Report R3.2 Review of Research Training at XIMB Seminar Leaders: D. P. Dash, Jaydeep Mukherjee, Jacob D. Vakkayil dpdash[at]ximb.ac.in The participants in the seminar attempted to review the research training process at XIMB. The focus of the review was the Research Training Seminar (RTS) series at XIMB and the related activities. The following questions came up for discussion: (i) How do we understand "research training"? (ii) What is the perspective associated with this seminar series? (iii) What is the relevance of writing the seminar reports? Deliberating on these questions made it possible for the regular participants in this series to articulate their own views, experiences, and suggestions to enhance this activity. It also helped the new participants gain an overall understanding of these seminars and recognise areas where additional effort needs to be spent in order to make the research training process more meaningful for them. (i) How do we understand research training? Research training is a multifunctional exercise at XIMB. It aids personal learning for the participants and facilitates exchange of ideas in a trans-disciplinary context. It seeks to create a conducive environment for nurturing potential thoughts that could emerge to become strong research subjects. Research training is a participatory effort to gain a better understanding of research as a process and the associated practices. (ii) What is the perspective associated with this seminar series? The RTS series is a forum for doctoral students to subject themselves to research discussions. The series aims to create awareness among the participants regarding the academic requirements of doctoral study. It could be treated as a corrective exercise to fine-tune the analytical and presentation skills of a scholar. The beauty of the series lies in the flexibility, which attempts to address virtually any research related query from the participants. It seeks to benefit the research community by presenting alternative ways to think about different topics. The RTS series attracts participation chiefly from research scholars and faculty-members from within and outside the Institute. An orientation towards research, reflective practice, and innovation helps in effective participation. Some postgraduate students have also occasionally contributed to the discussions. The variety of interests and backgrounds represented in these seminars has expanded the breadth of the discussions and produced significant learning for the participants. The vibrancy and depth of these discussions were more often the result of keen and generous participation by those involved. Although the RTS series has attracted a wide variety of topics, the discussions have revolved around the central theme of "research." The diverse topics discussed have illuminated this central theme from different disciplinary and methodological angles. Doctoral education was described as "academic infancy" where one develops a variety of required skills. The need to have a planning horizon beyond the immediate doctoral project was emphasised. Often there is a requirement to challenge existing modes of thinking and acting. The image of the researcher as a 'thought leader" aptly captures this idea. Such thought leadership is required in the practice of research too. Traditional research methods have consistently failed to generate high quality results in a number of applied fields including Management. Many researchers treat research as a programmed activity involving a definite set of techniques. Some tools and techniques like those involved in quantitative data analysis serve as a research language. Such languages enable cross-disciplinary, cross-cultural conversations. Researchers need to be equipped with more such research languages. (iii) What is the relevance of writing the seminar reports? RTS reports not merely chronicles the discussions but also provide an opportunity to reflect on the ideas discussed. Academic writing is an important activity for any researcher. Through a well-structured reporting process, the RTS series provides opportunities for honing writing skills. The process of report writing also equips reporters with opportunities to seek and respond to feedback from others. There are a number of areas where the reporter can exercise his/her choice, for example one can structure and interpret discussions in a seminar and elaborate and highlight certain interesting threads. Most reporters have a set of target readers in mind. This is another area where a choice can be exercised. It could be summarised that research-training seminars attempt to provide a conceptual framework for a researcher to pursue his/her interest. This multidimensional activity might emerge as a catalyst for potential researchers. RTS aims to grow as a forum for discussion in understanding the practice of research. Having stated this, the onus is on the participants to maximize their learning from the opportunities provided. Reported by Adwaita Govind Menon, with inputs from D. P. Dash, Jacob D. Vakkayil, and Jaydeep Mukherjee. (16 July 2005) Copyleft Xavier Institute of Management, Xavier Square, Bhubaneswar 751013, India Research World (ISSN 0974-2379) http://www1.ximb.ac.in/RW.nsf/pages/Home |
