The days of prioritizing knowledge acquisition for its own sake and viewing a higher education as an elite endeavor are long gone. A greater range of students may now enter higher education because of the democratization of learning brought about by the emergence of knowledge-based and technology-driven businesses. As a result, there has been a notable change in emphasis toward students’ employability in a global workforce that is becoming more competitive and dynamic.
In this context, institutions that prioritize not only academic rigor but also holistic development and practical application of knowledge emerge as beacons of progress. St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, stands out as a shining example of such an institution. With its unwavering commitment to academic excellence, coupled with a strong emphasis on character formation and societal engagement, St. Xavier’s College epitomizes the ideals of quality higher education in today’s context. By seamlessly blending traditional values with contemporary approaches, St. Xavier’s College prepares its students not just for the challenges of the present, but also for the opportunities of the future.
St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata in a Nutshell
St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, established in 1860, stands as a Christian Minority Higher Educational Institution. Founded by the Society of Jesus, a Catholic Minority Religious Body, it gained affiliation with the University of Calcutta in 1862. While the institution prioritizes the educational and cultural requirements of the Christian Minority community and the underprivileged, it extends admission to all, irrespective of caste, creed, or nationality.
Guided by the motto “NIHIL ULTRA” (NOTHING BEYOND) and a vision to foster a society grounded in love, freedom, liberty, justice, equality, and fraternity, St. Xavier’s College endeavors to mold individuals of competence, commitment, compassion, and conscience.
Benefiting from its autonomous status, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, enjoys the flexibility to introduce contemporary courses into its curriculum and implement innovative methods of examination and evaluation. The success of these initiatives is evident in the performance of the College’s students in various competitive and entrance examinations.
Currently, the College offers a diverse range of educational programs, including 16 undergraduate, 14 postgraduate, and 8 doctoral programs. Additionally, it has received approval to introduce a PhD program in Economics, awaiting finalization procedures from the Calcutta university. From the academic year 2023-24, the College has initiated the 4-year UG degree programme. Also, it has already framed its internship policy that is ‘intrinsic’ to this new curriculum.
A noteworthy expansion initiative of the College is the establishment of the Raghabpur Campus, situated approximately 25 kilometers from the main campus, to cater primarily to the educational needs of rural students. “A new academic block spanning 65,000 square feet has been constructed at this campus, reflecting the institution’s commitment to extending quality education to diverse communities”, shared – Rev. Dr. Dominic Savio, SJ, the Principal of the college.
Also, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, boasts a unique distinction as the sole college in India entrusted with the management of the Educational Multimedia Research Centre (EMRC) of the University Grants Commission (UGC). Additionally, the campus will serve as a hub for contemporary research endeavors and feature a dedicated media center to further enhance its offerings.
Comprehensive Facilities and Vibrant Campus Life
St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, offers a comprehensive range of facilities and amenities to cater to the diverse needs of its students and faculty. These include a hostel, counselling cell, placement cell, finance lab, cyber room, equal opportunity cell, wellness center, canteen, auditorium, alumni association, and various subject-specific laboratories and computing facilities. The college also fosters a vibrant extracurricular environment through societies and associations such as the theatrical society, debating society, and literary society, providing platforms for students to showcase their talents and hone their skills. Regular seminars, workshops, and departmental events further enrich the academic and co-curricular experience.
St. Xavier’s College actively participates in community engagement and social responsibility initiatives, hosting events like the Youth Parliament Competition and organizing blood donation camps. The college’s dynamic NCC wing offers opportunities for cadets to participate in parades and courses, while annual festivities like “Xavotsav” and events like “Shishu Mela” and celebrations of International Mother Language Day add to the vibrant campus life.
Advancing Research Capabilities
Research at St. Xavier’s College is facilitated through its state-of-the-art Facilities & Laboratories, prominently including the Central Research Facility (CRF), Central Instrumentation Facility, Observatory, and specialized laboratories such as the Biotechnology Laboratory, Microbiology Laboratory, and Chemistry Wet Laboratory.
The CRF, led by the Rev. Fr. Franz Goreaux, serves as a cornerstone for interdisciplinary research endeavors in the Physical Sciences and Biosciences programs, continually upgrading its infrastructure with advanced instruments and computational facilities valued at over Rs. 3.0 crore. A key objective of the CRF is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty members and provide students with hands-on experience in handling sophisticated instruments.
The facility houses various laboratories, including a Cold room, fully functional Culture Laboratories, Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, General Biology Laboratory, Chemistry Laboratory, Science Education Laboratory, Instrumental Laboratory, and Networking Data Science Laboratory. Strengths of the CRF include its expansive research facility, calibrated instruments with trained technical staff, regular maintenance, and accessibility to departments across Biotechnology, Microbiology, Physics, and Chemistry.
Flourishing Placement and Internship Initiatives
St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, has witnessed a significant surge in the number of companies considering the institution for placements. A multitude of both new and regular companies participated in placement and internship drives throughout the year. Adopting a hybrid mode, the College conducted drives, with DE Shaw initiating the on-campus drive in August 2022, followed by esteemed organizations such as Accenture, Deloitte US-India, Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC), Ernst & Young, Amazon, Zomato, and many others. Out of 1,179 registrations, a remarkable 672 students were successfully placed through on-campus drives and off-campus interviews across various departments, including B.Com., B.M.S., M.Com., Economics (Hons.), Mathematics (Hons.), Biotechnology, Computer Science and Data Science, with annual CTCs ranging from ₹3.5 to 24 lakhs per annum. Additionally, renowned companies like Coca-Cola, Puma, Nestle, ICICI Lombard, and Byjus provided internship opportunities to students.
Beyond traditional placements and internships, several companies organized national-level competitions and workshops, including Accenture, Ernst and Young India, Deloitte India, and Wipro. These initiatives not only enhanced students’ communication and managerial skills but also offered invaluable insights into corporate life.
Further fostering internship opportunities, The Placement Cell collaborated with The Entrepreneurship Development Cell to organize INITIUM, an Internship Exposition, an annual event attracting over 400+ student registrations and 60+ participating companies. Notable participants included Ambuja Neotia, RSM Consultancy, and E-celtic Consultancy, among others. The event witnessed 150+ students securing internships in diverse fields such as Marketing, Sales, Human Resources, and Finance. Workshops focusing on “Resume, LinkedIn, and Networking” and “How to Ace an Interview” added significant value to the event, which also featured Shark Tank companies “Patil kaki” and “Birds of Paradyes,” further enriching the experience for students.
Rev. Dr. Dominic Savio, SJ – Principal
Father Dominic Savio, SJ serves as the Principal of St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, and holds the position of President at the St. Xavier’s College (Calcutta) Alumni Association. He is honored to bear the name of the esteemed Catholic Saint, St. Dominic Savio. Previously, Father Dominic served as the Rector of St. Xavier’s Community, College, and School from December 2013 to January 2020. He earned his Ph.D. in Economics from Burdwan University, with research interests spanning International Trade, International Economics, and Econometrics.
Having received a Jesuit education throughout his life, Father Dominic attended De Britto School in Devakottai, Southern Tamil Nadu, for his schooling, and completed his undergraduate studies with a major in Economics at St. Joseph’s College, Trichi. He pursued his Post Graduation and M.Phil. at Loyola College, Chennai, renowned for its Jesuit education legacy. Ordained as a Priest in 1996 after joining the Jesuit Order in ‘Dhyan Ashram’, Kolkata, in 1985, Father Dominic furthered his studies in Philosophy at ‘De Nobilie’ and ‘Jnana Deepa’, Pune, and Theology at ‘Vidyajyoti’, Delhi.
Since 2000, Father Dominic has been associated with St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, teaching Economics across its Arts & Science, Commerce, and BBA Departments. He has held various administrative roles within the college, including Vice Principal of the Commerce Morning and the BBA Departments, Deputy Principal, and currently, Principal of St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, since November 1st, 2017. Additionally, he has presented papers at national-level seminars and conferences on topics such as the role of academia-industry interfacing in higher education and the Gravity Model of Trade. Father is also the recipient of various awards of national and international fame.
