Srinagar : A two-week Refresher Course in Research Methodology (Multidisciplinary) commenced at Govt. College for Women, M.A. Road here on Tuesday.
The course is being jointly organized by Govt. College for Women, M.A. Road, a constituent college of Cluster University Srinagar and UGC-Human Resource Development Centre, University of Kashmir.
Vice Chancellor, Cluster University Srinagar, Prof. (Dr.) Qayyum Husain was the Chief Guest at the inaugural function while Director, UGC-HRDC, Kashmir University, Prof. Mushtaq Ahmad Darzi was the Guest of Honour. Others present on the occasion included Dean Academic Affairs, Cluster University Srinagar (CUS), Prof. Mushtaq Ahmad Lone, Incharge Registrar (CUS), Dr.Khurshid Ahmad Mir and Coordinator HRDC-Kashmir University, Dr.SumeerGul.
In his inaugural address, Vice Chancellor, Prof. (Dr.) Qayyum appreciated the initiative of the host college, particularly Principal, Prof. (Dr.) Ruhi Jan Kanth, to organize the refresher course.
He referred to the measures suggested by National Education Policy (NEP-2020) under Continuous Professional Development (CPD) wherein teachers will get opportunities for self-improvement and learn the latest advances in their respective fields. “In this respect, refresher courses and other such programmes are important,” Prof. Qayyum said.
He advised the faculty members to avail opportunities to conduct research abroad while referring to various international faculty exchange and other programmes available for Indian scholars including Fulbright (US), Humboldt (Germany) and JSPS (Japan).
Prof. Qayyum shared his own experience as a researcher when he got the opportunity to work in reputed universities abroad and how it made him a better researcher and teacher. The Vice Chancellor referred to various steps taken by Cluster University to promote research in the constituent colleges.
Earlier, in her welcome address, Principal of the host college, Prof. (Dr.) Ruhi Jan Kanth said programmes like refresher courses have assumed more relevance in the light of NEP-2020 which emphasizes on research and faculty development programmes.
“Colleges and universities have been asked to focus on research and innovation,” she said while adding that the host college serves as a research hub in Home Science & Human Development and also has an Innovation and Incubation Centre to cater to the needs of young innovators.
Speaking on the occasion, Director, UGC-HRDC, Kashmir University, Prof. Mushtaq Ahmad Darzi referred to the various programmes being conducted by HRDC, saying that the centre focuses on teacher training to facilitate their professional development and dissemination of quality knowledge in the classrooms.
In his address, Dean Academic Affairs, Prof. Mushtaq Ahmad Lone said conducting such courses on research methodology is the need of the hour. “Unless the teachers are not well-equipped in methodology they will face difficulty in teaching the students as under NEP-2020 the 4-year multidisciplinary Bachelor’s programme shall be the preferred option as it may lead to a degree with Research if the student completes a project in their major areas of study,” Prof. Lone added.
Speaking on the occasion, I/c Registrar, Dr.Khurshid A. Mir cited some relevant examples of fallacious interpretations being drawn by researchers because they were not well versed with statistical tools and other methods. “In this respect, research methodology courses are quite important. Besides, now under NEP, we have to gear up to conduct and train undergraduate students in research in colleges,” he added.
Prof. Raashid Ashraf Malik conducted the proceedings of the inaugural function. Dr.Rajou Kumar Pandita from GCW M.A. Road and Dr.SumeerGul from HRDC-KU are the coordinators of the said refresher course which is scheduled to conclude on November 2. Dr.Sumeer presented formal Vote of Thanks.
