Yuvakshetra Institute of Management Studies (YIMS) is a centre for higher education in the Palakkad District of Kerala, one of the best of its kind in South India. YUVAKSHETRA is a compound word in Sanskrit. It means a (holy) gathering place for the youth. True to its name, the organization has become one of the most coveted institutions in Palakkad where young people seek education.
YIMS was established by the Yuvakshetra Charitable Trust, and is a project of the Diocese of Palghat. It was formally inaugurated on 9 December, 2004, and was launched in 2005 under the visionary leadership of Rev. Fr. Sebastian Panjikkaran who is the Founder-Director of the institution.
YIMS is situated in 22.5 acres of land in the village of Ezhakkad of Mundur Panchayath in Palakkad District. The lush greenery of the well-maintained campus soothes the eyes and calms the mind – there by giving it the most desirable ambience for concentration and learning. The campus is known for its practice of organic farming, its cowshed, its bamboo garden and other green practices. It has a remarkably low carbon emission (0,149) rate, and has been recognized as a model green campus by the university itself. Students learn to love nature, respect the environment and promote the concept of sustainable development in all their future endeavours from this campus.
YIMS is a Self-financing Educational Institution. Its growth within a short span of time has been phenomenal. What began as a vocational training institute has rapidly grown, diversified and flourished into a major Arts, Science and Commerce College affiliated to the University of Calicut. At present there are 10 departments offering 14 UG and 4 PG programmes to over 2300 students.
Though YIMS is a Christian Minority institution, it has opened its doors to the youth of all religions, creed, caste and strata of society and to provide them equal possibilities for the promotion of gender dignity.
Over the years, YIMS has been instrumental in fulfilling the educational aspirations of the youth belonging to the neighbouring rural areas, and has become a natural choice for them to pursue higher education. YIMS has always tried to maintain a high standard by constantly striving to keep the students abreast with the latest knowledge in different disciplines, sharpen up their skills and equip them with the ability to face all the challenges that may come their way. It is praiseworthy that the institution is called a ‘Centre of Excellence’.
YIMS has marvelous infrastructure, well-equipped laboratories, ICT-enabled smart classrooms and other fixtures that are required to fulfill the demands of the curriculum. The office of the institution is digitalized; and the steadily growing library is fully automated. Solar panels that produce 95 KW of electricity have been installed thereby ensuring that the institution is self-sufficient in power. The college also has an excellent waste-disposal and sanitary system. Around 400 students occupy the well-furnished boys’ and girls’ hostels that have been provided for the purpose. The institution also runs buses through all major routes to pick and drop day scholars.
The teaching staff is well-qualified and dedicated which ensures an effective teaching- learning process. The vibrancy and enthusiasm of the faculties are infectious, and students respond to them in the best possible manner. This accounts for the positive energy and happiness that pervades the campus at all times. Some of the courses prescribed address the issues of sustainable development, human rights and gender equality in myriad ways. The institute also makes conscious efforts to instill these values in the students – thus actualizing the concept of value-added education.
The performance of the students at University examinations has been consistently commendable, with students bagging University ranks frequently. The college has a very encouraging record of Campus Recruitment. The Department of Hotel Management has almost always witnessed 100% Campus Placement. Many students who completed their graduation from the college have been admitted to reputed institutions for higher education, especially to Central Universities, and foreign institutions and universities. MoU’s have been signed with a number of reputed institutions, and this has helped establish a healthy exchange and rapport with other organizations.
The college is always abuzz with activities. Seminars and Workshops are held very frequently. Even during the pandemic, webinars were held in abundance by the different departments of the college. Students participate in different competitive, creative and innovative activities on a regular basis. Days of national, regional, religious and social importance are observed in the campus with appropriate fervour and propriety. Students involve themselves in social service and awareness programmes of various kinds as part of NSS. They participate in extension activities and mobilize relief work in times of natural disasters. In this way students become compassionate and sensitive to the problems and sufferings of less fortunate and marginalized people.
Students are encouraged to take part in sports, athletics and art events. The college has provided several facilities like quality playgrounds and courts where students practise for the various events. Inter-collegiate and state level tournaments are also conducted in these facilities. Laurels have been won by students at sports events and inter-collegiate arts competitions. YIMS has become a formidable contestant at such events. The college magazine is one of the special creations of the students and their guides. For the past few years, the magazines of YIMS have been recognized as among the best published in the state. Both students and faculties regularly contribute to books and anthologies published by the institution.
Thus, YIMS is committed to producing accomplished professionals, and adopts a holistic approach to education, aiming for morally sound students with an enhanced level of responsibility that moulds them into worthy citizens of our great nation.
