relevant topics/chapters is in vogue in the College. The curricula are revised and updated periodically by the University. The faculty of the College extends cooperation as and when required by the University.

TEACHING, LEARNING EVALUATION :

Since its inception Birjhora Mahavidyalaya has been attracting students not only from native state but also from neighbouring states, as well as from Bhutan. The admission process is very transparent, and the students are admitted on the basis of merit through interview, academic records and through entrance test. The students, who are offered Major course, are selected through Major Selection Test. The College gives much stress in teaching, learning and evaluation process. Out of 279 working days in 2002-03, 231 days have been utilized for actual teaching and examinations (internal and university examinations). The College gives due weightage to course coverage. To make up the losses of routine classes due to unavoidable circumstances, classes are taken as and when required.

The College provides Tutorial Classes for the benefit of weaker students, who are identified in routine classes by interaction, Class Tests and Unit Tests. The College also has taken steps for initiating Remedial Courses under UGC scheme. Similarly, advanced learners can enrich their knowledge and curiosity through personal counseling by the faculty members, associate themselves with extension education programmes, use of study materials of IGNOU library, facilities of natural laboratories and through computer education programme. Various departments have taken initiatives to open clubs and societies through which the advanced learners are able to get intellectual satisfaction.

Teachers impart education according to their Teaching Plan prepared at the beginning of the session. Progress of courses allotted to teachers is reviewed in departmental discussions and rearrangement and reallotment of classes is made accordingly.
There are two types of teaching-learning experiences in Birjhora Mahavidyalya:
a) Classroom teaching and learning by using Chalk and Black Board, Charts, models etc. as well as gradual shifting of its attention towards using of TV, Computer, Projector etc.
b) Students learn and develop their skill by laboratory work, field tour, project work, seminar, excursion, group discussion and peer learning method. Bringing in experts in different fields has enhanced the knowledge of students besides the routine teaching. Students are also encouraged to use the facilities of teleconferencing mode of learning and Gyan Darshan in IGNOU Study Centre situated in the College. Each department has a collection of books, through which both teaching and learning groups are benefited.

Students are evaluated by the following ways:
a) Continuous evaluation by the department / College through Unit Tests, Class Tests, Annual Examinations and through practical examinations.
b) Term-end University examinations conducted by the University.

RESEARCH, CONSULTANCY AND EXTENSION :

Though research is not a primary activity of the College, it promotes research by granting study leave to the teachers, offers adjustment in teaching schedules, provides laboratory facilities for some research activities and has the provision of project work done by Third Year Major students of Botany Department.

• Till now eight teachers have been awarded Ph. D. degrees, one teacher has submitted his thesis for Ph. D., while three other teachers are pursuing research works leading to Ph. D. Among them, however, three teachers have left the College and joined in university and research institutes.
• The faculty members have already completed three UGC sponsored minor projects, and two more short term projects funded by Bombay Natural History Society and Oriental Bird Club are in progress (Table 11).
• A short term project, "Pilot Survey of Late Winter Vegetation in Kakoijana (Proposed) Wildlife Sanctuary" was completed by the College, under the College Science Improvement Programme (COSIP).
• The Planning Forum of the College has already completed a short term project, "Survey of Below Poverty Line Family in Bongaigaon Municipality 2003" in collaboration with the District Administration.
• The College has developed a Herbal Garden and its components where research projects could be undertaken in Life Sciences and Biochemistry.

The efforts of the faculty members in research are also reflected in the number of their publications . One faculty member of Department of Physics was associated in the review process of an international journal (Physics of Plasmas). The College offers consultancy services in various fields, viz., mushroom cultivation, orchid preservation, patchouli cultivation, health and hygiene (drinking water test, blood group test etc.), wildlife study etc. As an ongoing process of these vital services, patchouli and mushroom cultivation have been undertaken by the unemployed youths of the locality.The College is actively involved in extension activities, and a lecturer is assigned for looking after these as an additional charge. The extension services carried out by the College are in the field of community development, health and hygiene awareness, AIDS awareness, social work, medical camp and environment awareness. The College organizes events like Chemistry Olympiad, Mathematics Olympiad, Matheletics, bird watching, sky observations, seminars and workshops on topics pertinent to the society. The teachers and students are associated with various NGOs, viz., Assam Science Society, Aaranyak (a society of biodiversity conservation in northeast India), Murchhana (a cultural and literary organization), BRPL Ladies Association, Birjhora Mahila Sangha (a women organization for social activities) and Nature's Foster. Furthermore, the College is associated with various GOs like Bongaigaon District Administration, Bongaigaon Polytechnic, Centre for Environment Education (CEE) Northeast India, Forest Department of Assam and Pollution Control Board, Govt. of Assam in scientific activities.

STUDENT SUPPORT & PROGRESSION :

The College has been extending support for all round progression of its students since its inception. Personal and academic counseling to its students are frequently done by the faculty members and are inspired for better performance. Performances of the students are illustrated in the which reveals significant pass percentage in last two years (72.3 % in 2002 and 70 % in 2003) as well as significant position (First Class Third in both Botany and Chemistry Major) obtained in 2002. On earlier occasions also students of this College obtained significant positions in university examinations besides obtaining number of first classes such as First Position in First Division in General Course in 1991 and 1992, First Class Second Position in Physics Major in 1996.

The College has initiated a career guidance cell to guide and motivate the students for progression of their career in a better way. Within a short span from its establishment a sizable number of passed out students have taken admission in various institutions of higher learning and have shown brilliant performance in their subsequent student career; for instance, First and Third Position in Master Degree, qualifying the NET etc.

HEALTHY PRACTICES

From the very beginning of the establishment of the College, the authority has been trying to strengthen the regular academic programmes through other complimentary systems. As a result, the IGNOU Study Centre was established in 1992. Proposal has been submitted to UGC for introduction to career-oriented courses according to the need of the locality, apart from introducing IT, a multidisciplinary vocational course. Self-designed Certificate Course in mushroom cultivation has already been introduced and short term courses in Orchid Preservation, Butterfly Rearing, Bird Watching Technique and Patchouli Cultivation are in offing.

For imparting value-based education to the students, learned persons are invited to the College to address the students on various occasions, e.g., Freshers' Day and Annual Functions. The speeches by the principal and teachers on the Freshers' Day are oriented to inculcate civil responsibilities, such as maintenance of a secular atmosphere in the premises, development of the qualities of discipline, self reliance, justice, fair play, sporting spirit, concern for public welfare and scientific temperament. Apart from lectures on the life of noble personalities and their ideals are delivered on Teachers' Day, Republic Day and Independence Day, National Science Day and World Environment Day are observed through which messages against superstition, responsibility towards environment and promoting scientific psychology are transmitted among the students.

The College has been making effort to bring in community orientation in its activities on the day of 1st September, the Foundation Day of the College, by inviting the local citizens, ex-students and people residing near to the College. Besides, the students and teachers of the College also visit the nearby areas, e.g., Shankarghola, Kakoijana Jelkajhar etc. to orient the people about the facilities the College possesses. The College has imparted mushroom cultivation training to the people of the fringe village in collaboration with the Social Forestry Division, Manikpur.