College of Home Science, ANGRAU - A Learning Home Exclusively for Girls
To be at home or not to be at HOME, managing things in shape is the primary concern for everyone, let it be a home or an office. Managing your resources and time is equally important for both a housewife as well as a professional. If both skills are acquired at one go, what else is needed for one who is very ambitious about her career at the same time concerned about her family. Here comes a course in home science for the young and dynamic and those entire career oriented & family concerned girls, who can always be real professional besides being good home maker. You can be a good manager at home & also at work.
Home science education stands first in the line to offer various courses to mould students into perfect individuals with profound human values. It was initially designed and structured around the urban home makers and her family and community. With the advent of Agricultural Universities, the focus of Home Science was shifted to the rural family with emphasis on intrafamily resources, since rural families are composite and integrated units which function as both consumption and production units.
Lets us know more about Home Sciences education and College of Home Science in an exclusive interaction with Dr. A. Sarada Devi, Associate Dean, College of Home Science.
About Dr. A. Sarada Devi:
Dr. A. Sarada Devi is the associate dean of college of home science and also professor head of the department of Apparel and Textiles. Above all, she is the Member of Board of Management, ANGRAU University. She has been awarded the BEST TEACHER Award in the year 1995 and in 2008. Also she has won the prestigious award as the first lady CPI for the project – National Agriculture Innovation project in 2008. She is the subject expert for ISO Certification for textiles and clothing companies.
She has also been awarded with Chowdary Devi Lal award for outstanding performance of All India coordinated Research Project (AICRP) activities in year 2003.
TCG: About College of Home Science
Dr. Sarada: The Faculty of Home Science is one among the three faculties of Acharya N.G Ranga Agricultural University which aims at enhancing the standards of individuals in general and rural families in particular through teaching, research and extension activities. The faculty was established initially with one college at Hyderabad in 1964, followed by another college at Bapatla in 1983, with intent to cater to the needs of rural girls. College of home science is the most reputed name that one gets to remember when it is turn to do a course in home science. The faculty of Home Science has awarded till now around 2000 graduates, 654 post graduates and 60 Ph.D scholars in various disciplines. Most of the students have settled as dieticians, preschool managers, interior designers, apparel designers, community coordinators for development programmes apart from being University teachers and researchers.
TCG: What is the specialty of Home Science Education?
Dr. Sarada: Home Science education is the only kind of education where it does not require any kind of Finishing School concept for students. The whole concepts are very much in the curriculum itself. The students does not require to learn any other concept, once she has completed her Home science course, as the structure of the home science education is build so accurately where in you are thought the theory and concept with advanced methodology of practical and given exposure to the industry with all kind of resource management. Internship straight away gives them the necessary inputs which make them professionally with standing.
TCG: How do you think we can motivate more students to opt for home science courses?
Dr. Sarada: Many JOBS!!!!!!!! Yes, Most of our students are already employed; they are absorbed while they are in their internship itself. Since we have very sophisticated methodology in teaching and as well as making the students practically work on it. It adds as an advantage to their career. More over our placement wing always has linkage with the line departments of government and Non-Government sectors, relevant institutions and academic, research and extension interest and interaction with fee lance experts and entrepreneurs were strengthened to enhance exposure for students and mould them as professionals.
TCG: What kind of streams is available in home science education in AP in general and in your college in specific?
Dr. Sarada: The major streams in home science are Food & Nutrition, Human Development and Family Studies, Family Resource Management, Textiles and Clothing and Extension Education. The academic programme of the faculty deals with both under graduate, post graduate and Ph.D programmes, Our College is specialized in imparting knowledge in all the above streams of home science.
About Departments:
Under each discipline, there are vocational Electives course during third and fourth years, while first two years are core and basic courses, with a total weight age of 160 credits. A ratio of 50:50 theory and practical component was introduced, aiming at skill development for professionalism.
Food & Nutrition (FNDT): Department of FNDT imparts knowledge on the concepts like Food processing technologies, Bakery and Confectionary, New food product development, Planning balanced diet, Planning and Preparation of therapeutic diets, formation of dietetic foods and health foods, food entrepreneurship, Food adulteration testing, Diet counseling, community nutrition education, food and nutrient analysis and research, Clinical research, hospital management, Institutional food services/catering management, Clinical Dietician. For FNDT, the vocational elective is Nutrition & Dietetics.
Extensive & Communication Management (ECM): Department of FNDT imparts knowledge on the concepts like Community mobilization and organization, Participatory analysis o contemporary societies, instructional and corporate communication skills, programme designing, Technology impact analysis, Print and Electronic information material development, Multimedia production and Management, Public speaking, Management of Public relation, social marketing and Networking and Video graphy, Digital Advertising and Capacity building. For ECM, the vocational elective is Information Technology & Communication.
Human Development & Family Studies (HDFS): Department of HDFS imparts knowledge on the concepts like Developmental assessment of children, Management of early childhood education, Curriculum development for children, Management of Programmes for children with special needs, Preparation of education material for children, Entrepreneurial skills in child care services, Identification of developmental delays, Development of intervention programmes, Development of teaching and learning materials foe ECCD centers, Capacity building for child care providers, Application of psychological tests. For HDFS, the vocational elective is Organization & Management of ECCD programmes.
Resource Management Consumer Sciences (RMCS): Department of RMCS imparts knowledge on the concepts like Selection and arrangement of interiors, Imbibement of wise consumer buying behavior, Judicious space management, Product designing, Value addition, and Packing, Marketing and entrepreneurial skills, Designing residential and commercial interiors, Application of ergonomic principles, Landscape designing Advocacy and consultancy – interior and exterior design ventures, Cost estimation for designs, Visual presentation skills, CAD for interiors and exteriors, Effective management of resources, Thematic flower arrangements, Designing residential and commercial interiors foe people with special needs and Event management. For RMCS, the vocational elective is Interior & Exterior space design.
Apparel & Textiles (APTX): Department of APTX imparts knowledge on the concepts like draping techniques, Apparel designing – manual & CAD, Textile designing – Manual & CAD, Fashion & sketching, Garment Construction, Fabric surface enrichment, Dyeing and printing techniques, textile quality analysis, designing functional clothing, Visual merchandising skills, apparel and textile industrial management skills and organizing Apparel design show. For APTX, the vocational elective is Apparel production and Management.
TCG: What is the main motto in imparting all the above concepts as part of home science education?
Dr. Sarada: The main motto or say mission behind this is empowerment of woman and Girl child in urban and rural households through self employment which will help them to become better resource managers and contribute towards rural development. This kind of education helps students to with stand any kind of situation. They are made perfect in all areas of home science education and latter half of the semester are moved their choice of specialization and practically work in the field as a part of internship.
TCG: Who are the eligible candidates? How many seats are available?
Dr. Sarada: For Undergraduate program, we have B.Sc (Home science) for which we need Inter with Science or mathematics background. For Post graduate program, we have M.Sc and for Doctorial program we have Ph.D programs. We have limited seats as the home science education itself is practical oriented course; to see each and every student is given proper equipments, space and time for studying. For B.Sc – total 80 seats, For M.Sc- total 30 seats and for Ph.D – Total 25.
TCG: Does the misconception of home science as only a domestic science still prevails?
Dr. Sarada: No more, earlier it was a myth, but today many are taking this home science education as it is lucrative and leads a balanced way of family life as well as professional life.
TCG: About Infrastructure and Teaching Methodology
Dr. Sarada: Each and every department is having sophisticated labs and spacious class rooms with the necessary equipments for the practical slots. The college has a remarkable two floor well equipped library with book (12, 105), Journals (52) and periodicals (11) and is aesthetically designed for comfort and practical utility by students and staff and also visitors. It houses a well designed digital laboratory having online access using SOUL software to provide automation of routine activities.
A gym centre and a three storied spacious hostel are located in the premises. The well equipped gym facilitates students for physical fitness programme. More than 200 UG and PG students can accommodate in the hostel.
We have profound teaching methodology; we try to be very interactive with the students so that they do not hesitate if they have any doubts regarding the subjects. We take audio visual classes to explain them in more clear and practical way. We are always open to the suggestions given by our students. We kind of have a very good association with them.
TCG: With recession crises still hitting the market, is it in any way making a way for students to opt home sciences courses?
Dr. Sarada: Yes, many are looking at home science as the safest career in near future. The applications have increased this year when compared to the last years.
TCG: What Career Prospects are ahead for students who complete their home science courses?
Dr. Sarada:As earlier specified, each department has got its own lucrative careers. The pay packs for a fresher begins around 10, 000 to 15, 000 which is a very good pay for any beginner. You can be Fashion Designer, Textile Designer, Interior Designer, Dietician, Resource managers, teachers and researchers.
TCG: About Faculty:
Dr. Sarada: Under the headship of Dean, there are 21professors, 12 Associate Professors and 16 Assistant professors on rolls, positioned as teachers in college.
TCG: Do you have campus placements?
Dr. Sarada: Yes, we do have campus placement. We have an exclusive placement wing which takes care of the necessary internships for the students.
TCG: Are you handling any research projects??
Dr. Sarada: Yes, Of course, Research is the most intricate part of college of home science. We have many government as well as non government projects which are always a part and parcel of our programme. More than 35 research projects are in operation since two decades, with the financial assistance from various National and International Organizations such as ICAR, ICMR, DST, IDRC, UNICEF, IFS, FORD FOUNDATION and UNDP.
TCG: About Diploma and Certifying Courses:
Dr. Sarada: As a commitment to the community we arrange some programs which will help people to learn home science concepts.
Department of Foods & Nutrition:
Fruit & preservation: 6days - Rs.1000/-
Cake making: 6days - Rs.1000/-
Biscuit making: 6days - Rs.1000/-
Slimming diets: 6days - Rs.1000/-
Bakery: 15days - Rs.2000/-
Healthy diet for children: 6days - Rs.1500/-
Diets for heart diseases and diabetes: 6days - Rs.1000/-
Desserts and salad preparation: 6days - Rs.1000/
Department of Resource Management & Consumer Sciences
Stress Management: 1day - Rs.300/-
Flower Arrangement: 5days - Rs.1000/-
Flower drying techniques and value addition: 5days - Rs.1500/-
Kitchen organization: 2days - Rs.600/-
Color Schemes for interiors: 3days - Rs.600/-
Department of Human Development & Family Studies
Pre-primary Teacher Training: 6 days–Rs. 2000/-
Department of Apparel & Textiles
Block printing: 15days - Rs.1000/-
Fabric painting: 6days - Rs.500/-
Tie & Dye: 6days - Rs.500/-
Computer Aided Apparel Designing: 15days - Rs.1500/-
CAAD Machine embroidery: 6days - Rs.500/-
Dying with natural dyes: 30days - Rs.3000/-
Department of Extension and communication Management
Basic Field of Functioning: 6days - Rs.500/-
Public Speaking: 10days - 2000/-
Creative writing: 6days - Rs. 1000/-
Video Recording editing: 45days - 5000/-
Women & Journalist Skills: 6days - 1000/-