Introducing St. Thomas College (Autonomous), Thrissur

St. Thomas College was founded as an educational institution in 1889 by Rt. Rev. Adolphus Edwin Medlycott, the Vicar Apostolic of Thrissur. The University of Madras gave formal affiliation to the institution in April 1919 with the institution becoming a Second Grade College, with Fr. John Palocaren as the first Principal. The College rose to the status of a First Grade College in March 1925. With the formation of Universities in Kerala, the College was affiliated to the University of Kerala in 1957 and to the University of Calicut in 1968. St. Thomas College (Autonomous), has a noteworthy history of imparting education to many generations and the institution thrives to greater excellence in teaching, training and research. Salient Features of St. Thomas College (Autonomous), Thrissur, are the following :

• College with Potential for Excellence (conferred by the UGC, India)
• NAAC Grade (4th  Cycle): ‘A++’ Grade
• NIRF All India Ranking 2023 by MHRD, Govt of India: 53
• Ranked Performer in General (Non-Technical Section) in ARIIA ranking 2022
• Autonomous College Since 2014
• NAAC Mentor College (Under UGC Paramarsh Scheme)
• DBT (STAR COLLEGE Scheme) Funded
• RUSA (UGC Scheme) Funded
• 3.5 Stars for Innovation 2022 from IIC, MHRD, New Delhi
• SES REC Institution 2020
• FIST 2020 Research Project awarded

The College has 17 departments, 14 PG programmes 23 UG programmes and 10 research centres. 61 scholars have been awarded Ph.D from the research centres of the College. Currently, 144 research scholars are pursuing Ph.D under 45 research guides. Alumni association, PTA and Management of the College are active in promoting the academic and administrative aspects of the College.

• Oldest Catholic College in Kerala, with over 130 years’ tradition of social commitment and helping local community.
• Shown mettle in academics, social responsibility, national integration and global outlook.
• Pro-active support by the management in introducing new technology and expanding infrastructural facilities. Grooming of intellectual culture among students through international exposure, interaction with eminent personalities and cutting edge research.
• Student-centric pedagogy, governance and administration.
• Active participation of all stakeholders in academics and administration. Horizontal and lateral approaches, rather than top-down and vertical approaches.
• Highly qualified, experienced and energetic faculty.
• OBE Cirriculam implemented in 2019
• Students win high positions in university exams, 225 students qualified competitive examinations viz. UGC/CSIR/NET/JRF  and many of them join for research.
• Multiple intelligence tests were conducted to analyse students and their potential fields.
• Career Guidance and Placement Cell trains students in soft skill development and coaches them to excel in their career. It is created a placement record of over 32% of students
• Online learning through MOODLE platform (STEP)
• Students with social and national commitment take up ventures which brighten and positively develop local community and the nation.
• Students, emerge winners in national and international level sports, games and cultural festivals.  Eight Students of the college represented India in International sports events. 
• Ten departments are recognized as research centres by the affiliating University with 45 research guides, 61 Ph. D  awardees, and 144 research scholars.
• 1 Patent filed awarded and 4 filed (in the process).
• 257 indexed Research articles in Scopus/Web of Science and 166 books/chapters in edited volumes/books published in the last five years
• Institutional Scopus h-index is 16
• Active research on plant species  with 12 new Plant Species discovered till date by Researchers of Botany Department
• Women Cell supervises activities and facilities for women.
• Multiple cells and committies like women cell, equal opportunity cell, gender champions cell cater needs of varied communities.
• Promotion of value-based education is materialized with orientation talks by the intelligentsia.
• Skill-based value-added courses are availed. 71 different value added courses are offered by the college.
• State-of-the-art technology and equipment in Science laboratories and Visual Media Laboratories.
• The college has digitally enabled Governance, Administration, Learning and Evaluation through ERP 
• A centralised library with around one lakh books to its credit.
• The feedback of the students, alumni and other stakeholders are considered while designing the syllabi. The curriculum is restructured so as to make the students fit to meet the academic and job market demands.
• Continued internal assessment is done using various rubrics viz.internal exams, seminars, assignments etc. to evaluate and classify students based on their potential. Systematic and rigorous methods are employed in conducting the end semester exams.
• International students are given admission based on student exchange programme by Government.
• MoUs and partnership with national and international institutions and organizations.
• A campus friendly with students who are differently abled by offering them various facilities like ramps, computer screen reader software etc.
• International and national visibility through innovative conferences and seminars.
• Actively promote innovation activities. Incubation centre and facilties available with a couple of start ups to its credit