MCC Balances Legacy and Innovation in Technology And Sustainability

Madras Christian Colleges, among the earliest educational institutes in modern India, has given to the country stalwarts like 2^nd President Dr Radhakrishnan, three of India’s first four finance ministers, Army General K Sunderji, former Election Commissioner Late TN Seshan, besides leading scientists, businesspersons, sportspersons and others. Founded as General Assembly School in 1837 and renamed Madras Christian College in 1877, this institute has a rich history. Principal Paul Wilson describes how the college maintains the balance between legacy and innovations for 21^st Century. Excerpts:

Established institutes like Madras Christian College have a great legacy. At the same time, understanding the 21st-century challenges is crucial. How are you addressing these challenges, in terms of technology and sustainability?

Madras Christian College (MCC) has a rich legacy of over 150 years and we have been relevant with time. Any institute will face resistance in adapting to technology and MCC has also gone through that phase of navigating resistance to innovation. We are striving to balance tradition with modernisation. 

The recent establishment of the MCC-MRF Innovation Park, supported by a Rs 30 crore investment from MRF is a case in point. 

If you look at the contemporary corporate universities, they are very updated. At the same time, the New Education Policy has also enabled global universities to set up campuses here. These two are major challenges for us and if we are complacent, we will not be able to compete. 

 MCC, a charity-based institution reliant on tuition fees rather than patronage, offers a unique value through extensive student support activities, clubs and societies. 

Have any other groups or organisations come forward to partner MCC?

Indira Nooyi, former PepsiCo CEO,  and her sister Chandrika Tandon, Founder of Chandrika Tandon Associates, have generously supported Madras Christian College (MCC) with significant donations. Indira Nooyi contributed Rs 4 crores for refurbishing a chemistry laboratory, while Chandrika Tandon donated $1 million to establish the MCC Boyd Tandon School of Business. 

Additionally, TVS has contributed Rs 1 crore for a hall. MCC's alumni network, one of the oldest in India, has played a crucial role in securing such patronage. 

The NEP was introduced in 2020. And Tamil Nadu is also evolving its own State Education Policy. What is your view on this?

The National Education Policy (NEP) and state education policies both aim to address skill deficits, such as the 48-50 per cent deficit in Tamil Nadu, though specific measures may vary. Both policies need to evolve with socio-cultural changes to effectively tackle common educational challenges.

When you mention a 50 per cent deficit in skills, are you referring to new-age skills pertaining to technology. How is the institute addressing those gaps?

The Govt of Tamil Nadu is making a lot of efforts. It has launched ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ scheme for skill development scheme and has partnered with major corporates like IBM and Cisco to implement subsidised skill development programmes in government colleges, integrating professional certification into the curriculum. This initiative, initially supported by government aid, is now expanding to government-aided institutions. 

Madras Christian College (MCC) has joined this effort by registering with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) as a training partner and operating three community colleges under its aegis. Since 1983, MCC's School of Continuing Education has focused on lifelong learning and skill development, offering courses benchmarked with occupational standards – National Skills Qualifications Framework. The college is also developing value-added programmes to enhance both placement opportunities and pathways to higher education. In addition, we have a dedicated centre for skill development as part of the School of Continuing Education.

For these programmes, what kind of manpower have you recruited? Are you using faculty members or other specialists? How do you approach staffing for these programmes?

At Madras Christian College (MCC), the School of Continuing Education employs both internal and external manpower to support skill development programmes. Faculty members, already engaged in teaching, administration and documentation, are complemented by skilled external instructors for specialised training. Departments collaborate with implementation partners, hiring external experts for specific skill sets. Additionally, MCC utilises its own faculty members with specialised expertise to teach certain courses not integrated into the regular curriculum. This hybrid approach leverages both internal resources and external professionals to enhance skill development and education.

The other aspect is research and innovation. How have you approached developing these areas? 

Madras Christian College (MCC) is focusing on enhancing its research capabilities by increasing its publication output in reputed journals. Since I took over, MCC has moved from 70 publications that could be accounted for in NIRF to 130 publications by raising awareness and capacity through seminars and workshops. In the seminars, we have a great team of faculty members teaching research methodology. 

 During the Pandemic we started MCC Research Colloquium that creates awareness about predatory versus legitimate journals. When NIRF does assessment, most of the journals are found to be predatory and not legitimate. 

 The institution has also established the MCC-MRF Innovation Park, which includes an incubation center. This facility, covering 45,000 square feet, aims to support innovation in the liberal arts and sciences, a rarity in these disciplines in India. MCC is working to register this centre as a separate legal entity to secure government funding and foster a unique ecosystem for research and development.

Coming to another aspect, ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) is heavily emphasised now, along with diversity. Young people entering the workforce will need to have a strong sensibility towards these aspects. What kind of emphasis is your institution placing on these areas?

At Madras Christian College, efforts towards achieving carbon neutrality are well underway. The campus, spanning 300 acres and home to diverse wildlife, including migratory birds and various animals, is being actively managed for sustainability. Collaborations with companies like Bisleri aim to enhance biodiversity, particularly through the restoration of the campus lake to attract more migratory birds. New constructions are designed as green buildings, and regular green audits are conducted to monitor carbon credits. 

The campus also focuses on replenishing trees lost during cyclones in 2015 and 2023, with student-led initiatives through the Scrub Society to maintain and assess reforestation efforts. Additionally, Environmental Science is offered as a course with field trips and faculty are trained annually to foster environmental awareness. Corporate partnerships further support these sustainability goals.

Diversity is an important aspect when entering society and working in various corporations. How is your institution addressing and tackling this issue?

At Madras Christian College, students engage in extracurricular activities through various clubs and societies, which often involve raising funds for NGOs. This fosters social learning and corporate engagement. Additionally, the college organises competitions among the hostels or halls of residence, to encourage diversity and preservation of greenery. Each hostel is incentivised for its efforts in these areas, creating a culture of environmental and social responsibility.

Since AI is a crucial issue today, what impact is it having on the overall curriculum, pedagogy and originality of work at your institution? How are you addressing these challenges?

At Madras Christian College, assignments and projects are rigorously checked for plagiarism using Turnitin, ensuring adherence to research ethics. The institute has integrated AI into its curriculum through value-added courses and significant components in MSc Data Science and BSc Computer Science programmes, focusing on machine learning and AI. To foster innovation, the college employs a three-tier formative assessment system, where one assessment is dedicated to innovative projects. This approach allows students to explore and integrate AI and robotics into their work, promoting a hands-on, bottom-up learning process. The college balances maintaining its legacy with adapting to technological advancements and ethical considerations.

With the advent of new technology and research areas, a multidisciplinary approach is often required. Even fields like the humanities can benefit from a cross-section of views. How is this multidisciplinary approach fostered on your campus?

At Madras Christian College, the philosophy of education emphasises ‘whole person education’.  The institution fosters innovation through interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches, utilising the MCC MRF Innovation Park as a collaborative space where students from various departments work together on problem-solving. 

This environment encourages bottom-up innovation, allowing diverse perspectives to address challenges effectively. The goal is to integrate cognitive growth with emotional and social development, creating a comprehensive educational experience that goes beyond traditional cognitive learning.

Barkha Rawat

BW Reporters The author works as a correspondent with BW Education

Meha Mathur

BW Reporters The author works as Senior Associate Editor with BW Businessworld