Art Festival 2008:
Art Festival 2008: Martin Luther Christian University in collaboration with Asian Institute of Gaming and Animation and Meghalaya Fine Arts and Crafts Society organized a three-day Art Festival from the 2nd to 4h October 2008. The Festival consists of an Art Exhibition, Painting and Drawing Competition, Dough Modeling, and Lectures from resource people on Careers on Art. The Chief Guest on the occasion is Mr. Timothy Shira, Minister of Arts and Culture, Government of Meghalaya.
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Local Health Tradition (LHT) Project:
LHT Project: The inaugural function of the LHT Project was formally inaugurated by Shri. Advisor Pariong, Minister of Health, Government of Meghalaya on 7th July 2008. Shri. Prestone Tyngsong, MLA was also pesent on the occasion. The local inauguration of he same project was inaugurated by Shri. Donkupar Massar, Minister of Mining and Geology, Government of Meghalaya o0n 1st August 2008. In relation to this Project, there was a mapping report presentation on the 24th October where Shri. Conrad Sangma was the Chief Guest.
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Inauguration of Mawphlang Main Campus
The inaugural ceremony of the main campus of Martin Luther Christian University was held at Mawphlang, Meghalaya, on the 22nd of February, 2008 which was also supposed to be the Foundation Day of MLCU. Prior to the Foundation Day of the University which was held last year (i.e.2007), this year wais memorable in MLCU history, since 25 acres of land was donated by the Hima Mawphlang as a gift deed.
Amidst the scenic beauty and the diverse flora of the region, the function was attended by prominent people of the society including the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya, Shri Ranjan Chatarjee, who was also the Chief Guest of the function. Besides, the CS of Meghalaya, the Lyngdohs of Hima Mawphlang, elderly people of the region, the Registrar, the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor of MLCU,were present.
In his speech, the Chief Guest mentioned,
“Society as an industry where everyone should be paid something…The face of education should change whereby professional courses must be laid emphasis on, so as to ensure employment.”
With the day turning out to be a huge success for MLCU as a whole, the administration along with the faculty celebrated the existence of the University, which later culminated in a get together at Hotel Polo Towers, Shillong.
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Faculty Retreat
7th February 2008-8th February 2008
A mile or two away and for a day or two amidst the serenity of Pine Brook, the teaching faculty of the University reflected, pondered and shared on their the experiences they have had in the University. Every thought that was shared painted a clear picture of where the University stood a year after its birth. During this quiet time, the faculty members from Shillong, Jowai and Tura delve deeply on issues that concerned the pillars of the University. Thus, the following were discussed: the growth of the individual lectures as professionals, the everyday learning of their students in the classrooms, the need and the introduction of a Competency Based Curriculum and the co-curricular activities that are needed for the overall development of the Students. The University has built for itself a very strong foundation. The future thus, is everything but bleak. The reflections could be summed up in a single statement that reflected vividly the mission of the University in this region. With one voice the university uttered its pledge and that is “To Contribute to the Sustainable Development of Meghalaya and the North East India, while Upholding and Preserving its Cultural Heritage by providing knowledge and skills that will enable our students to become global citizens.”
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MSW Bangalore Trip
The Department of Social Work, Martin Luther Christian University, arranged a two-week study tour to Bangalore, from the 15th of July 2007 to the 31st of July 2007. The tour was informative and instructive.
The tour was organized with these following objectives: to visit NGOs and industries, to know more about the different cultures and traditions of the people, to enhance team-work spirit among the students. During the tour, the students attended a workshop organized by the counseling faculty of Monfort College, Bangalore. The workshop was on Pre-Marital Counselling. Here, many points were covered which are related to marriage, love, conflict, myth about anger and communication.
The Social Work Department visited the Sri. Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP), an organization that looks into the growth and development of the people in this area. Here, the people still follow the roots and rituals of their ethnicity. They also visited the Rural Development and Self- Employment Training Rudset Institute. This institute is a humble initiative in mitigating the unemployment problem of the people. It focuses on giving vocational training like dairy farming, DTP and agriculture. The Link De-Addiction and Counseling Center Bolar, Mangalore was yet another stop of the department during the study tour. This is a registered charitable society engaged in prevention and management of drugs, alcoholism, and smoking.
The two industrial visits, in fulfillment of one of the objectives of the study tour, proved to be very interesting. They were the candle factory known as the Primary Industry Pvt. Ltd. - A Manipal Primary MVP- a Joint Venture Company established in 2005 and the Achal Industry, a Cashew Factory.
The SOS- Children’s Village was not a new concept. However, the SOS at Bangalore was a new experience altogether. A brief interaction with the director on being a children’s guide, mentor and especially ‘a father figure’ was an enlightenment. The final destination during the study tour was to the Freedom Foundation. This is the HIV AIDS- Caring and Support Center. As an NGO, it looks into the comfort of people with this problem. This center was established in 1996 and is supported by the Karnataka State Aids Protection Society (KSAPS). It has an international collaboration with Bosnia, Nigeria.
The whole tour was a different experience, the enthusiasm to know and learn more was never greater. The tour broadened the understanding of the wider world through the lives of various people who narrated their life-stories.
(Parkordor Kharkongor (Social Work Department))
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Inauguration of new campuses
With great joy and pride, Martin Luther Christian University announces the formal opening of its campuses at various locations in the state of Meghalaya viz, Tura, Jowai and Rymbai. MLCU strives to uplift the various sections of society in all the Hills and Districts of Meghalaya and the North East as a whole. The presence of a branch of MLCU at these various locations reflects not only the importance MLCU gives to education but, speaks greatly of the openness of the people towards their growth, in all spheres, that can be brought about through education. MLCU is happy to walk with the people.
Click below to read more
Tura Campus; Jowai Campus; Rymbai Campus;
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N S Prabhu's Visit
On September 28, the 2007, there was a discussion led by Dr NS Prabhu with the English teachers and administrators of MLCU. Dr Prabhu spent the major part of his academic career with the National University of Singapore. He is the author of Second Language Pedagogy, published by OUP in 1987, a book which is well-known in academic circles. He serves as member and reviewer of the major journals in ELT and has been associated with numerous international research projects.
A good deal of time was spent talking about what MLCU stands for, the role of English as a subject in the Broader Curriculum of the University and the Importance of the English Department, English Proficiency and the role of the English Faculty in the University. The realities of our classrooms, the difficulties with having learners whose levels of competencies and proficiencies vary to a great extent, the struggles of the Department on the account of not having a syllabus and a curriculum were also brought forth.
Kong Patricia Mukhim spoke on the importance of the role of the teachers, their need to communicate with the world through their classroom teachings, to reinforce not only on the past events and personalities but on what or who we have at present and what and who we may have in the future. She also stressed on the passion of the underprivileged students towards learning. However the drawback in most of our schools is having teachers who lack the same intensity of passion to bring about a change. MLCU hopes to bring about this change.
“This is a world of ideas. Language is a medium of thought and extends the minds ability”, said Prabhu. These statements led the faculty into a discussion on 'what we should do?' and 'how we should do it?’ It was a discussion that left a lot of room for reflection before any decisions were made. The need was to have a 'Direction', a Direction in all spheres in the academic scenario: learner and faculty development, our approach to framing a curriculum, designing teaching modules and materials, having a profile of the English Department and organising the English Department. Some of the pointers given by Prabhu may be relevant not only to the teaching of English but could be taken as 'fundamentals' to the teaching of/in any discipline. These 'fundamentals' to the profession of teaching, could be summarised in the following manner:
 One needs to have the overall aims and objectives intact, but, one must not forget to take small steps to enhance the learning of the learners. Adopting this Alternative Perspective means a greater effort on the part of the teachers.
Whatever the learners do, they should be able to move towards a higher level of learning and thus perform well at that level. They must move beyond their present proficiency.
Teacher’s assistance in the learning of the students makes learning reasonably successful.
There must be simultaneous development of both teacher and learner.
A feeling of satisfaction or dissatisfaction after the teacher's performance in the classrooms is a good indication of the progress one has made with the students learning.
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HIV AIDS workshop
The Department of Social Work organized two concerts on
April 24, the 2007 on the theme ’Responding to Realities‘,
primarily to teach the students of the department the
art of fund-raising and event-managing. The first
concert was primarily for school students and featured
skits on life skills and social topics between musical
items. The second concert features prominent local
bands. These concerts were organized to raise funds for
the State Workshop on Social Work Profession for the
students and the general public with special emphasis on
the youth. The objective of this workshop is to create
awareness to the youths on various social problems
prevalent in the society. Experts from Bangalore
participate in this workshop.
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CAREER COUNSELLING WORKSHOP
Mr Gideon Arulmani , a consultant Psychologist from Bangalore conducted a career counselling workshop for the students of Martin Luther Christian University from the 2nd August 2007 to the 4th of August 2007. The programme was based on the theme "Shine".
The objectives of the programme were:
To assess their suitability for the courses they had selected.
To expand their awareness of the other courses on offered.
Make recommendations that would help students and the university come as close as possible to a ‘match’ between the students’s profile and courses available.
The entire program was a success. Some general recommendations were given by the consultation psychologist group:
• Systematic inputs that would sharpen their exam taking skills, with particular emphasis on speed and accuracy.
• Inputs that address communication skills particularly with respect to expressive language. These inputs could cover communication skills such as speed of speech, articulation, volume of speech and emphasis of appropriate words.
Given this profit it is suggested that MLCU seriously considers the possibility of creating a curriculum that would address basic learning skills.
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MSW Concert
The Department of Social Work organized two concerts on
April 24, 2007 on the theme ’Responding to Realities‘,
primarily to teach the students of the department the
art of fund-raising and event-managing. The first
concert was primarily for school students and featured
skits on life skills and social topics between musical
items. The second concert features prominent local
bands. These concerts were organized to raise funds for
the State Workshop on Social Work Profession for the
students and the general public with special emphasis on
the youth. The objective of this workshop is to create
awareness to the youths on various social problems
prevalent in the society. Experts from Bangalore will
participate in this workshop.
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Life Skills Workshop
An eight-day workshop to train facilitators was
conducted for the Social Work and Allied Health
departments of MLCU by Enfold.
Enfold is a Bangalore-based NGO that provides
education and counselling in Life Skills for youth.
Started in 2001, Enfold has already reached out to more
than 15,000 youth through its various programmes in
schools, colleges and corporate organizations. Enfold
has also trained 400 social workers, 250 parents and 280
teachers. Enfold has developed age-appropriate teaching
materials and school curricula and has received wide
publicity in newspapers, magazines and the media.
Faculty: Dr Sangeeta Saxena and Dr Shoibha
Saldanha were associate professors of obstetrics and
gynaecology at St Johns Medical College, Bangalore prior
to co-founding Enfold. Dr Sandra Albert is an associate
professor of dermatology and sexually transmitted
diseases at Somervell Memorial CSI Medical College in
Trivandrum.
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BBA Field Trip (Organisational Study at Lumshong, Jaintia Hills, 2007)
On the 3rd of October, 2007, the BBA students went on a field trip to one of the leading cement factories in North East India. This industrial visit was made to the Cement Industry at Lumshnong, Jaintia Hills. The purpose of the visit was to explore the human activities of human resource management at CMCL.
To compliment the input given in the MLCU classrooms, the students were also exposed to the practicalities of the organisational and the human resource policies and practices of Star Cement. This exposure gave the students a better understanding of the concept of the subject matter, of the work environment and the experimental learning of the course.
As practical as the field trip was, it was not spared from the much needed inputs but this time, with a difference. Mr. M. L. Pareek, the Human Resource Manager, filled in with the required information thus, keeping the students well abreast with the real world of the industry.
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MSW Community
Camp, Mawlam
Students of the Social Work Department held a week long
Community Camp from March 5 -10, 2007. The camp was set
up in a village called Mawlam, which is about 70
kilometres approximately from Shillong and on the way
from Pynursla to Nongjri in the East Khasi hills. Guided
and supervised by the faculty members of the department,
the Community Camp was held to provide field experience
for the students in a social community work set-up.
Mawlam is a beautiful village. In its solace, the life
of the people is simple and very traditional. They work
hard in the sun and rain to meet their daily family
needs and are always content. The villagers depend
mostly on broom cultivation and live in small tin or
thatch houses. They are habituated to their forefather’s
rituals and that is why this village that houses two
hundred homes has only two families that are Christian.
The six days spent at Mawlam has changed the students’
lives in one way or the other. It brought the students
closer together, and to live and work for the
development and betterment of the society. In the
week-long community camp several programmes were
conducted by the postgraduate students of the Department
of Social Work. The programmes included awareness
programmes on alcoholism, rainwater harvesting, sex
education, self –help groups, and HIV/STD/AIDS.
The students from the Department of Allied Health
Sciences also contributed in giving an awareness
programme on ‘First Aid’ and ‘Nutrition’. Apart from the
awareness programmes, cultural programmes were organized
and role-plays were enacted on gambling, alcoholism,
right to education, freedom of expression, literacy,
child abuse, early marriage and money saving methods.
The MSW students conducted a survey on alcoholism in the
village and the students from the Allied Health Sciences
Department conducted a survey on traditional medicine in
the same village.
Special attention was also given to the womenfolk of the
village and ‘Women’s Day’ was celebrated.
A fashion parade by the male students of the university
enthralled the audience. The school children of the
village participated in the musical chair, tug of war
game and extempore speech, which stimulated their
interest and motivated their active participation.
The last day of the camp was concluded by a cleaning
drive. A home visit was conducted to enable the students
to measure the effectiveness of their work and effort
contributed in the village.
During the stay at the village, the students met with
the obstacle of getting the villagers to attend the
programmes conducted due to their engagements in the
fields. Because of this reason, the programmes were
organized in the evenings and to lure the attention of
tired villagers, entertainment programmes were organized
along with the awareness programmes.
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Survey
on Traditional Medicine, Mawlam
Traditional medicine refers to health practices,
approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant,
animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies,
manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or
in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses
or maintain well-being.
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Innaugurtion of NEW HEALTH
NEW HEALTH (North East Wisdom of Human Existence and Local Traditions of Healing) was formally inaugurated by Dr. J V Basaiawmoit, Director of Health Services, Government of Meghalaya on the 21st of February 2008 at an MLCU Campus situated at Kharmalki, Shillong. The program was attended by leading Traditional Practitioners from in and around the State. The Chief Guest applauded the initiative taken by MLCU and also stated that the gifted resources, in terms of herbs and medicinal plants, should be rightly utilized. She encouraged all traditional practitioners to share their knowledge and wisdom with others so that they are not lost, but rather promoted and passed on to future generations. Others who spoke on the occasion were Dr. John Kharduit, Rev. E H Kharkongor and Dr. Boss Myrthong.
Apart from having the promotion of the traditional health practices of Meghalaya as one of the primary focuses of the University, the other objectives are:
a) To document local traditions which may be related to the following areas: Home remedies, food and nutrition, midwifery, bone setting, child health, skin diseases and veterinary practices.
b) To conduct baseline surveys and documentation of local health traditions and their impact on health security of the community.
c) To prepare an inventory of medical plants and formulations and create a Community Knowledge Register.
d) To conduct LHT clinic in Shillong and other centers for promotion of LHT, LHT services and documentation of LHT.
e) To promote conservation, sound harvesting and manufacturing practices of medical plants, especially the rare and threatened species.
f) To liaison and collaborate with similar organizations/institutions/individuals in India and abroad to achieve the objective of the society.
The Office Bearers of the Society included Dr. John Kharduit-President, Mr. HC Pakyntein-Vice President, Mr. Squaire Dohling-Secretary, Mr. Subeda Rongswet-Joint Secretary and Ms. B Kharmawphlang-Treasurer. The Advisors included Dr. D Syiem, Dr. GC Kharkongor, Prof. B Kharbuli, Rev E H Kharkongor and Dr. AA Mao.
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EYE SCREENING CAMP
aaaaaaasadfasdfasdfOn the 5th and 11th May, 2009.students from the Optometry Department (6th & 4th) conducted an Eye Screening (ES) for the Allied Health Department, Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Computer Application. It turned out to be very successful as it was the first ES in the history of Martin Luther Christian University. The Screening test was headed by Balajied Iawphiaw a 6th semester student of the Optometry Department.The screening started at 11a.m.with a brief introduction of the group, how the ES was to be conducted, the benefits that the students with any refractive error or any other eye problem will get (free refraction in Bansara Eye Care Centre with free consultation fee and Rs 250/- discount on any spectacle purchase)
asdasdasdasdThe ES was conducted under the District Blindness Control Society (DBCS) of Meghalaya. The fact that an estimated 180 million people worldwide are visually disabled of which nearly 45 million according to the World Health Organization (WHO) are blind. India alone has 8.9 million people blind which is a serious matter of concern. Therefore, the whole idea, purpose and objective of conducting such screening test in different schools, colleges, universities etc. is to prevent any avoidable blindness in future and therefore nullified any unnecessary blindness and visually disabled.
asdasdasdasdasdAmong all the students that were screened, 31 students has a condition called refractive error (light coming from infinity falls either in front or behind the retina) which is the second most major cause of blindness in India (19.7%) after cataract (62.6%)National Programme for Control of Blindnes,2001-2002 survey. The rest that were referred had a normal vision range but with some eye complication like watering, burning sensation, itching etc. All the students with such eye problems were referred to Bansara Eye Care Centre with a referral card that contains the name, age, sex, visual acuity of the referred student and ocular complains of the respective student.
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