The Higher Education Review

During the late 1970s, there were very few educational institutions in Bangalore which provided education to Women knowing the fact that educating Women is educating the whole family. Started with a clear vision of providing value education to a girl child, NMKRV College for Women was set up by Late Kasturiranga Ranga Setty who started Pre-university College in Jayanagar in 1971 along with the Late Shivananda Sharma under the umbrella of Rashtreeya Sikshna Samiti Trust. The name NMKRV comes from Nagarathnamma Meda Kasturiranga Setty Rashtreeya Vidyalaya, the consort of Late Kasturiranga Setty. The Pre-university College started with 150 students in the campus and was later upgraded into a degree college in 1973 and was named as NMKRV College for Women.

"In the noble quest for knowledge and self-actualization, our aim is to educate, enrich and empower women. We Educate by providing equal opportunities to low achievers, high achievers, and first-generation learners. We Enrich by sensitizing students to their changing roles in society. NMKRV inculcates secular values and nurtures the spirit of collaboration. We Empower by offering a conducive environment of growth enabling them to tap their innate potentialities, talents, leadership qualities and work towards enhancement of their competencies. Our goals and objectives are educating, enriching and empowering women by imparting quality education in this fast-changing technological world," says Dr. Snehalata G Nadiger, Principal, NMKRV College for Women.

Focusing on First Generation Learners
At present, the College offers Seventeen Undergraduate and Four Postgraduate programs in different streams. "Education in our campus is a harmonious blend of the demands of society, the specific educational reach and the ideological stand of our college. All learning situations are designed keeping in mind the social roles that our students ought to play in the overall development of our country. Thus, we have a harmonious blend of theorizing and its practicality. This has ensured the multi-skill development of students which is seen in their ability to express ideas succinctly, accommodate opinions, and critical thinking of others," added Dr. Snehalata.

As an Autonomous College, NMKRV has achieved many feats and have climbed new heights. It is awarded as a 'College with potential for Excellence' by UGC in 2010 and is accredited by NAAC with 'A' grade with 3.22 CGPA in 2015. The College has been identified for support in level 'O' category by DST

under FIST Programme - 2016. The College has also been identified by Department of Higher Education, Govt. of Karnataka under RUSA grant.

In the Pursuit of Serving Society Better
The faculty members are prompted and encouraged to go beyond 'the teacher and the taught' relationship. Mentors and Counselors are available on all working days to offer any assistance that a student may require and Sincere attempts are made to resolve both personal and academic issues.

Interests and Aptitudes are assessed by the Counselors to guide students towards their chosen goals. Absolute confidentiality is maintained during such situations with the complete awareness of their legal rights. To promote self-development of each student constant efforts are made by the NMKRV staff to instill the spirit of inquiry thereby optimizing the potential to explore, expand and become an autonomous learner. The college inculcates premium values that define a responsible citizen, awareness raising programs, campaigns, and social service camps are constantly organized. The college is also a part under Unnat Bharath Abhiyan, PM YUVA, Swachh Bharath Abhiyan programs which are the initiatives of MHRD-India. "Our students are routinely exposed to an array of extended activities such as PowerPoint presentations, Debates, Group Discussions, Minor/Major research projects, interviewing eminent personalities, Editing in-house magazines, and Fieldwork. Students are also exposed to various cultural activities ably managed by teachers who themselves are proficient in fine arts such as Theatre, Music, and Dance," pinpoints Dr. Snehalata.

The Departments like Computer Science, Biotechnology, Journalism and Management provide internship programs in undergraduate courses. In Post Graduate courses, Journalism, Chemistry and Commerce provide internship for 3 months during the last year of the degree program. The College has placed a trend record in placement assistance since 2006. The institute has an on-campus Pre-placement training center. NMKRV has a good record in placing the students in the right place. The 2018-19 campus recruitment has around 80 percent students placed in various companies like Accenture, Infosys, TCS, Deloitte, Wipro, I-Gate, Greet Technologies, Concentric, Vantage Agora, Nandi Toyota and many more. The average package is 2.5 Lakhs per annum and the highest package is 3.5 lakhs per annum. The remaining 20 percent of students opted for higher studies.

Having understood that theory based education is not the only path for success of the students and in in-line with the vision of the Government of India in providing skill-based education, the college has introduced mandatory skill development programmes like Nano Science and Technology, Forensic Science , Phytochemical Techniques, Environmental Science , Bioinformatics, Photography , Videography , In-Design , Advanced Excel for the overall development of the students.

The College had signed MoU's with Various National Skill Development Centres like ­Apollo Med Skills, E-Palm Leaves, Drishti, Rooman Technologies and other Industries like CapStone, DHS Informatics, NICT and Trinity Hospitals. The College provides on-campus Training to students who want to aspire in CA courses along with Pro-Edge - a leading training Centre for CACPT Courses in Bangalore.

"The Destiny of a Nation is decided in its classrooms" NMKRV has proved this prophetic statement with conviction by emerging as one of the premier institutions of higher learning in this country. The college has a long-standing academic tradition of excellence in research and scholarship. This is coupled with the most advanced facilities for the pursuit of higher learning. The college is equipped with 25 ICT enabled classrooms, 25 Laboratories, 4 research labs, 03 computer centers with internet facility, WiFi enabled campus, Health Centre, Counselling Centre, a library with more than 60000 books and 5000 online journals, INFLIBNET facility, Sports Pavilion, in-house GYM facility, etc. The College currently has 03 on-going research projects under UGC, DBT worth of Rs.40 Lakhs by the Faculty.

Alumni of the college also extend their support to their academic departments in organizing various lecture series, outreach activities and also on-campus placement. Some moreover extend in providing the funds to the needy student in the form of endowments. Some of the renowned alumni of the college are Lakshmi Gopalaswamy popular Actress and classical dancer, Vani Basappa a KAS Officer, Govt. Karnataka, Parimala Bhat a famous Indian Cricket Team Coach, Rashmi Mahesh an IAS Officer, Uma Mahadevan, IAS, Ranjitha a famous Journalist are to name a few.

NMRKV aspires to increase the number of multi-disciplinary research programs. The college also aims to introduce a community-oriented program to inculcate the student community to contribute to societal development. The institute also desires to collaborate with foreign universities for Students, Faculty Exchange Programme and dual degree programs in the years to come. NMKRV is also working towards gender equality by addressing gender issues and molding and conscientizing their growth as responsible citizens.

Dr. Snehalata Nadiger, Principal
Dr. Snehalata Nadiger, Principal, NMKRV College for Women completed her M.Sc. & Ph.D. from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai and awarded fellowship by Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India. Having more than 24 years of academic experience and eight years of research experience Dr.Snehalata is also a recipient of the Fulbright-Nehru Environmental Leadership Program fellowship (US government). She is also a recipient of the Endeavour Research Fellowship (Australian Government). Dr.Snehalata has also published and presented several papers in both National & International journals.