LAHORE - A three-day training workshop on Research Methods organised by the Centre for Governance and Policy, Information Technology University (ITU) concluded yesterday.
Renowned local and international scholars, researchers and MPhil and PhD students participated in the workshop, which was aimed to instill the effective analytical and methodological skills in the researchers. It covered a wide range of topics on research especially building a constructive argument, assessing the utility of research for society, choosing effective research design, and plagiarism.
Prof Dr M Waseem from LUMS, Professor Shafique from BahauddinZakaria University, Professor Iqbal Chawla, Dean of Arts and Humanities at Punjab University, and Dr Chris Moffat from Queen Mary, University of London, conducted the training sessions.
Earlier, the workshop was inaugurated by Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Chairperson Prof Dr Mohammad Nizamuddin. Addressing the participants, he deplored that Social Sciences in Pakistan had long been ignored and needed immediate attention. He further lamented that due to lack of effective skills, research in Pakistan is not yielding significant societal contribution.
Dr Nizam said the PHEC was working to encourage such events and platforms which help scholars improve their understanding about research methods in social sciences and their contribution to society. “PHEC is committed to enhance the quality of research and academics in the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). We are funding workshops, seminars and foreign scholarships to produce competent teachers and researchers,” he added.
Addressing the concluding session, Dr Pippa Virdee, a visiting HEC professor from DeMontfort University, shared his experience at ITU: “I have been coming to Pakistan for over a decade and have always found research training extremely lacking among social scientists.
“This workshop brings together experts from all over Pakistan, India and the UK to deliver high class trainings for MPhil and PhD students and junior faculty.”
In his message, Vice Chancellor ITU Dr Umar Saif said: “ITU stands for high quality research and this training is a part of our effort to improve the state of social sciences in Pakistan. We are bringing the world to our scholars so that they may learn and gain from them.”
Dr Nizam congratulated the university for organising such an effective workshop on research methods. Dr Pippa Virdee, Dr Yaqoob Khan Bangash and other eminent scholars thanked the participants. Certificates of participation were awarded and sumptuous meals were served to the participants.