Introduction

Transition from school to university/college life is one of the most challenging events in a students’ life. When new students enter an institution, they come with diverse thoughts, backgrounds and preparations. They come into a new unfamiliar environment, and many of them have little knowledge of a university/college. An important task, therefore, is to welcome new students to Higher Education and prepare them for their new role.

Currently, precious little is done by most institutions, except for an orientation Programme lasting a couple of days. Student Induction is designed to help in the whole process. Therefore, it should be taken seriously, and as something more than the mere orientation Programme.

Induction Programme

Purpose of Induction Programme is to help new students adjust and feel comfortable in the new environment, inculcate in them the ethos and culture of the institution, help them build bonds with other students and faculty members, and expose them to a sense of larger purpose and self exploration.

The term induction is generally used to describe the whole process whereby the incumbents adjust to or acclimatize to their new roles and environment. In other words, it is a well planned event to educate the new entrants about the environment in a particular institution, and connect them with the people in it.

Induction Programme engages with the new students as soon as they come into the institution; before regular classes start. At the start of the induction, the incumbents learn about the institutional policies, processes, practices, culture and values, and their mentor groups are formed.

Induction could cover a number of different aspects:

Socializing: meeting other new students, senior students, students union, Lectures by Eminent People.

Associating: visits to University / college, visits to Dept./Branch/ Programme of study & important places on campus, local area, city and so on.

Governing: rules and regulations, student support etc.

Experiencing: Subject lectures, study skills, small-group activities, physical activity, creative and performing arts, literary activities, universal human values, etc.

List of activities to be included:

• Physical Activity.
• Mentoring.
• Familiarization to Dept./Branch.
• Creative Arts and Culture.
• Literary Activity.
• Lectures by Eminent People.
• Visits to Local Area.
• Extra-Curricular Activities in College.