I recently was introduced to a cool counselling programme that is in use at Indian Institute of Technolgy, Bombay.
IIT-B has a mentorship programme for students right from their 1st year. The freshers , called mentees are put under senior student mentors – senior students in the 3rd and 4th year who have done well consistently. The idea is that freshers have someone to talk to like friends. People do it individually as well, institute initiating it is great idea,
For those whose scores drop in the second year or mid way, they are put under teacher mentors. One of the teachers make them write diaries – i spoke to him – everyday, and share their activities with them. He says that there simple behavioural patterns are checked – eating habits, regular and timely sleeping habits, excessive involvement in cultural activities and stuff. It’s more casual free talk than clinical counselling – which is why it works.
Now students who drop scores mid way are put through Academic Rehabilitation Programme – before their final semesters. They can choose to sit for four courses – out of all in a semester – some of it in which they have appeared before. They usually then do well, and are rehabilitated in their main course.
Before 2008, these students were spoken to only after they scored poorly in their final exams – and then were given an option to sit for four papers after the final semeseters. If they didn;t do well, they were expelled – but the damage was done, so they were ususally expelled. That’s not the case now.
In serious cases, they are refered to professional couselors. Found this whole concept interesting. The idea was triggered after oen of the students expelled and thereafter spoken to by the professors – was found to have langauge handicaps.
One of the professors I spoke to said instittues like IIT and IIM are more in need for such programmes as students here are considered to be the cream of the lot. Even as they are so, they have an inferiority complex and and are insecure of the other students meet here – thinking that the other one is better than me… Cousnelling - based on talking out your problems or just a day’s routine eases out the stresses…
I found this concept quite cool… a model that should be replicated at institutes elsewhere.
