Loknete Vyankatrao Hiray Arts Science & Commerce College Panchavati, Nashik, (MS)

Top Alumni

Contribution of Alumni:

The Alumni of the Department of Psychology are the Strong backbone of the Department. They have contributed for the department through many ways Every year Alumni are invited by the department for various sessions/seminars/webinars.

Following are the alumni who are constantly supporting and contributing - Dr. SitaramKolhe (Senior Police officer), Dr. Ashwini Kumar Bhardwaj, Former Principal BRD women’s college Nasik and COE, Benjan Desai Foundation, Dr. Shailendra Gaikwad, Psychologist, Dr. Ratnakar Wagh, Dr. Jaimala Sode, Dr. Prashant Sonawane, Dr. Irfan Khan, Dr. Mayuri Ande, Mukul Chaudhary, Gaurav Pagare, Dr. Yogesh Wankhede, Lisa Jose, Ratnakar Wagh- Chief Executive Director Group East Africa,, Dr Sameer Limbare, Mrs. Anagha Choudhary.

Many Alumni are Associated as PhD Guides in the Research Centre of Department of Psychology-Dr. P. V. Rasal, Dr. Sameer Limbare, Dr. D. P. Pawar, Dr. Sandip Mali, Dr. Ramesh Nikam.

Programmes Offered

a. Best Practice

Best Practice

1.Conducting Psychometric tests and Counseling for the Personality Development and Career Advancement of the Students

Objective of the Practice

1.To identify, analyze and solve various behavioral problems faced by the students.

2.To measure the attitudes and aptitudes of the students and provide them with career guidance.

3.To generate in-depth awareness about various mental health problems.

4.To facilitate psychometric testing (Standardized Psychological Tests) for a variety of purposes.

5.To avail of personal counseling for various mental-health-related issues.

6.To boost up the confidence of the student and enable them to face global competition.

The Context:

The students’ unrest is a common problem in the institute of higher education. There are many reasons for that. One of the reasons is the stress of shifting. When the students shift from schools to higher education institutes they are confused. They face certain behavioral problems such as adjustment to the new surroundings, adjustment to the peer group, and adjustment to the new syllabus and teaching faculty. At the same time, at this stage of age, they face many internal changes that lead to stress. They are unaware of their attitudes and aptitudes and many times choose the field where they have no competency. This incorrect choice may aggravate their stress. They may have a certain inherent drawback in their personality that can lead to stress. Psychometric tests help to identify different mental issues and help students to overcome them. At the same time, these tests help students to find out their temperament and choose appropriate career options.

The Practice:

In today’s scenario, the role of Applied Psychology and counselling is very significant. There are various types of psychological illnesses such as stress, anxiety and depression which may have physical manifestations often resulting in maladjustment. The Psychometric tests identify thinking patterns, emotional processes and behavior patterns that may cause mental illness. They also offer a detailed evaluation of thought processes and emotions. These tests help students to measure and analyze various aspects of their personality such as aptitude, attitude, emotions, and intelligence and motivate them in the proper directions. Psychological tests are diagnostic and prognostic in nature. These tests do not give results in traditional terms like qualified or disqualified. These tests provide fundamental information about an individual/client. In psychometric assessment, there is a series of tasks/problems that an individual has to solve. They make the clinical analysis of stress, anxiety and depression and suggest remedies to resolve the issue. Some of the important psychometric tests conducted by the Department are DAT, Raven’s Progressive Metrics, Career Decision Scale by Osipov, Stress Profile by Novack, SCAT-Anxiety Scale, 16 Personality Factor Test, SWOT Analysis, WAIS, BDI, NEO and PIR. These tests can be conducted in person or sometimes in a group. All Psychometric tests have a scoring system for quantifying psychological con-sheets. The commonly used psychological tests are personality, aptitude, intelligence, occupational, creativity, and mental health.

Counseling and psychometric testing involve many steps. In the beginning, a rapport is established with the student through a brief informal but intimate dialogue. In the next stage suitable test is selected and applied. The next stage is the administration of the test with scoring. The next important stage is the interpretation of the scores as the correct interpretation leads to the correct counseling. The results are communicated and appropriate counseling is worked out.

A blend of different subjective and objective psychological tests can depict a comprehensive picture of a client’s mental status. All these tests are standardized ones with assured validity and reliability. These tests provide students with a complete chart of their personalities. These tests prove to be important in career counseling. They guide students in choosing an appropriate field for their career development. These tests save the futile efforts of the students in trying other career opportunities as well as from the excess stress and frustration that may follow after the wrong choice of field in career development. Moreover, these tests are useful for society at large. They can resolve many behavioral complex problems and can be followed closely with medication for any behavioral disorder. The counseling is provided in a systematic way with a blend of psychometric testing and the use of psychotherapies.

Evidence of success

The students are aware of the concept of mental health. They came to know about significance of Psychometric Tests and counselling. They also came to know that common health issues like stress, anxiety can be treated with psychometric tests. They are free now as the burden of psychological disorders has been removed from their mind. Now they have increased faith and rapport with the faculty of the department. With the Psychometric tests, the faculty also have targeted strategies to assist their students. Now the students can easily overcome the drawbacks of their personality like lack of confidence, inability to express thoughts and ideas, examination phobia, etc. Now they can choose a correct field that matches with their abilities and competencies. Aspiring students after going through the Psychometric tests are pursuing their careers successfully. There is psycho-literacy among the students and they seem to be more focused with increased confidence and self-esteem.

Problems encountered and Resources Required

There are a few problems encountered by the department while dealing with psychometric testing and counseling. Conducting a psychometric test is a time-consuming activity. Due to time constraints, it becomes difficult to conduct the tests frequently. Creating awareness among students to seek counseling is also one of the problems encountered. Again, there are ethical issues like secrecy and confidentiality without encroaching on the personal domain of the students/clients. The cost of the test is one more issue faced by the Department. Advanced software cannot be afforded due to its cost. The traditional paper-pencil test seems to be subjective and has its own limitations.

Notes (Optional):

Nil

2.Mental Health Awareness through Campaigns for Mental Health

Objectives of the Practice:

1)To convey the importance of good mental health.

2)To sensitize students about various mental health issues/disorders.

3)To eradicate the misconceptions about mental disorders.

4)To aware students of the consequences of poor mental health.

5) To organize suicide prevention and stress-busting activities.

6)To generate an ambiance of positivity and creativity.

The Context:

The modern age is characterized by stress and anxiety. The more progressive we become the more stress and anxiety we experience! We find only unrest and anxiety in today’s youth which is due to multiple reasons. The stress seems to have destroyed their positivity and creativity. One of the reasons for the stress is loneliness. Though man is connected with the whole world virtually, in reality, he is all alone. The next reason for stress seems to be a lot of competition. Everybody has to excel irrespective of his/her abilities. The job opportunities are fewer and the global pandemic has still reduced them further. The quintessence of the situation is negativity, self–denial to the extent of fatal thoughts of suicide. To prevent the present generation from destruction the Department of Psychology focuses on the Mental Health of the youth and makes them aware of mental disorders and their consequences in long term.

The Practice:

To create awareness about mental health and to communicate the significance of good mental health the Department conducts various activities throughout the year. Every year on the occasion of World Mental Health Day the Department organizes Guest Lectures and Poster Presentation Competitions. Various aspects of mental health are communicated to the students through the lectures of experts in the field. The students are acquainted with the Indian scenario regarding mental health which seems to be weaker as compared to the western countries. The students are also made aware of the legal aspects associated with mental health. Some of the tips related to positive Psychology such as resilience, stress management, time management and happiness are also shared with the students. Procrastination is one of the common issues related to mental health. Students are oriented in detail about procrastination, symptoms to identify and strategies to overcome it. On the background of the Pandemic, the department organized an online webinar on Mental Health and Physical Fitness during and after Covid19. To make the students aware of the long-term consequences of addiction the department organized a Webinar on Youth and Addiction. The webinar was organized in collaboration with Manas Vyasan Mukti kendra of Anusuya Shikshan Sanstha.

On 15th Sept. the department celebrates Suicide Prevention Day. On this day a guest lecture of a renowned psychologist is organized to orient students about emotional literacy and mental health. The students are acquainted with the causes and preventive measures for suicide tendencies. The students are also made aware of the significance of positive psychology and its role in preventing suicides. During the pandemic, the department organized a Webinar on Suicide Prevention and Intervention. The webinar proved to be the need of the time as the offshoots of the Pandemic provoked many suicides.

Apart from that, the Department organizes theme-based Short –film and Poster Presentation competitions. On the occasion of Suicide Prevention Day, the students enthusiastically prepared posters on the theme ‘We for Suicide Prevention. On the occasion of Mental Health Day, the students prepared posters and short films with the theme ‘Mental Health at Workplace’. There was also a poster presentation competition with the theme ‘Psychology: The First Aid’. Since our institute runs a course in Psychology at the Third Year B.Sc. level the Department conducted a poster presentation competition on ‘Neuropsychology’ which was responded to very well by the students of Science Stream. Mental Health Day is also supported by W.H.O. The department closely adheres to the themes suggested by World Health Organization. Throughout the year the Department is keen on addressing the student’s needs for counseling. The Department also has collaboration with NBA (National Association of Blind) and Multiple Disability Centre.

Evidence of success

The positive outcomes of this practice are reflected in the changed mindset of the students. They are aware of the significance of good mental health. At the same time, they are aware of the psychological disorders and can differentiate them from traditional superstitions and taboos related to them. They seem to be more scientific and rational about mental disorders. It is psycho-education for them in the true sense. The students of the Department won 1st prize in the Psycho-Quiz Ankoor conducted by HPT College Nashik. The students are aware of different quotients and more alert about emotional and social quotients. The students are familiar with the concept of resilience, stress –management, and time management. They try to overcome the disorder of Procrastination and try to overcome it.

It seems that the students have emotional literacy and can manage their emotions rationally. Their emotional and social quotient is fairly improved now and it is evident from the increased number of students participating in different activities organized by the department. Their response to the Poster Presentation competition is really good and students come out with novel ideas on the given themes. They seem to be more focused on their studies adopting different study techniques like meditation, and concentration. There is also an increase in self-confidence and self-esteem. They participated in Avishkar Competition and stood as winners at District and Zonal levels.

Problems Encountered and Resources Required

There are a few problems encountered by the department in conducting different campaigns for Mental Health. Since the concept of Mental Health is new in the Indian context students are a bit reluctant to accept it initially. So convincing and persuading students at the initial level is a problem. Secondly, there is always a time constraint and faculty find short time in availing counseling to the students.

Notes (Optional):

Nil

STRENGTHS

• Well-equipped laboratory with more than 500 Psychological tests and apparatus
• Only Department affiliated to SPPU providing BSc Psychology
• Well qualified, dedicated and competent faculties
• Research contribution by the faculties and research culture
• Use of ICT based innovated teaching learning methods
• Real world applications of theoretical concepts
• Alumni excelling in diverse fields
• Extensive field work-based practicals.
• Participation of students in various research-based competitions
• Contribution by the faculties on psychosocial issue
• Membership of the Faculty members on International and National Professional bodies.

Future Plan:

• To facilitate and undertake innovations in teaching
• To strengthen the alumni support
• To establish psychological service centre for the community
• To initiate psychometric testing with advanced technology
• To create and translate psychological knowledge
• To organize International & National conferences/seminars/webinars
• To improve departmental infrastructure & research facilities
• To increase students’ participation in newly developing research areas
• To initiate International collaborations

BA Psychology

Teaching Faculty

Linkages & Collaborations/ MOUs

Students Awarded Ph. D Degree Under the Research Centre

Students Enrolled for Ph. D Degree

Research Projects

Research Publications In Reputed Journals

Book Published

Patents/Copyrights Published

Seminars/Conferences/Workshops/Webinar organized