CREST News Bulletin 38 & 39

About CREST

Centre for Research & Education for Social Transformation (CREST) is an autonomousinstitutionunder asanationalinstituteofhumanities,scienceandprofessionalstudies,addressing the needs of the communities of India while integrating with the inf incubatedbytheIndianInstituteofManagementKozhikode. theMinisterfortheWelfareofScheduledCastesandScheduledTribesandOtherBackward CommunitiesasChairmanmonitorstheacti

Research & (CREST) is an institutionundertheGovernmentofKeralaCRESThasbeenconceived national studies, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other marginalized communities India the informational society.

IndianInstituteof Thegoverningcouncilheadedby Welfareof CastesandScheduledTribesand CommunitiesasChairmanmonitorstheactivitiesoftheCentre.DignitariesliketheGovernorof of theSpeakerof KeralaLegislative the patrons autonomous institution. The representation from Institute the National Institute of AdvancedStudies, Kerala Technology Thiruvananthapuram Thirunal & five-month Post Graduate Certificate Course for ProfessionalDevelopment(PGCCPD)asitsflagshipprogram.

Activities

Kerala,theChiefMinisterofKeralaandtheSpeakeroftheKeralaLegislativeAssemblyarethe patrons of this autonomous institution. The Governing Council has representation from institutions like the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, AdvancedStudies,Bangalore,KeralaStateCouncilforScience,TechnologyandEnvironment, Thiruvananthapuram and Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Thiruvananthapuram. CREST conducts a five ProfessionalDevelopment(PGCCPD)asitsflagshipprogram.

Enrichment Workshop MBBS Students AIIMS

Self-Enrichment Workshop for MBBS Students of AIIMS

On invitation from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences conductedaweek-longorientation program,whichwasinauguratedbyDr.

India Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi, CREST longorientationprogrammefromthe4th tothe10thofNovember2022.

The Centre was The washeldto

wasinauguratedby MSrinivas,DirectorAIIMSNewDelhi, Page 2

enhance the self-confidence level of students, particularly hailing from disadvantaged backgrounds.

personsProf. AbhilashPillaiandJilmilHazarikaandeducationaltrainerAparnaViswanathand VinodKrishnan,andDrPratapSaran, Professor,AIIMS NewDelhi.Theworkshopwasheldat theCentreforMedicalEducation&Technology.

SessionswereheldbyHRtrainersBalachandranGopinath, VinodAR&SucharitaHota,theatre

The orientation program which was held soon after the admission, but before the commencementof‘medicaleducation’hadthreemodulesviz (a)CommunicationSkills(b)SelfEnhancementforProfessionalDevelopment(c)Theatre.Themoduleshavebeendesignedin suchamannerthattheparticipantswillbesensitivetosocial,cultural,andlinguisticissuesof thestudentcommunity..Inadditiontothesemodules,speciallecturesonvariedissuesareheld forthestudents. Inadditiontothese,oneononesessionwasalsoheldforthestudents,when foundcasesthatwere necessary.

In addition to Communication Skills Module, Self Enhancement for Professional Excellence module, sessions were held on the following topics. Stress and wellness . Mental health Problematic substance and internet use , Ragging and harassment , Integrative health and wellbeingandGendersensitivity

Faculty Mentor Workshop

CRESTwasinvitedbytheAllIndiaInstituteofMedicalSciences(AIIMS)NewDelhitoconducta facultymentorworkshoponthe11th of November2022.Theobjectiveoftheworkshopwasto enablefacultymemberstobeteacher-mentorswhowouldhaveabetterunderstandingofthe

learningneedsofthestudents,particularlyfromdisadvantagedbackgroundsundergoingthe MBBSDegreeCourseatAIIMS.Theworkshopwasorganizedagainstthebackdropthatnearlya quarter of the students who join the MBBS programme are from relatively lower economic strataoftenfromaparentalbackgroundoffirst-generationliterates Asignificantsectionofthe studentsfromtheScheduledcommunitiesbelongstothiscategory,whohoweverqualifyfor admissionaftercompetinginanextremelyrigorousexamination.Barringafew,mostofthe students from this category are from groups with low social capital and from rural areas. Parental support is minimal to this section of candidates as most of their parents are not adequately informed about the content of the courses at AIIMS. These students do not get propermentoringsupportfromparentssuitedtothemedicaleducationbeingreceived.The workshop was expected to help the faculty members to be sensitive to the students’ backgrounds and to be effective mentors to the MBBS students throughout their academic

careers.SessionswereheldbyDrPratapSaran, Professor,AIIMS,NewDelhi,Balachandran Gopinath,VisitingFacultyCREST andAmitKumar,VisitingFacultyCREST andVinodKrishnan, ExecutiveDirectorinchargeCREST.

Commencement of the 36th Batch of the PGCCPD Program

Interview for admission to the 36th Batch of the Post Graduate Certificate Course for ProfessionalDevelopmentwasheldfromthe28thtothe30thof November2023. 40(30SC,8 STand2OBC)studentswereselectedfortheprogrambasedonthegrades/markswhichthe studentshadobtainedintheirundergraduateprogramandtheinterview. Ofthefortystudents whoweregivenadmissiontotheprogram,32aregirls.

Students who joined the PGCCPD course arrived in Calicut and they were provided accommodationinthehostels.33girlswereaccommodatedinthegirls’hostelandsevenboys

intheboys’hostels.AsPGCCPDisaresidentialprogram,itwasmademandatoryforallstudents tostayinthehostels.

The majority of the students are from northern districts of Kerala with 23.7 % from Malappuram,18.4%fromKozhikode,10.5%fromWayanad,13.2%fromPalakkad,13.2%from Trichurand7.9%fromKannur.Themajorityofthestudentsarefromruralbackgrounds.60.5% ofthestudentsarefromvillages,31.6%fromsmalltownsand7%fromcities.

Profile of the students of the 36th Batch of the Post Graduate Certificate Course for Professional Development (PGCCPD)

the students Batch Post Course Development

Educational Qualification:Datagatheredfromthestudentsshowthat60.5%ofthestudents whojoinedthePGCCPDhold Ofthe20candidateswhohold BTech,LLBetc.

thePGCCPDholdaMaster’sDegreewhiletheother39.5%holdBachelor’sDegree. whoholdaBachelor’sDegree,9areProfessionalDegreeholderswith

Income: Data gathered from the students show that 50% of students are from economic backgroundswhosefamilyincomefall ofthestudentsarefromafamilyincomegroupabove20000Rupeesamonthand31.6% are fromabackgroundwithafamilyincomelowerthanRs.5000amonth.15.8%ofthefamilyhas additionalincome,mostlybetweenRs.5000 particularlysiblingswhoalsocontributetofamilyincome.

Data from show are fallswithintherangeofRs.5000–20000amonth.18.4% amonthand familyincomelowerthanRs.5000amonth.15.8%ofthefamilyhas additionalincome,mostlybetweenRs.5000–20000amonthfromsourcesotherthanparents, arlysiblingswhoalsocontributetofamilyincome.

ajorityofthestudentsare districtsof 23.7% 18.4 from Palakkad fromTrichurand7.9%fromKannur.Themajorityofthestudentsarefromruralbackground

, 13.2% s.

Location: ThemajorityofthestudentsarefromnortherndistrictsofKeralawith23.7%from Malappuram, 18.4 % from Kozhikode, 10.5% from Wayanad, 13.2% from Palakkad fromTrichurand7.9%fromKannur. 60.5%ofthestudentsarefromvillages,31.6%fromsmalltownsand7%fromcities.

IV

are workers / doing low-paid jobs. 63.2% of the arents are as farm labourers. Government,predominantlyaslow-rankingemployees.

Occupation of Parents:Datagatheredfromstudentsshowthat12.2%ofthemaleparentsare workingingovernment,mostlyasClassIVemployees,contingencyworkersetc. 15.8%are agricultural labourers 31.6% are cooli workers / doing other low female parents are unemployed or working as farm labourers. 10.5% are working in Government,predominantlyaslow

Family land holding:28.9%offamiliesofstudentsownlandwithintherangeof5 39.5%lessthan5centsand21.1%between10 2.6%arelandless.

28.9 of own within 5 less 5 10-20cents,10.5%ownlandabove20cents.

Parental Education: Educational qualification of obtainedhighschooleducation,7.9%graduat

21.1 % have primary education. 7.9% have obtained post haveformaleducation.Amongfemaleparents 10.5%haveprimaryschoolingandanother21.1% holdgraduation. 5.3%donothaveanyformaleducation.

-10cents. ve

Educational qualification of male parents shows that 47.4% ha highschool graduated,7.9%havehighersecondaryeducationand 7.9% obtained post-graduate education.7.9% do not education. femaleparents,36.8%havestudiedupto10thstandardand primary andanother havehighersecondaryeducation.21.1%

Ice–Breaking Session

Afull-dayice-breakingsessionwasheldforthenewbatchofPGCCPDstudentsatCRESTon11

January 2023. It was conducted by AR Vinod and Sucharita Hota. Sucharita Hota holds a Master’sDegreeinSocialWorkfromtheTataInstituteofSocialScience(TISS)Mumbai.Shewas a Fellow at Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI) Jamshedpur and AHRD (Academy for HumanResourcesDevelopment,Hyderabad.)ShehadbeenaconsultanttoUNDPandUNICEF andwastheHeadoftheDepartmentofSocialScience,atSt.JosephsCollege,DevagiriCalicut. She has also worked as a qualitative researcher for ORG-MARG. She is a faculty of CREST, handling the Self Enrichment for Professional Education module for the Post Graduate CertificateCourseforProfessionalDevelopmentARVinodisanHRtrainerattachedtoCREST. HeholdsaMaster'sDegreeinCommerceandhasbeeninvolvedwithhandlingHRTrainingfor thestudents ofCREST.Healsoprovides voluntarymentoringsupportforstudents afterthe completionofthePGCCPDcourse

Communication skills workshop

A communication skills workshop was held for students on the 13th & 14th of January 2023. It was conducted by Prof. Vineeta Gabriel andAnoopJayaprakah.Techniquesof thetheatrewereusedfortheentire workshop. Prof. Vineeta Gabriel is a faculty of CREST. She was teaching Functional English for nearly thirty years at Malabar Christian College,

Kozhikode.AnoopJayaprakahistheCourseCoordinatorofCREST.

Introduction to Professional Development

AnintroductorysessiononProfessionalDevelopmentwasheldforthestudentson14January 2023.ItwasconductedbyVinod Krishnan, Associate Program Coordinator in charge of Executive Director, CREST. It covered the objective of the program, the rationale of the course, different modules and the expected outcomes of the program.

Followedbytheintroduction A documentary on CREST, “RecastingSelves”wasscreened beforethestudents. Thefilm,a criticalreadingofCRESTinfilm

formatwasintroducedtothestudentsbyVinodKrishnan,AssociateProgramCoordinator. The film was made by a team consisting of Lalit Vachani, CentreforModernIndianStudies (CeMIS) at the University of Göttingen (Direction,Scriptand Editing) Sanjay Srivastava, Prof of Sociology, SOAS London (Research and Concept) Priya Sen,filmmaker (Productionand 2nd shoot Direction) Syed Husain Akbar, the photographer whowasformerlywith National Geographicand NDTV (Camera) Godly Timo Koshy alumnus of Film and Television Institute of India, Pune (Location Sound) SrirupaRoy, professorandchair of political science and modern Indian studies at the University ofGöttingen(Producer)

A session on “Self Enrichment was also held for the students soon after the screening of the film.MsJyothiC.JyothiCholdsa Master’s Degree in English and Economics.ShehasbeenteachingEnglishattheDepartmentofLanguagesandCommunication StudiesattheUniversityofTechnology,PapuaNewGuinea,SouthPacific

Communication Skills Workshop

Ms.JilmilHajarika,atheatrepersonandAssameseactressconductedatwo-dayworkshopon

the15th &16th ofJanuary2023oncommunicationskillsusingtheatreasatool.Thefocuswas onnon-verbalcommunicationandbodylanguage.Theobjectiveoftheworkshopwastogivean orientationforthestudentsonhowtoconveytheirthoughts,feelingsandmoodthroughvisual rather thanverbal cues like facial expressions. Eye contact, subtle gestures, tone, touch and posture.Ms.JilmilHajarikaisanalumnusoftheNationalSchoolofDramawheresheisavisiting facultynow.

Art Appreciation workshop

On 18th January 2023 , Greece-based artist/sculptor from Kerala, Johns Mathewconductedanartappreciationworkshopforthestudentsundergoing thePostGraduateCertificateCourseforProfessionalDevelopment(PGCCPD) atCREST, Theobjectiveoftheworkshopwastoprovideanunderstandingof nonverbalcommunicationthroughcreativeexpressionsandtoappreciateart asanotherwayofseeing.Theworkshopinvolvedexercisesthatboostedtheir creative ability to help the students to observe, perceive, and to create art forms using natural materials available on the campus like stones, leaves flowers etc. The workshopallowedthestudentstoworkasateam, expresstheircreativityandexplorethejoy

ofbridgingthegapbetweentheself,the other, and the multiple selves that resideinthem. Itassistedstudentsto use artistic and aesthetic sensibility in day-to-day life situations. It involved exercises that boosted their creative ability.

Johns Mathew holds BFA from the Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S. University, Baroda.Hehasbeeninvolvedwiththe Radical Painters and Sculptors Association.Heisalsoatravelwriter

“Design Thinking” Workshop

Design thinking is a human-centred approach to innovation that draws from the designer’s toolkittointegratetheneedsofpeople,thepossibilitiesoftechnology,andtherequirementsfor businesssuccess.Atwo-dayworkshopon“designthinking”washeldforthestudentsbythe facultyofdesignofSrishti ManipalInstituteofArt,DesignandTechnology(formerlySrishti InstituteofArt,Design&Technology)on19th&20thofJanuary2023.“Designthinking”isausercentricapproachtoproblem-solvingandisoftenemployedbyorganizationsandindividualsto overcomecomplexchallengesininnovativeways. TwentystudentsfromSrishti Schoolalso joinedtheworkshop,workingwiththestudentsofCREST.

SrishtiManipalInstituteofArt,DesignandTechnology,(Srishti),isapremiermulti-disciplinary approachdesignschoolestablishedin1996byDr.GeethaNarayananundertheUjwalTrustin Bangalore. NowfunctioningunderManipalAcademyofHigherEducation,aDeemeduniversity, itoffers4YearUndergraduateProfessionalProgram,MastersprogramsandPhDinDesignand

ArtEducation. Ms

and

facultymembers ofSrishti

InstitutevolunteeredtoconductthisworkshopforthestudentsofCRESTwhilethey wereonanotheracademicprograminKozhikode

Special Lecture on mud architecture

Aspeciallectureon“mudarchitecture”washeldforthestudentson30January2023 byMs Lakshmi Swaminathan. Ms Swaminathan graduated as an architect in 2013 from the MEAS Academy of Architecture, Chennai. Later, she worked in a conventional architecture office, taughtindesignschoolsandalsopursuedherpassionforkhaditextilesthroughweavingand blockprinting.Lakshmi’sinterestinvernaculararchitectureandresponsiblebuildingbrought herDeliaNarayan(“Didi"Contractor),anAmericanartistandbuilderknownforherworkon thevernaculartraditionsinIndia.Eversince,shelivedwithDidi,assistedinwritingthebook, 'AnAdobeRevival-DidiContractor'sArchitecture'byJoginderSinghandapprenticedinDidi’s

Gissy Michael, DeepakVerma

UdayrajPJ,

Manipal

buildingprojects.Inthelasttwoyears,Lakshmihasindependentlydesignedandbuiltafew homes in Kangra Valley in the lower Himalayas under Didi's mentorship. She is currently

workingonbuildingprojectsandcuratingabookaboutDidi'sworks.Thisspeciallecturewas organizedasapartofthegeneralawareness/understandingIndiamoduleofthePostGraduate CertificateCourseforProfessionalDevelopment(PGCCPD)

Special Lecture on Learning a Foreign Language

On 7th February 2023, a special lecture on “Learning a Foreign Language” was given by Prof.P.BhaskaranNayar,Linguistandformer professor, at Lincoln University, UK. Dr BhaskaranNayarhastaughtEnglishinvarious universities in different countries for nearly five decades.. Dr. Bhaskaran Nayar was a seniorlecturerinlinguisticsintheDepartment of Humanities and Journalism at Lincoln University, England. He has taught English, applied linguistics, and sociolinguistics for over 45 years in South and Southeast Asia, Africa, and Europe and has trained ESL teachers in North America and the South Pacific.

Special Lecture on Higher Studies Abroad

On9th February 2023,SreeparnaVappaladidasession on “Higher Studies Abroad. Sreeparna Vappala holds a Master's Degree from the Indian Institute of Science EducationandResearch(IISER)KolkataandaPhDfrom the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Asapartofherresearch,shewasinvolvedindeveloping new drugs to prevent blood clotting without the side effect of bleeding. She was a Sessional Lecturer and Course Coordinator for an undergraduate biochemistry course. She was a Future Science Leaders Fellow and Community Scientist attached to the Science World, involved with after-school science education programs foryoungadults. SheispresentlyattachedtoManitoba University,Winnipeg,Canadaasafaculty.

Workshop on Goal Setting

A special online workshop was organized for the students on shaping career goals on 13th February2023,byAmitKumar,formerlywithIndiaToday,TimesofIndiaandtheWorldBank andnowaVisiting Facultyat“YoungIndiaFellowship”of AsokaUniversity.Theworkshopwas focusedonself-awareness,cognitivebiases,andManagingfailures. MrAmitKumarhasmore than25yearsofdiverseexperienceinorganisationsacrossIndia,theUSA,NepalandMauritius. He has been conducting workshops on persuasive presence, presentation, business writing, conflictmanagement,negotiation,andemotionalintelligence.Hehasworkedwithorganisations likeTheWorldBank,Deloitte,Flex,AshokaUniversity,VedicaScholars,JindalStainless,W.E. Connor, Carrier-Midea, Manzil, Cornerstone, Jamia Millia University, Macleods, Sakal, Sify, MarkeTopper, TVSi, ISOMES, Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, Egis, Analogic, Babasaheb

AmbedkarResearchandTrainingInstitute,MadrasSchoolofSocialWork,News24andE24.He isvolunteeringforCREST.

Workshop on Interview Skills

A one-day workshop on Interview skills washeldforthestudentsbyAnilMenonon 14th ofFebruary2023..Anil Menonisan HR trainer based in Cochin. For the past fifteen years, he has been involved with YouthDevelopmentProgrammesrelatedto employability. He also conducts programs for corporate clients in the areas of Business Communication, Presentation Skills,andLeadership.

Special lecture on opportunities in Defense Force

Onthe15thofFebruary2023,aspeciallecturewasgivenbyLt.Col.CinuandMaj.Vinithaon

opportunitiesintheDefenseForceofIndia. ThelectureIndianArmedForcesarethemilitary forcesofIndiawhichconsistoffourprofessionaluniformedservices:TheIndianArmy,Indian AirForce,IndianNavyandIndianCoastGuard, variousotherparamilitaryorganizationsand variousinter-serviceinstitutionsalsohelptheIndianArmedForces.

Peer-level learning with the students of Oslo Metropolitan University.

On22nd February2023,a speciallectureonHigherEducationinNorwaywasconductedbyDr Berit Helene Vandsemb Faculty of Education and International Studies, Oslo Metropolitan

University,Norway.Followedbythisapeer-levellearningsessionwasjointlyorganizedbythe studentsofCRESTand thestudentsofOsloMetropolitanUniversity,Norway.15studentsfrom the Oslo Metropolitan Universityweregivenan orientation by the students of CREST on various themes related toKeralalikeEducation, Women Empowerment, Solid Waste Management, and Gulf Migration. The Norwegian students conducted sessions on Women's rights, environmental issues, and refugee issues for the students of CREST. Intheeveningacultural program was jointly organized by the students of both these institutions. The Norwegian studentsareinterningatCRESTfortwomonthsfollowingtheMoUsignedbetweentheFaculty ofEducationandInternationalStudiesofOsloMetropolitanUniversityandCRESTonJune5, 2012.

Workshop on Employability Enhancement

A workshop on Employability Enhancement was conducted by Balachandran Gopinathon 25th February 2023. Balachandran Gopinath is an international trainer of JCI. He was the Certification Commissioner for JCI University, U.S.A. in 2008. He hasexperienceofover14years as theDivisional,Regionaland NationalHeadoftheMarketing Departments of reputed Companies. He is a highly acclaimed corporate trainer andHRDConsultant.Hehasover100clientsinIndiaandabroad.HeisavisitingFacultyto manyUniversitiesandInstitutesfortheirMBAprograms.

Special Lecture on “Cinema and the Margins” and screening of the film “Manhole”

AspeciallecturewasgivenonCinemaandtheMarginson25February2023byVidhuVincent, Malayalam film Director. Following the lecture her award-winning film, “Manhole” was

screened before the students. Manholeis a 2016 IndianMalayalam-language film directed byVidhuVincent,depictingthelifeandstrugglesofamanualscavenger'sdaughter.Thefilm was adjudged theBest Filmof the Year 2016 by the jury for theKerala State Film

Awards2016andtheDirectorofthefilmwasselectedastheBestDirectoroftheYear2016. ThismadeVidhuVincentthefirstwomantowintheBestDirectorAwardinthehistoryofthe KeralaStateFilmAwardssinceitsinceptionin1969. ThefilmalsograbbedtheFIPRESCI:Best MalayalamFilmAwardduringtheIFFK2016.Thefilmwasselectedfortheaward"fortheraw realitywithwhichthefilmshedslightonthepersistentinhumanityofmanualscavengersin India,despiteitsbeinglegallybanned,inacinematicallyeloquentmanner."VidhuVincentisone of the founding members of Women in Cinema Collective, abbreviated as WCC, is an organisationforwomenworkingintheMalayalamfilmindustry

Visit of Honorable Minister Sri. K Radhakrishnan to CREST

Sri.KRadhakrishnan,Hon'bleMinisterfortheWelfareoftheScheduledCastesandScheduled

Tribes and Chairman of CREST Governing Council visited CREST and interacted with the studentson10th March2023. Speakingtothestudentshereiteratedtheimportanceofhigher educationandaspiringhigh. HealsoinsistedthestudentsbeinregulartouchwiththeAlumni ofCRESTwhohaveachievedhigherpositionstogetmotivated.

Experience Sharing by the Interns from OSLOMET

ExperiencesharingofinternsfromOsloMetropolitanUniversitywhohavebeeninterningat CRESTforsixweekssince21February2023. Thegroupwhichincludedfourboysandeleven

girlshasbeenlearningaboutKerala,particularlyonwomenempowerment,wastemanagement, achievementsineducation,andGulfmigration.Thestudentsweregivenorientationsonthese topicsbythestudentsofCRESTandtheyweregivenabroadunderstandingofKeralathrough theirinteractionsoutsidetheclassrooms.

Student body election

Studentbodyelectionwasheldon the 16th of February 2023. It allowed the students to foster leadership skills, communication, teamwork, organization and publicspeaking.Thisexercisewas organized by the students in the backdrop that educated youngstersofKeralaarenotvery keenonpoliticalparticipationand citizenengagement.

©CREST.ThisNewsBulletin ispublishedeveryfourmonthsbytheCentreforResearch&EducationforSocialTransformation (CREST),Calicut–673017KeralaIndia.Forprivatecirculationonly