A tribute to a life devoted to social work education, research and human development
NV Paulose, Chairman, Global TV +91 98441 82044
Some educators leave their influence not merely through the positions they occupy, but through the knowledge they share, the questions they encourage others to ask, and the researchers they guide towards new understanding. Dr. Sr. Jacinta D’Souza, former Principal of the School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya, Mangaluru, is a social work academic whose documented professional contributions include institutional leadership and the guidance of doctoral research.
The description “an untiring scholar and dedicated social scientist” captures the spirit of this tribute. Her professional record provides a basis for reflecting on the importance of academic commitment, research mentorship and education directed towards understanding social realities.
Leadership at Roshni Nilaya
The School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya, Mangaluru, has played a role in social work education in Karnataka. Within this academic setting, Dr. Jacinta D’Souza served as Principal. Her association with the institution forms an important part of her professional identity. The responsibility of leading an institution devoted to social work education extends beyond academic administration. Such institutions prepare students to engage with individuals, families, communities and social organisations. They bring together classroom learning, fieldwork, research and professional practice.
The value of social work education lies in its capacity to connect knowledge with the lived experiences of people. It requires students to understand social problems in their context, examine the factors contributing to inequality and vulnerability, and develop the skills necessary for responsible professional intervention. Dr. D’Souza’s tenure as Principal placed her within this important educational tradition. A fuller account of her leadership would benefit from institutional records and testimonies from colleagues, former students and members of the administration.
A commitment to research and knowledge
One of the clearest aspects of Dr. D’Souza’s documented contribution is her work as a doctoral research guide. Records published by Mangalore University identify her as a retired Principal of the School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya, and document her guidance of research scholars in Social Work.
The subjects of the research she guided are significant. They include child-rearing practices in Dakshina Kannada and the academic problems of adolescents in relation to self-esteem and social support. These topics bring attention to the family and social environments in which children and young people grow, learn and develop. Another university record documents her guidance of research examining human resource development practices in public- and private-sector banks. A 2019 bulletin published by St Aloysius College, Mangaluru, also records the completion of this doctoral research under her guidance.
These examples indicate the breadth of the research she supervised, spanning family life, adolescent development and organisational practices. They also illustrate the role of social science research in examining questions that affect individuals and institutions.
Research guidance is a demanding academic responsibility. It involves helping scholars refine their research questions, engage critically with existing literature, select appropriate methods, interpret findings and present their conclusions with clarity. It also requires patience and a commitment to academic integrity. Through her documented work as a research guide, Dr. D’Souza contributed to the development of researchers who investigated questions relevant to social work and the wider social sciences.
Social science as a means of understanding people
The work of a social scientist is not limited to collecting information or producing academic writing. It involves asking meaningful questions about human behaviour, relationships, institutions and social change. The research topics associated with Dr. D’Souza’s guidance reflect several dimensions of this endeavour. Child-rearing practices invite attention to family relationships and the conditions that shape childhood. Research into adolescents’ academic difficulties, self-esteem and social support raises questions about the relationship between educational experiences and young people’s social environments. Studies of human resource development examine how organisations approach the growth and development of their employees. Such subjects demonstrate why social science research matters. Evidence-based understanding can help educators, practitioners and institutions recognise problems more clearly and consider appropriate responses.
Academic mentorship and the generations that follow
An academic’s contribution is measured not only by individual achievements but also by the development of others. Research supervision creates an important relationship between experienced scholars and those learning to undertake independent inquiry. Doctoral scholars must learn to work with evidence, question assumptions, recognise limitations and defend their conclusions. A research guide helps them navigate this process while encouraging intellectual independence.
The doctoral records and institutional reports associated with Dr. D’Souza provide concrete evidence of her role in this aspect of higher education. Her contribution as a research guide deserves consideration alongside her earlier responsibilities as Principal. The experiences of the scholars she supervised, as well as the recollections of former colleagues and students, would add a valuable personal dimension to this account. Their testimonies could help explain how her approach to teaching, guidance and academic work was experienced by those who knew her directly.
A professional life worth documenting
The professional journey of Dr. Sr. Jacinta D’Souza offers a meaningful subject for a closer study of social work education and academic mentorship in Mangaluru. Her documented roles as former Principal, research guide and participant in an academic programme on fieldwork provide a foundation for that study. A complete biography should also explore her early life, educational formation, entry into religious life if applicable, years of service, significant institutional initiatives, publications, honours and personal understanding of social work. These details should be established through reliable records and first-hand accounts rather than assumption. Former students, colleagues and research scholars may hold valuable memories of her teaching, leadership and influence. Institutional archives and commemorative publications may also preserve details that are not readily available in public sources.
The enduring value of scholarship and service
The work of social work education ultimately concerns people: their relationships, opportunities, difficulties and hopes for a better life. It requires intellectual discipline, professional responsibility and an enduring interest in social realities. Dr. Sr. Jacinta D’Souza’s documented academic career connects institutional leadership with the guidance of research on children, adolescents and organisational development. Her participation in a discussion on fieldwork education offers an additional example of her association with the professional preparation of social workers.
To describe her as an untiring scholar and dedicated social scientist is to recognise the significance of these professional contributions while acknowledging that her fuller story remains to be told through authentic biographical details and the voices of those who worked and studied alongside her.
A carefully researched account of her life would not only document the journey of an individual academic. It would also preserve a part of the history of social work education in Mangaluru and recognise the importance of those who help knowledge pass from one generation to the next.
