Commerce SF – Department Highlights
Unique Programmes:
We were honored to host an academic collaboration with Semester at Sea (SAS), welcoming students from Harvard University and the University of Colorado. The session was supported by our committed team, including faculty members Lekshmi C and Divya Tomy Kattikaran, along with five student volunteers. This engagement provided a valuable platform for cross-cultural learning, academic exchange, and global collaboration. Both Lekshmi and Divya served as invited resource persons for the international programme Semester at Sea (2025). They delivered a lecture on “Consumer Insights: Unveiling Buying Habits and Market Trends,” sharing key perspectives on global consumer behavior. An insightful field visit was also organized and led by them, offering practical exposure to the visiting students. The programme fostered meaningful academic connections and was a truly enriching experience for all participants.
The Department of Commerce (Self Financing) at St. Teresa’s College (Autonomous), Ernakulam, organized the inauguration of the RTI Club on 9th December 2024 at 2:30 PM in the A V Room. The event, conducted in collaboration with the State Information Commission Kerala, aimed to promote awareness and empower citizens through the Right to Information Act. The chief guest, Dr. A. A. Hakkim, Kerala State Information Commissioner, delivered the inaugural address, underlining the critical role of RTI in fostering transparent and accountable
governance and inaugurated the club by switching on the introduction video of the RTI Club and by watering a plant, symbolizing growth, sustainability, and transparency. Shri. D. B. Binu, President of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, delivered the keynote
speech, exploring the intersections of RTI with consumer rights and its impact on public accountability. Other dignitaries who contributed to the event included, Dr. Alphonsa Vijaya Joseph, Principal, St. Teresa’s College, who delivered the presidential address and lauded the
Department of Commerce for its proactive efforts in civic engagement. Fr. Anil Philip CMI, Director, Chavara Cultural Center, and Shri. Iype Joseph, State Co-ordinator of Parivarthan, delivered inspiring felicitations, encouraging students to utilize RTI as a tool for social empowerment. The event emphasized the objectives of the RTI Club, which include educating students about the RTI Act, fostering civic responsibility, and equipping them to demand transparency from public authorities. The Department of Commerce SF focused on its proactive approach to civic engagement and its alignment with SDG 4, which focuses on promoting inclusive and equitable education. The inauguration of the RTI Club was a significant milestone for St. Teresa’s College reflecting its commitment to nurturing informed and socially responsible citizens. The insights shared by the distinguished speakers and the enthusiasm of the newly formed core team set the foundation for impactful initiatives promoting governance transparency and civic engagement.
Commemorating the 100th anniversary of St. Teresa’s College, the Commerce Self-financing department has released a book titled ‘Her Aura’ on July 26 at 11.30 a.m, featuring the journeys of 100 women entrepreneurs. The announcement of the book’s title was full of novelty. The event was started under the leadership of the Honorable Principal of the College, Mrs. Alphonsa Vijaya Joseph, and the alumni of the college and actress Ms. Tessa Joseph, actress and industrialist Ms. Arya Babu, educationist and industrialist Master Raul John Aju, DIC General Manager Mr. Najeeb participated as guests. With the Idea of the Former Head of Department Mrs. Jini Justin D’cousta,Assistant Professor Mrs. Namita N.A with the cooperation of a group of children in the department made the event successful. Grandmother of a student of the college was felicitated as a senior farmer woman. Chief convenor Mrs. Namitha NA informed about this initiation that she wants to carry it forward in a big way in future ahead of various centenary events of the college.
Campus Peedika was inaugurated at St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam, as part of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) Wing activities for the academic year 2024-25. The event was graced by the esteemed Mr. Balagopal Chandrasekhar, former IAS Officer and Ex-Chairman of Federal Bank, who officially inaugurated the Campus Peedika.
The event was coordinated by the faculties and students of the Department of Commerce (Self-Financing). The faculty Coordinator of the event was Miss Divya Tomy Kattikaran .The experience provided the young entrepreneurs with valuable practical exposure and significantly improved their managerial skills. From logistics to vendor management and marketing, the students demonstrated exceptional capability in handling various aspects of the event. The event not only provided a platform
for young entrepreneurs to showcase their products but also instilled a sense of responsibility towards sustainable practices.
Student entrepreneurs participate in the event, showcasing a diverse range of products, including:
● Food Items: Both desserts and main courses, offering a variety of culinary delights to the attendees.
● Clothes: A selection of fashionable clothing, highlighting the creativity and design skills of the student entrepreneurs.
● Accessories: Unique and stylish accessories, attracting many visitors.
The Department of Commerce (Self Financing) at St. Teresa’s College (Autonomous), Ernakulam initiated a pothichoru collection campaign. This is conducted every once in a month. Students from several departments provided food packets and came to be the part of ‘Annapoorna’. There were good participation and contributions by the students for the campaign. Students expressed their keen interest towards sharing by contributing food packets . The speciality of this campaign is that the food will be wrapped in banana leaf which is a part of eco friendly activity. The primary aim of ‘Annapoorna’ was to provide a meal for the needy around us. The campaign concentrated on Sustainable Development goals like zero hunger and no poverty. Every student was given a chance to help others. .It helps the students to gain experiences and contribute positively to their community. The Campaign serves as a platform for fostering community engagements among students, the planning and execution of campaign created a sense of belonging and team work.
Riqueza 2024 was a inter-collegiate Commerce fest conducted by the Department of Commerce Self-Financing and the Department of Commerce Regular on 30th January 2024. It was an array of vibrant performances, stimulating competitions and exciting challenges and proved to be an unforgettable celebration of talent, skill and collaboration. The events included a treasure hunt, open mic, business quiz, ad reel making and many more. The fest was first revealed through an energetic pre-event and banner reveal accompanied by a musical performance on 23rd January
Dept. of Commerce Self Financing, St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam undertook the responsibility of establishing a library at Bhagavathy Vilasom High School, Nayarambalam . The school lacked a library as part of their infrastructure. M.Com and final year B.Com students of the department were entrusted with the responsibility of setting up the same. The initial process involved collecting books of various genres from students of the department, including storybooks, academic texts, religious texts, novels and more in multiple languages. These books were sorted and listed based on various categories. The books were coded accordingly and each book was labeled based on this code. All these details were computerised for easy future reference. On 19th June 2023, students accompanied by the teachers of the department handed over the books to the school authorities and successfully helped set up a library at Bhagavathy Vilasom High School, Nayarambalam.
As part of centenary celebration Department of Commerce SF distributed provision kits to 100 BPL families in Kuzhupilly panchayath. The students and faculties of the department contributed items and were able to make 100 kits with 8 items each. All the efforts and cooperation of our department resulted in achieving a great donation campaign.
Milestones
Received ‘Manava Seva Puraskar 2024-25′ from National Human Rights Committee.
MoUs
Department of Commerce SF have signed MOU’s with :
- Chartered Institute For Securities & Investment
- BEETEES Academy for commerce
- Providence College for Women, Coonoor
- LOGIC School of Management
- St. Aloysius College, Mangaluru
- HEDGE Finance
