By Our Spl Correspondent
SHILLONG: St Edmund’s College launched the Master’s in Social Work Programme which is being run under the aegis of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU). The Bachelor for Social Work (BSW) programme was earlier started in 2007. Former Principal, Bro EV Miranda who just handed over charge on Friday last, said, “The BSW is the youngest department, the noisiest and the busiest in the college but the students also are the most active and engaged with society’s problems.”
Bro Miranda was almost speechless as he reminisced on the personal testimony of a BSW IIrd year student, Nadeen Pakyntein who said she had actually wanted to study English as a major subject but was asked to take up Social Work by her mother. “Today if she asks me to quit the course, I would never do it. Today, for me field work is doing as much as I can to benefit the community I work with. Its no longer about me but about them,” said Nadeen to her fellow students and faculty.
Bro Miranda said he wished all the Brothers of St Edmunds were present at this historic moment because their dreams of impacting the community is being realised through the Social Work Department of the College. “It my good fortune to be principal at a unique moment in time when the College is venturing into the Masters degree course in a subject that has the potential to impact society the most,” Bro Miranda said in his parting speech.
Prof David Syiemlieh Pro VC, NEHU lauded St Edmund’s College for having gone beyond the milestones to upgrade the youngest department into the Masters degree course. “This indicates that things are changing and St Edmund’s has joined the other colleges in giving the best of education to students,” Prof Syiemlieh said. He reminded the new batch of MSW students that they are part of NEHU and can avail of all the facilities of the University. Prodding the students to do something for themselves, their state and people, Prof Syiemlieh said
St Edmund’s College is representative of the eight North Eastern states and the education they get here and now will enable them to address problems in their respective states.
The Pro-VC also announced that from 2012 all colleges will follow the full credit semester system and allow for open courses and more autonomous colleges. NEHU has initiated the change because the very concept of higher education has changed, Prof Syiemlieh added.Earlier the students of BSW presented the famous Micheal Jackson number, “We are the world,” and a cultural extravaganza showcasing the rich diversity in the college where a girl from Finland has also enrolled in the BSW course, including several students from Bhutan.
It may be mentioned that Prof Sylvanus Lamare, a long time teacher of St Edmund’s College has now taken over from Bro EV Miranda as college principal.