Current Affairs

Academics underline importance of research in social science

Published

4 years ago

December 15, 2020

BK Editor

Academics underline importance of research

7-day workshop on Research Methodology begins at Kashmir University

BK News

Srinagar, Dec 15: A seven-day workshop on ‘Research Methodology in Social Sciences’ started at the University of Kashmir on Tuesday.

Dean Research Prof Shakeel A Romshoo presided over the inaugural session of the workshop, organised jointly by the varsity’s Media Education and Research Centre (MERC) and Department of Social Work (DoSW).

Underscoring the significance of methodology in research, Prof Romshoo said it’s very important for research scholars to know which methodology to adopt and where while pursuing their research goals.

“This would lead to better research outcomes and also help raise the standards and benchmarks of their research,” he said, asserting that research in social sciences was important to address a wide range of “problems” that societies are faced up with.

Prof Romshoo said there has to be a “social science component” in even “hard science research” to translate the outcome of the research done in various fields at societal levels, and also to feed that outcome into policy-making.

He said the University of Kashmir has taken several new initiatives, including the constitution of some important committees, to promote research in social sciences in a big way, in line with the National Education Policy-2020 guidelines.

In his keynote address, Dean Behavioural Sciences at KU Prof Showket A Shah highlighted issues and challenges concerning research in social sciences.

“It’s important to adopt methodology approaches in accordance with the research problems chosen by the scholars to ensure that the outcomes are fruitful and the objectives of the research are fairly achieved,” he said.

Head MERC Dr Aliya Ahmad said that new ideas and new perspectives keep on emerging, forcing academics to look at ideas through a new lens.

“The domain of research is fast expanding with new techniques, mixed methods and applications emerging both from academia and practitioners,” she said, adding that the intent of MERC has been to open doors and windows to a much broader spectrum of knowledge to advance communication and generate conservations on coverage, beats assigned and the industry.

“This research workshop is an example of that endeavour,” she said.

Coordinator DoSW, Dr Aadil Bashir said the workshop aims to teach young scholars different aspects of research methodology and how it could benefit them during the course of their research.

“The ultimate aim is to update ourselves with changing trends in research and research methodology to eventually contribute to ‘knowledge society’ and policy-making,” he said.

Dr Javaid Bashir from DoSW introduced the theme of the workshop and also delivered a vote of thanks. Dr Idrees Kanth from Ambedkar University New Delhi and Dr Syeda Afshana from MERC spoke on ‘Approaches to Social Science Research’ and ‘Reimagining Research in Covid 19 World’, respectively.

The inaugural function, among others, was attended by senior MERC and DoSW faculty members, Director EMRC and Media Advisor Dr Salima Jan, and HoD Library and Information Sciences, Dr Shabir Ahmad.

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Current Affairs

Darakhshan Andrabi granted MoS status

Published

3 years ago

April 8, 2022

BK Editor

BK News

Srinagar: J&K Waqf Board Chairperson Dr Darakhshan Andrabi has been granted the status of Minister of State (MoS) by the J&K Government.

Andrabi was last month appointed as a member of J&K Waqf Board and later elected chairperson.

“Sanction is hereby accorded to the grant of status equivalent to Minister of State (MoS) in favour of Dr Darakhshan Andrabi, Chairperson, J&K Waqaf Board,” an order issued on Friday by the Principal Secretary, GAD, Manoj Dwivedi reads.

“The Hospitality & Protocol Department shall make necessary insertion in the J&K Warrant of Precedence with the approval of Competent Authority,” it added.

Andrabi recently facilitated a successful meeting between Kashmiri business leaders with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

Andrabi is a national executive member of Bhartiya Janta Party and BJP state spokesperson for J&K.

Current Affairs

Kashmiri researcher to speak at UNGA Science Summit

Published

3 years ago

September 21, 2021

BK Editor

Srinagar, Sept 21: Dr Sheikh Fayaz Ahmad, a Kashmir-born Innovation Researcher, has been invited to speak at UNGA76’s second Science Summit (United Nations General Assembly UNGA76).

The UNGA Science Summit’s goal is to “increase awareness of science’s significance and contribution to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.” It will showcase efforts that will serve as examples for global science systems and activities supporting the SDGs, notably in the areas of science infrastructure and capacity building.”

Dr Sheikh Fayaz, a Kupwara resident, has been asked to speak at a session on ‘South-South/North Science Capacity Building and Research Collaboration for Advancing the SDGs,’ which will take place on September 22, 2021.

UNGA76 is seen as a unique and prestigious forum for science and development scholars to demonstrate “how policy and political leadership can benefit from innovation”. The second edition of UNGA76, Science Summit, is organized by ISC around the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA76) in New York in September 2021.

Dr Sheikh Fayaz is working as a full-time innovation researcher with the School of Management, Zhejiang University, one of the top public universities in China. He works on ‘secondary innovations’ and regional development. Sheikh Fayaz holds his M.Phil and PhD from the Centre for Studies in Science Policy, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-India.

Prior to joining Zhejiang University, Dr Fayaz was a Visiting Scholar at the Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Portugal, under European Commission’s Crossing Boundaries Project funded by Marie Curie Actions, International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (2014), School of Management, University of Bradford, England (Oct- Nov 2014) and University of Sussex, London and Institute of Development Studies, Sussex, England, (2017). He is also a member of the Globelics community and is an alumnus of various Globelics innovation academies held in Finland, Kenya and Brazil.

The other speakers for the science summit include some of the world’s leading development practitioners, researchers, scientists, and politicians from different parts of the world. Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, President, International Science Council, George Church from Harvard University Wyss Institute, Dr Magdalena Skipper, Editor in Chief, Nature, UK, Prof. Intisar Soghayroun Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Sudan and Dr Marcia McNutt President, National Academy of Sciences, USA, joined the opening plenary session held on September 14, 2021.

Current Affairs

Sufi poetry collection ‘Ganji Asrar’ released

Published

4 years ago

April 15, 2021

BK Editor

Srinagar: A collection of Sufi poetry, ‘Ganji Asrar’, authored by Musadiq Alam, was released on Tuesday at a cultural event in Tagore Hall here.
The event was organised by Angel’s Cultural Academy in association with the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.
The book is a poetry collection of the legendry Sufi poet, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Dar Shutloohi. Dar has served for more than 40 years at Darbari Kashani Shalimar.

‘Ganji Asrar’ has been published by Sultania Book Depot Maisuma and will be available at all leading book shops of J&K.