Fergusson College (Autonomous), Pune

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

The Department of Psychology was established in Fergusson College in 1979 to cater to the demand to offer specialization in Psychology to undergraduate students.  Though a relatively young Department, the teaching of Psychology goes back a long way when it was taught under the encompassing subject of Philosophy. The department of Philosophy has had stalwarts like Prin. G.G. Agarkar, who originally founded the department, Prin. Bhate, Profs.  R.D. Ranade, V. K. Jog, D. D.Wadekar, G. N. Joshi and Prin S. V. Bokil on its staff since its inception, and students were fortunate to have been taught by such eminent personalities. Owing to the incessant demand for specialization in Psychology, however, Psychology was established as a separate Department, and soon became one of the most sought after subjects in Fergusson College.   

The Department of Psychology was established under the able leadership of Mrs. Geeta Mehta who served as its Head until 1999. From then on it was headed by Dr. Mrs. Vidya Talwarkar, who served until her retirement in 2008. For quite a few years the department offered undergraduate course in Psychology.

In the year 2005, The Post Graduate Course in Counseling Psychology(PGCCP) was launched by the department. This is a one-year autonomous course conducted by Deccan Education Society through Fergusson College, and is coordinated by Dr. Megha Deuskar. This course is a skill-based module and trains students in the actual skills of counseling. 

Dr. Shobhana Abhyankar, Head of the Department, took keen interest in starting the M.A. programme in Psychology in 2006 and setting up satelite library for PG students. For the PG course, two specializations are offered, Industrial Psychology and Clinical Psychology. The department has successfully completed 7 batches of M.A. so far and is one of the most sought-after departments in Pune. The department has produced eminent psychologists, psychotherapists and several brilliant academicians.

Keeping in view the ever-increasing need for counselling, Dr. Abhyankar established MAANAS: Center for Psychological Testing and Counselling in 2006. Personal Counselling, and Aptitude testing and career counselling is carried on at MAANAS.

In 2015, the college started Pune University recognized Ph.D. Research Centre for Psychology, under the leadership of Dr.Shobhana Abhyankar. The department is known for research in various specialized areas like I/O Psychology, Health Psychology, Positive Psychology, Yoga Nidra, REBT, to name a few.

Programs/courses offered:

• B.A. Psychology
• M.A. Psychology
  • Industrial Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
• Ph.D. Research
• DES Post Graduate Course in Counseling Psychology (PGCCP)

Observation Internship Program (OIP):

Every academic year SYBA Psychology special students participate in Observation Internship Program (OIP) under the guidance of Dr. Hemant Chandorkar, a leading psychiatrist in Pune; and at Santulan. Students have to go through an interview procedure to get selected for OIP. Selected students regularly visit the centre and observe the patients with clinical problems. Students are guided by them about the case history and diagnosis. 

Faculty Profile:

Faculty as members in a) National Committees b) International Committees            c) Editorial Board:

Results for last five years:

Awards/Recognitions received by faculty and students:

List of eminent academicians and scientists/visitors to the department:

• Prof. Rybak Christopher, Bradley University, Illinois, USA
• Dr. Vidula Abhyankar, Jail Psychologist, Australia
• Dr. Arpana Inman, Full Bright Scholar, Lehigh University
• Dr. Matthijs Cornellisen, Director, Indian Psychology Institute, Pondicherry
• Dr. Ram Takwale, Former Vice Chancellor, SPPU, Pune; YCMOU and IGNOU
• Dr. B. J. Prashantham, Director, Christian Counselling Centre, Vellore
• Dr. Kiran Kumar, Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Mysore, Mysore
• Dr. Dileep Ranjekar, CEO, Azim Premji Foundation, Wipro
• Dr. Indira Jai Prakash, Former Head and Gerantologist, Department of Psychology, Bangalore University, Bangalore
• Prof. K. B. Kumar, Dean and Head of Clinical Psychology, Sweekarar Academy, Secunderabad
• Dr. Veena Apte, Global Director, Organizational Change and Development, SKF, India
• Dr. Anil Kulkarni, Fulbright Scholar, USA
• Dr. Sandeep Narang, Fellow Fulbright Scholar, USA
• Dr. Usha Ram, Former Head, Dept of Psychology, S. P. Pune University
• Dr. Shashank Shah, Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgeon, Director of Laparo-Obeso Centre
• Dr. Anuradha Sovani, Dept of Applied Psychology, Mumbai University
• Prof. S. W. Deshpande, Former Head, Dept of Psychology, S. P. Pune University
• Dr. C. G. Deshpande, Former Head, Dept of Applied Psychology, Mumbai University
• Dr. Medha Kumthekar, Former Head, Department of Psychology, SNDT University, Pune Campus
• Dr. P. H. Lodhi, Professor and Former Head, Department of Psychology, S. P. Pune University
• Dr. B. R. Shejwal, Professor and Head, Department of Psychology, S. P. Pune University
• Dr. Kalpana Srivastava, Scientist ‘F’, Clinical Psychologist, Dept of Psychiatry, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune
• Shri Sudhir Phatak, Sr. Manager, Tata Motors
• Dr. Bharat Desai, President, Academy of Personality Development, Pune

 Linkages with schools, NGO’s and other institutes:

• Dr. Hemant Chandorkar, Psychiatrist, Pune
• Muktangan De-addiction Centre,
• Cipla Palliative Care Centre,
• Prasanna Autism Centre,
• Ernst and Young Foundation,
• Huzurpaga High School,
• Ruby Hall Clinic 
• Chaitanya Mental Health Care Center, Pune
• Indian Psychology Institute, Puducherry
• Schizophrenia Awareness Association (SAA), Pune
• Santulan De-addiction center, Pune.
• Artsphere, Pune
• FLOW

ABOUT MAANAS: Psychological Testing and Counselling Centre

MAANAS counselling centre is run by the faculty and staff of the Department of Psychology, Fergusson College, Pune. The key areas in which MAANAS functions are:

Aptitude testing: Every individual is gifted with certain innate potentials, which, if nourished, can help the person actualize his/her self and thus achieve professional success and personal satisfaction. We, at MAANAS, use certain standardized aptitude test batteries to test the student in different areas to know where his/her potential lies. These tests give us valuable information about what field of study could be chosen so that the student enjoys the learning process. Especially in the month of April and May we conduct group aptitude testing for students of 9^th, 10^th, 11^th and 12^th standard. The test needs about 3 to 4 hours and the students do not need to prepare before going in for an aptitude test. Remember, this is not an examination. It is a study of the innate gifts that you have!

Career guidance: Most people are not aware of the diverse fields that are available in terms of graduate and post graduate or diploma courses, as well as in terms of job or career opportunities. Especially important is the need to know oneself as a person and then to find out what kind of job suits one best. We couple aptitude tests with personality tests and prepare a profile of the person considering both. After a week of aptitude testing, we call the parents and students together for career guidance sessions, where we suggest educational and vocational options, depending upon the aptitude test results. We have had very positive feedback for a lot of parents and students whom we counselled in the past.

Personal counselling: We have trained counsellors at the centre who can give personalized counselling sessions for a variety of problems, such as anxiety, depression, interpersonal difficulties etc. 

FUTURE PLANS

• Full-fledged Research Centre
• Short-term courses in Health Psychology, Industrial Psychology
• Extension of individual research to departmental research projects
• Strengthening of industry-academia interface
• Consultancy