GetMyUni's Verdict on Kalyani Mahavidyalaya

Pratiki Patra

“From its poor placement record to its inadequate infrastructure and sticking to traditional methods of teaching, Kalyani Mahavidyalaya has a long road ahead of it to become at par with other state colleges.”

Kalyani Mahavidyalaya is among the many prominent state universities of West Bengal. Nestled in the picturesque town of Kalyani, the college offers limited programs and degrees. Despite this fact, it has been successful in maintaining its course quality.

The college has been offering courses since 1999. Despite being set up for such an extended period, it has been unsuccessful in growing itself in all respects. There have been many reasons for the same. Some are for operational reasons, while others are for management. Since Kalyani Mahavidyalaya is also located in an educational-based town, it attracts many students. Although it has limited seat capacity.

One disappointment the students have expressed vehemently on various online forums is its poor placement record. For many departments, recruitment opportunities still need to be provided to students. Moreover, the students face a monotonous life during their academic journey at Kalyani Mahavidyalaya. Such insights from the students’ organic reviews only further solidify the overall picture of the college as average at best.

Table of Contents

• Average Academics
• Satisfactory Faculties
• Lack of Infrastructure
• Shortage of Placement Opportunities
• Monotonous Campus Life
• Is Kalyani Mahavidyalaya Worth it?

Average Academics

Kalyani Mahavidyalaya offers only undergraduate courses. These are provided in the fields of Science, Arts, Economics, History, Microbiology, etc. The notable aspect of the syllabus is the course structure that the college follows. The courses are structured well, and all are thorough with the subjects. The classes are designed as per the government guidelines. 

While the course structure is good, it only incorporates a few current developments in the respective fields. As a result, students need to learn many of the upcoming or newer topics. Furthermore, the courses do not follow any new or unique approach that would invoke the students' interest in the subject. As a result, the students quickly lose attention and interest in the courses.

The admission process at the college is hassle-free. The admission is based on the marks obtained in the last qualifying examination. Hence, students can skip state or national-level tests to get seats. The cut-off set by the college is relatively lower than many colleges. Therefore, a more significant number of students apply for the college. 

The semester exam papers are set within the easy to moderate range, which is why most students can pass the examination. There is extra pressure as well in terms of assignments or project work. One of the critical components of the course is the industrial visit that the students are taking on. Such visits are crucial to understanding the industry and its workings. 

Nominal Course Fees

Kalyani Mahavidyalaya offers its degree programs at a very inexpensive cost. Keeping in mind that students who are admitted to the college are mostly from rural areas with financial constraints, such decisions have proven to benefit the students. For instance, the first-semester fee for pursuing a BA is INR 4610, while for a B.Sc, it can range from INR 7195 to INR 16945, depending upon the major opted for.

For pupils pursuing an Accountancy Major, they have to pay INR 5170. Furthermore, students can opt for various government scholarships that are granted based on merit and the student's socio-economic status. 

The only complaint about fees that can be heard from the students is the costs of excursions or industrial trips. These are additional expenses that are not included in the semester fees. Students often find it difficult to bear the expenses of such trips because of their financial constraints. Since Kalyani Mahavidyalaya is a government-aided college, students expect that such trip costs are either very low or free.

Satisfactory Faculties

Even though the professors at Kalyani Mahavidyalaya are not exceptional, they are reasonably good at their jobs. They are helpful towards their students and address any academic problems that might arise. Some of the professors do possess high qualifications for the job. However, the faculty members have yet to learn to employ innovative teaching methods to make the classes interactive or exciting.

Students often lose interest midway through the lectures. The faculties only use the traditional methods of teaching to complete the syllabus. They also do not frequently use current references to impart knowledge. 

Such instances hamper the flow of information to some extent. However, it does not hamper the completion of the subjects' syllabus.

Lack of Infrastructure

Kalyani Mahavidyalaya has a lower number of infrastructural facilities than requisite. The campus is equipped with essential features. Not much focus is given to its infrastructure. The classrooms are decent enough and spacious. The most eye-catching feature of the college is its library, which holds many books, journals, research papers, publications, etc. There is a stable internet connectivity throughout the campus.

The science departments have laboratories for the subjects and departments. Though not outdated, the equipment in the labs requires much more sophisticated tools. This will only help the students understand the subjects and experiments more deeply. The campus has a regular sports complex, medical facilities, and a canteen.

As observed earlier, management is not focused on developing and integrating crucial infrastructures. Hence, students are primarily satisfied with the point that they just get to learn an experiment that's present in the textbook. The campus premises are lined with CCTV cameras, and security guards are present.

However, most of the cameras do not work correctly or are broken. Hence, there are safety concerns for the students and staff alike. Of all the insufficient facilities, it must be said the campus is kept clean and well-maintained. Students have also highly appreciated the same.

Standard Hostel Facilities

The hostel facilities at Kalyani Mahavidyalaya can be availed through Kalyani University. They provide decently furnished hostels at low prices to men and women. Although there are many lacking facilities, it is livable. Students can also opt for PGs outside the campus, available at reasonable rates. 

Shortage of Placement Opportunities

The primary cause of dissatisfaction among the students regarding Kalyani Mahavidyalaya is its need for more placement opportunities. For most of the departments, recruitment facilities are not provided. Hence, it becomes a concern for the students. The placement rate is also not up to the mark and goes below 50% or 40%.

Only meagre training sessions are conducted to upskill the students for the recruitment process. The administrators must all urgently shift their focus to placements as most students expect to earn or have a job opportunity immediately after the placements.

Monotonous Campus Life

Kalyani Mahavidyalaya is not huge on offering an engaging campus life either. Only a handful of cultural and sports activities are celebrated in the year. Moreover, there is not much focus on college fests. As a result, students are often bored with campus life. The only active participation that can be seen is from the NSS, which the students thoroughly enjoy. 

There is not much diversity observed in the student crowd. The students who take part are from the state itself. However, there is a good male-to-female ratio of students.

Rules and Dress Code

Except for the 75% attendance policy, there are no strict rules or regulations that the students need to abide by. Even the attendance policy has not been implemented strictly many times. There is no uniform system or dress code that the students need to follow as well. Overall, the college is lenient in nature.

Is Kalyani Mahavidyalaya Worth it?

There is no simple answer to the above question. While the college severely lacks on the majority of the fronts, it still provides a decent education at a very affordable price. For many rural students, getting a degree from a well-established city will prove to be costly to its ceiling. While what Kalyani Mahavidyalaya provides is far more convenient.

Hence, if the focus of the student remains to get a decent education at inexpensive course fees, then college should be on their list of priorities. But if they are aiming for a more all-rounded approach with good infrastructure, placement opportunities, etc., then surely, Kalyani Mahavidyalaya does not fit the parameters.

Here is a look at the pros and cons of Kalyani Mahavidyalaya:

*Source: Kalyani Mahavidyalaya College Facebook