A) The College designed the curricula of the following career oriented add-on courses   sponsored by the UGC:
1. Certificate Course in Women’s Empowerment
2. Certificate Course in Cooking and Baking

• The use of ICT is integral to the teaching of the BMM course and many Arts and Science subjects. The use of the OHP, slides, screening of relevant films / documentaries are important teaching tools used by nearly all the departments.
• Students are encouraged to participate in seminars, workshops held both in and outside the College. Field trips in various subjects are also arranged. Eminent persons from different fields of specialization were also invited to address the students.
• Exhibitions, class debates and discussions, play reading and dramatization are other methods of learning used by teachers.
• Internships / placements and other forms of experimental learning are also encouraged. Teachers adopt different methods to help students to get involved in subject related activities going beyond the syllabi. Here are a few examples, adopting a plant, running a chemistry-club, having a weekly science update Notice Board, having crosswords, puzzles and games related to syllabi and going beyond it, and holding a celebration of the 200th birth anniversary of Charles Darwin and the 150th year of the release of the “Origin of the Species”.
• Hands on research work / projects are an integral part of the TYBA Paper- IV and IX Foundation Course and of the M.Sc. programme.
• Wall newspapers run by the BMM and Hindi department also encourage students to research and write articles.

1. The Chemistry department divides all its students into groups; each group has a lecturer as its mentor.
2. The English department divides its Communication Skills in English students of the FYBA into four groups on the basis of linguistic ability. The staff member assigned to teach each group acts as a mentor for the group.
3. The History Department organized a workshop for the ATKT students of the first year and second year classes to help them prepare for the ATKT examinations.
4. The e-mentoring system whereby the students can contact the teachers via the email is adopted by a couple of departments.
5. In order to encourage leadership qualities, personality development, the Hindi Department organized poetry competitions, story telling sessions, poster making, essay competitions, etc. Students were encouraged to discuss both academic and personal problems with their teachers and peer- teaching was organized.

1. The History Paper IX on General Knowledge and Current Affairs is taught largely through self study and peer teaching methods.
2. Groups of students in the SYBSc Microbiology class solved problems based on the syllabus using experimental techniques.
3. In Psychology, students are encouraged to collect newspaper and magazine clippings related to the syllabus.

• A session on ‘Mind Mapping’ was conducted by Bro. John Steinmeyer for the SYBA students of Education, Statistics and Psychology and TYBSc Microbiology students.
• A talk was delivered by Dr. Sumitra Agrawal to the students of the Hindi and Life Science departments.
• A one day inter collegiate seminar was organized by the Department of English and the SCWSD on ‘Bharat or India: The Changimg Face of Nationalism in Contemporary Indian Cinema’.

1. Internal Assessment Scheme: A schedule of tests, assignments, projects for every paper is drawn for the first and the second year students for the year.
2. Unsupervised Examinations: TY students can opt for unsupervised test and examinations.
3. Analysis is done of performance at tests and examinations
4. Question banks are given to the students.
5. Creative evaluation methods such as quizzes, crosswords, open book tests are used.
6. Workshops to assist students appearing for the ATKT examinations conducted.

1. The book grant scheme encourages the teaching staff to keep abreast with the latest developments in their field.
2. Staff members are encouraged to attend seminars and workshops outside College and to take up research assignments.
3. Orientation and refresher course attendance is encouraged.

1. ‘Refocusing on the college Vision, Mission, Goals, and service of Education in the light of the present situation’.
2. ‘Teaching, Learning and Assessment, and Teaching and Assessing for the Student Centered Learning’ 
3. ‘Peace and Conflict Resolution’- by the end of the workshop we had arrived at the theme of the year 2009-2010, ‘Education for Justice and Peace’
4. ‘Strategic Planning’.

1. A national level Lecture / workshop on “150 Years Since Darwin Behavioral Adaptations and Evolution”.
2. A talk on “TLRs and Treg Cells” by Stayajit Rath.
3. A Syllabus Oriented Workshop for the TYBSc Life Science Paper II.
4. The Third Sophia May Workshop on Model Systems and Frontiers of Biology.

1. Events / Activities during the year.
2. On-going projects / Activities
3. An Inter and Intra Collegiate Event, ANANYA, at which Seminars, workshops and other events were organized.

• Ms. Roshan D’Souza completed her Ph.D. research work under the UGC Faculty Development Programme.
• Dr. Radha Srinivasan (Department of Physics), who had been granted a major research grant under the Women Scientists Scheme by DST, continued and completed work under this grant this year.
• Dr. Medha Rajadhyaksha (Department of Life Science) had been granted a major research grant from B.A.R.C. and the project has been completed.

Publications

• Dr. (Sr.) Anila Verghese (Department of History) has published three papers and one book review in prestigious journals.
• Dr. Arjumanara Surti (Department of Microbiology) published an article in Environmental Biology Vol. 30, 2009.
• Dr. Jennie Mendes (Department of Psychology) is the Associate Editor of Bombay Psychological Association from 2006 to date. She has published two articles in the above mentioned journal.
• Dr. Nirmala Tripathi (Department of Hindi) published two articles.
• Dr. Sumanika Sethi (Department of Hindi) published book reviews.
• Dr. Sumitra Agrawal (Department of Hindi) co-edited a book published by Kitabghar, Delhi. She also published research articles.
• In the 53rd DAE Solid State Physics Symposium (2008) the following teachers, S. Radha and S. Dugal jointly published a paper, and S. Radha, M. R. Garud, S Dugal and others published an article.

1. Dr. (Sr.) Anila Verghese (Department of History) is guiding two Ph.D. students.
2. Dr. Nirmala Tripathi (Department of Hindi) has been granted recognition as a research guide by the University of Mumbai in December 2008.
3. Dr.  Medha Rajadhyaksha and Dr. Yasmin Khan are recognized guides for  research in Applied Biology.
4. Dr. (Sr.) Ananda Amritmahal (Department of English) is guiding an M.Phil. dissertation.
5. Dr. Radha Srinivasan (Department of Physics) was granted recognition by the University of Mumbai as an M.Phil. / PhD. research guide in Physics with effect from September 2007.
6. Dr. Shireen Vakil (Department of English) examined an MPhil thesis for the University of Hyderabad.

1. The Department of Microbiology had completed their consultancy service to the Thane Municipal Corporation for the monitoring of the revival of Lake Shivajinagara, Kalwa, Thane District, for which the department received Rs. 30,407/- for this service.
2. The SYBA Education students developed teaching material for the pre-primary and primary children of schools in Mumbai. The pilot study is in progress at the Godrej Udhyachal School.

1. Dr. Medha Rajadhyaksha received the State Level Teacher ’s Award (Raj Puruskar) for 2007-2008.
2. Dr. Radha Srinivasan, Mr. M.R. Garud, Ms. Suparna Dugal of the Physics, Chemistry and Microbiology departments respectively, along with Svetlana Ger, an M.Sc. student, won the ‘Poster Award 2008’ for their poster presented at the 53rd DAE Solid State Physics Symposium -2008.
3. Dr. (Ms.) Prabha Shetty (Department of Chemistry) was awarded the second prize for a poster presentation at an International Symposium held at Helsinki, Finland.

1. By the annual inter-collegiate youth- festival called Kaleidoscope, which also raises some funds for the college- Rs. 5,00,000/-.
2. By letting out the premises for functions, film shooting, etc. approximately- Rs. 18 lakhs were raised.
3. For student Aid- Rs 1,24,000/-.  
4. From the M.K. TATA Trust for the new Computer Centre - Rs. 20 lakhs.
5. From the Department of Science and Technology Government of India, Rs. 63,334/- as research  travel grant for the travel of Dr. Prabha Shetty to attend an international conference in the U.S.
6. From UGC Dr. Prabha Shetty received a grant for her travel to attend an International Symposium on HPTLC at the Helsinki, Finland.

1. The Department of Life Science is under assistance from UGC under the Innovative Programme Scheme (2004-2009)
2. Dr. Medha Rajadhyaksha (Department of Life Science) has received a Major Research Grant from the Department of Atomic Energy (2005-2009).
3. Dr. Radha Srinivasan (Department of Physics) has received a major Research Grant from DST (2004-2008).
4. Dr. Yasmin Khan has received a Major Research Grant from the Lady Tata Memorial Trust (2006-2009).

1. Forty-one student volunteers participated actively in the ‘Teach India Project’ launched by the Times of India. Classes for the illiterate children were held both at the Vatsalya Foundation and at the College for the Hamaare Foundation.
2. The Blood Donation drive and the Thalessemia Project were conducted both during the Kaleidoscope and Ananya.
3. A cultural programme and competition were conducted in David Sassoon Industrial School on the occasion of the Ganpati  Festival.
4. A flood relief drive was organized for the victims of the Bihar floods.
5. Blood donation drives were conducted in both terms.
6. A youth festival was organized at NAB (Workshop of the National Association of the Blind) and a fun-fair was held at the DSIS.
7. N.S.S. also organized the Disaster Management, Consumer Guidance and Red Ribbon Clubs.

1. Students of the Sociology Department continued working with the Alert India, and visited Aruna Shelter and the Blind Hostel. A Christmas party was held at the Aruna Shelter.
2. The Chemistry Department organized a visit to the Shepherds Home.

Teachers: 6
Non-teaching Staff: 4

1. On an average 90 books were issued per day.
2. On an average 350 books / question paper / files were taken for reference from the Circulation Counter.
3. Bar-coding of the library books and the annual stock verification work was carried out.
4. The library timings were extended by 1 hour daily from Monday to Friday before and during the examinations.
5. Binding of the table of contents of both Arts and Science journals was undertaken.
6. Printed copies of question papers from the year 2000 onwards are  available to both staff and students.
7. The syllabi of all the classes and subjects are available.
8. Reference services are widely used.
9. 15 ex-students enrolled under the Library ex-students membership and made extensive use of the facilities.
10. Total collection of CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes are 323; staff used these audio visual aids along with OHPs. The audio visual section in the library was also used by both teachers and students.
11. Institutional membership of the British Council Library (BCL), Alliance Francaise de Bombay and the American Library was taken and was well utilized by staff and students.
12. Ms. Sadaf Solanki – TYBA was awarded the Madeleine Sophie Prize for the most well read student.
13. Exhibitions by various departments and by the Library were displayed.
14. The Librarian and the Assistant Librarian visited libraries regarding networking.
15. The collection of books and journals has been enhanced by donations from individuals and institutions.
16. The subject indexing database, in-service training of History students, display of the services that were appreciated by the visiting NAAC peer team.
17. The Library had several visitors in the course of the year

• Post NAAC re-accreditation, staff members from Jai Hind College, Nirmala Niketan, Hinduja SIES, and Saraf College visited the library in preparation for the NAAC visit to their institutions.
• Two foreign students who came under the British Council exchange programme used the library facilities extensively.
• A foreign student, Ms. Pauline Mc Gonagle, enrolled for library membership and appreciated the library resources and services provided.
• The library had a few foreign visitors, the Principal of Agnes Scott College, Atlanta, USA, being one of them.
• Other visitors included the Principal and staff members of the Government Women’s College, Chandigarh, and the Principal of Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai.
• Students from several institutes visited the library for reference work.

554 books valued at Rs. 364617/-
94 journals and newspapers valued at Rs 72, 475/-

Student feed back is also procured by administering the entry level questionnaires to all FY students, and the exit questionnaires to all FY, SY and TY students. The questionnaire deals with various aspects of the college including teachers. A quantitative and qualitative analysis of the feedback is carried out and all departments are informed.

1. The plan book is checked by the Head of the Department every week and the respective Vice-Principal at the end of every month.
2. Every teacher has to submit a six monthly report at the end of each term.
3. The Principal prepares a six monthly confidential report for every new teacher and discusses the same with the teacher concerned.
4. The Principal, Vice- Principal and the Head of the Department supervise lectures by a new teacher, twice a year.
5. A performance Appraisal form is filled in by the teacher at the end of the academic year.

1. Generous sponsorship and donations helped in the renovation of the first floor Chemistry laboratory, the Life Science, Biochemistry and Zoology laboratories, the Chemistry department room and the Analytical Chemistry laboratory.
2. The basket ball court was renovated and the gym facilities improved by a Government of Maharashtra grant and matching management contribution amounting to a total of Rs. 6 lakhs.
3. Ramps and railings were installed for the physically handicapped.

The Sophia College – M.K. Tata Trust Information and Communication Technology Centre, with 65 computers was completed. One room is reserved for laptop users and for interactive sessions.

1. Computer facilities are available in the Library, the computer laboratory, the staff room and many departments.
2. Sessions were organized by computer savvy staff members to train teachers in the use of computers.

1. AMASC (World Association of Alumnae of the Sacred Heart): SCESA is an active member of AMASC with one member; Cerena de Souza of SCESA on the governing council.
2. AGM - the Annual General Meeting was held on 29th September, 2008.
3. Reunion and lunch with the Graduate students was held on the annual prize day.
4. SCESA Bazaar-SHOP FOR A CAUSE, offers NGOs and self- help groups to display and sell items.
5. Fund raising – SCESA members donate funds or help with fund raising for both the College and the Women’s Centre.

• Multi- Faith Public Meeting.
• Active Citizenship Programme.

In collaboration with SHARE (Society to Heal, Aid, Restore and Educate) the following activities were conducted by SCESA:

• Rain water harvesting
• Toilets and Sanitation.
• Farmer’s groups.
• Women’s Self-help groups.
• Solar Energy.
• Anti- Alcoholism Campaign.
• Civic and Environment Education.

• Formation of civic clubs in schools.
• Volunteer Training Programmes.
• Campaigns.
• Annual Survey.
• UTSAV – The Annual Day

1. In MSc Life Science the “Smt. Godubai Bhagwada Gold” went to Pooja Sagvekar who stood first in the University.
2. TYBA - Sociology First and the second ranks at the University exam went to Gayatri Maniar and Daneesh Ardeshir respectively.
3. Gayatri Maniar was also awarded 3 scholarships by the University of Mumbai.

1. Poster competition – Mithibai College, first prize winners: Sona Mevada and Rosebelle Alexander (TYBSc).
2. Sir Dorabji Tata Merit Scholarships, Asiya Motorwala and Priyanka Saldanha received a scholarship of  Rs. 15,000 per year till they graduate.

NSS students won the following prizes:

1. Second prize at an inter-collegiate competition organized by Population First.
2. First and Second prize in the essay competition and third place in the patriotic song competition in “Anubhuti” organized by Ruia College.
3. First place in the essay competition and consolation prize in poster making in Yuvak Mela conducted by Guru Nanak College.

1. Two teams were sent for the Lok Satta Inter-Collegiate Debate Competition. They reached the semi- finals.
2. Maruti Mishra – MSc, Life Science – secured the first position in the “Product Pitching Competition”, organized by the ViVekananda Education Society’s College.
3. Five BMM students won the first prize and three won the second prize in Akshara’s poster competition on gender discrimination.

1. A workshop on C.V. writing, performance at group discussions and personal interviews was held.
2. Four students were given jobs in the Teach for India Campaign.
3. Akanksha and Cactus Communications invited applications.
4. Infosys selected one student as campus ambassador.
5. Zoom TV, Big 92.7 and Motion Picture Company contacted the BMM department for job placements for the graduating students.

1. Departmental Concretization of the College Goals
2. Theme of the year
3. The work of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC)
4. The Vera Ward Annual Essay Competition on the Spirit and Values of Sophia.
5. Sophia Nobel Orations
6. Peace Fortnight

1. A group consisting of the Academic Dean, parent volunteers and students from the Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, Seattle, U.S.A. visited the Sophia Campus as part of the ‘Engage in India Programme’.
2. Dr. (Sr.) Anila Verghese was invited to the Forest Ridge School in order to carry their ‘Engage in India Programme’ forward.
3. The College hosted two fellows of the (U.K.) Prime Ministers Global Fellowship Programme. They visited the College for 2 weeks and carried out an ‘action research project’.

1. Engagement in Times Foundation ’s ‘Teach India’ Project.
2. A Consumer Guidance Club, Disaster Management Cell and a Red Ribbon Club were set up.
3. A concerted voter Registration Movement took place in the College.