Saint Claret College, Ziro (SCCZ) is a premier Catholic undergraduate school nestled in the Himalayan foothills at Ziro

Ziro

Ziro is a census town in Lower Subansiri district in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.-Geography:Ziro is the district headquarter of Lower Subansiri district and is one of the oldest towns in Arunachal Pradesh. It was the headquarters of the undivided Subansiri district comprising the present...

, Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...

, India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. Founded in 2003, SCCZ is run by Claretian Missionaries

Claretians

The Claretians, a community of Roman Catholic priests and brothers, were founded by Saint Anthony Claret in 1849. They strive to follow their founder's “on fire” example and help wherever they are needed. Their ministries are highly diverse and vary depending on the needs of the area. They focus...

, a Roman Catholic Order that serves in 64 countries. St Claret College at Ziro is permanently affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi Central University

Rajiv Gandhi University

Rajiv Gandhi University earlier known as Arunachal University, established in 1984, is a university in the State of Arunachal Pradesh.-Introduction:...

, Itanagar. It is recognized under 2(f) and 12(B) of the University Grants Commission (UGC)

University Grants Commission (India)

The University Grants Commission of India is a statutory organisation set up by Union government in 1956, for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education. It provides recognition for universities in India, and provides funds for government-recognised...

 Act. Currently, SCCZ offers Bachelor of Arts programs.

Origins

Saint Claret College was established in 2003 in response to the urgent need for institutes of higher education in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. As of 2001, there were only seven government colleges for the whole state. In response to the expressed desire of the people of Ziro Valley, Claretian Missionaries set up the college under the registered society, Claretian Formation Association of North East India, at the 16-acre land donated by the Apatani tribe at Salaya, 3.5 km from Old Ziro. The first batch consisted of 13 students.

Growth

The College currently offers BA in seven disciplines, viz., Anthropology, Economics, Education, English, Geography, History, and Political Science. Honors courses are offered in all disciplines except Anthropology and Education. SCCZ has consistently logged high pass percentages, including 100% pass and state topper awards on several occasions. Currently, the college has a strength of 460 students and 18 faculty. The college has a four-storeyed academic block, a resident hall for girls that houses 90 students, a chapel,and a sports ground.

Mission, Motto, and Core Values

The Mission Statement of St Claret College reads thus: "Saint Claret College forms intellectually competent, professionally skilled, spiritually evolved, morally upright, socially responsive, and culturally tolerant citizens, through holistic Claretine education, for a civilization of love." The Motto of the College is "Truth, Light, and Life." The hierarchy of core values includes: Faith in God, Justice, Truthfulness & Integrity, Respectful Relationality, Service, Synergic Cooperation, and Intellectual Competence.

Scholarships

The College has signed an MoU with the Single Step Foundation, USA for 50 annual academic scholarships for deserving girl students. Besides the scholarship, SCCZ offers endowment prizes for academic excellence in various categories. The tribal students of the College are eligible for the APST (Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe) Stipend, offered by the State Government.

Diploma in Computer Applications

Besides the regular academic program, the college also offers several certificate programs, including Diploma in Computer Applications.

Associations

SCCZ has several associations that are aimed at providing a holistic educational experience for the students: St Claret Art & Literary Endeavor (SCALE), Claretine Association for Social Action (CASA), Sports & Games Association (SAGA), Claretine Youth for Christ (CYC), and Departmental Associations. The College also has an actively functioning NSS unit which has won awards at the State and the National levels.

PESEC

In 2003, SCCZ established People Education and Social Empowerment Center (PESEC) with the motto, "Excellence of the Masses." Through PESEC, SCCZ offers diverse training workshops for schools and colleges, computer literacy, social awareness campaigns and seminars.

IGNOU Center

St Claret College also serves as an active Center for select courses offered by the Indira Gandhi National Open University

Indira Gandhi National Open University

The Indira Gandhi National Open University , known as IGNOU is a national university with its headquarters in New Delhi, Delhi, India. Named after former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, the university was established in 1985 with a budget of 2000 crore, when the Parliament of India passed...

.