St. Xaviers University, Kolkata

About the Department

The Department of English has been functional from July 2017, and at present it has 226 students in total from Undergraduate and Postgraduate sections. There department has six full-time faculty members, two visiting lecturers, and one guest lecturer. The Department has been offering Ph.D course from July 2019, and has nine research scholars actively engaged in research.

Teaching methods in the department have set a subtle balance between traditional modes of teaching through textual exegesis to use of digital media- PowerPoint presentations, audio-visual modes, experimental exercise as part of pedagogical process, and interactive sessions. Video lectures have also been taken by the faculty members. A series of invited academic lectures have been held, followed by student interactions that have been significantly beneficial for a broader academic culture within the department.

At present the areas of specialization and academic interest of the faculties are Eighteenth Century studies, Memory and Gender, Migration Studies, Theatre and Performance Studies and Speculative Fiction. The students at both undergraduate and post-graduate level are encouraged to develop research acumen through active involvement in seminars, projects and activities beyond classrooms..

Vision and Mission Statements

Vision

Our vision mirrors the Xavierian model of education, inspired by Ignatian charism that firmly upholds reverence, humility, freedom and expansion of the mind. In our pursuit of knowledge, we strive to live by the spirit of Magis, meaning, 'greater' or 'beyond', that fosters our relentless search for life-affirming values rooted in compassion, equality and justice, within and beyond the rubric of conventional education.

As an academic community, we are committed to promoting an eclectic, humanistic education that is interdisciplinary, dynamic and evolving. We support an intellectual infrastructure which addresses complex social challenges and academic gapsat a local level, and simultaneously, participates in global dialogue across humanities to reflect upon areas of common concern.

Mission

The Department has been actively functioning since July 2017 and has made considerable progress in the following areas:

Teaching and Learning: Teaching methods in the department have involved a subtle balance between traditional modes of teaching through textual exegesis to use of digital media- PowerPoint presentations, audio-visual modes, experimental exercise as part of pedagogical process, interactive sessions. Video lectures have also been taken by the faculty members.
Innovative assignments in class that involve poster composition, skits and creative presentations as modes of student assessment have enabled an informed and holistic learning of the syllabus structure.
In commitment to our vision we have a sustained plan to engage and promote the following:
- To facilitate the students to undertake global research activities through MoUs with institutions of repute and enter into research collaborations and initiate funded research projects that will benefit studies in Humanities.
- To organize several state level, national and international conferences to encourage interdisciplinary research amongst students and scholars.
- To devise innovative teaching-learning process by optimum use of resources in the University
- Innovative teaching methods: use of demonstration and theatre-based pedagogy, over and above lecturing; supplementation of literary texts with audio-visual materials; encouraging creative interpretation of texts (Other Components).
- Regularly organized talks and lectures by guest and visiting professors. Developing a Department seminar library to facilitate better academic learning through intensely moderated resources.
- To expose the students to the Industrial sector and other lucrative job market by collaborating with Industry specialists.