The one-week faculty development program on “Research Methodology: Tools, Techniques, and Trends” was organized by St. Vincent Pallotti College, Raipur, from September 19th to 25th,2024. The Faculty Development Program was inaugurated with  lighting a divine lamp by Director,Fr. Amit Tirkey, Principal, Dr. Kuldeep Dubey, Vice-Principal Dr.G. Padma Gouri. The Session commenced with the opening remarks by the Principal who emphasized the need of upskilling by the faculty in the area of Research and Development. The program provided an in-depth exploration of advanced research methodologies, addressing key aspects of academic writing, publishing strategies, AI integration in research, plagiarism detection, and the application of statistical tools in scholarly research.

 

On the inaugural day, Dr. Satputaley introduced the systematic approach of drafting research papers, guiding participants on organizing their research into clearly defined sections such as introduction, methodology, results, and discussion. Special attention was given to interactive revisions for enhancing clarity, coherence, and logical flow, culminating in the final submission-ready manuscript.

The second session delved into the complexities of the academic publication process. Dr. Satputaley provided comprehensive insights on transitioning from manuscript drafting to journal submission. The session focused on formulating a precise and testable hypothesis, ensuring that it aligns with the overarching research objectives. Participants were introduced to the strategic selection of journals, comparing the merits of traditional subscription-based journals versus open-access platforms.

 Dr. Kapil Gupta presented on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in research, particularly in the selection and framing of research titles in his first session. Dr. Gupta showcased AI-driven platforms such as Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar, and Science Direct, which leverage citation analysis and machine learning algorithms to assist researchers in identifying trending topics and optimizing research title selection. The second session addressed the crucial topic of plagiarism, led by Dr. Gupta. The session underscored the ethical ramifications of plagiarism in academic research and discussed both intentional and inadvertent instances of plagiarism.

Dr. Minhaj Ahmad A. Rahman session included ways of enhancing the impact of research publications. The session centered on understanding journal ranking metrics, with particular attention to the SC Imago Journal Rank (SJR) and Journal Citation Reports (JCR). Dr. Rahman explained how these metrics assess the influence of journals based on citation frequency and prestige. He guided participants on selecting high-impact journals by navigating platforms like SCOPUS and ELSEVIER. with journal scope, adhering to submission guidelines, and optimizing keywords to ensure successful publication in top-tier journals.

The final day focused on the utilization of advanced statistical tools for robust data analysis. Dr. Rahman elaborated on the application of SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) and JAMOVI, two prominent statistical software packages widely employed in research for data management, statistical testing, and visualization.

The program concluded with interactive discussions, where participants engaged with the speakers on the practical applications of the topics covered throughout the week. The faculty development initiative was lauded for its comprehensive approach to equipping educators with advanced research skills, enhancing their academic output, and ensuring adherence to rigorous research standards.

Mental health is a crucial part of who you are. It influences your actions, feelings, thoughts, and how you interact with others. Caring for your mental health unlocks several benefits, including reduced anxiety, improved self-image, and better control over your emotional and physical health. However, mental health problems continue to affect hundreds of millions of people globally. While the stress and ensuing fear of the failure in students is inevitable, one should not undermine its damaging effects on learners. Anxiety often affects students deeply, making them counterproductive and needless to say, it is detrimental to their mental well-being. To address this issue, Akashvani, Raipur organized a session on the topic “Stress & Anxiety Management at College Level” in St. Vincent Pallotti College, Raipur on 12th July 2024 in AVA Room at 11:30 AM for all the students and staff of college. The objective of the session was to provide with valuable insights and practical strategies for managing stress and anxiety. The expert speaker of the session was mental health expert, psychologist, Dr. Dogendra Singh Parihar.

The speaker emphasized on certain essential points and tips to handle stress and anxiety in life and during examinations. He stressed on strategic time management, balanced sleeping hours, revision with writing practices, controlled thoughts, balanced diet, avoiding procrastination, understanding the paper optimistic attitude, group discussion avoiding apprehension. He adopted constructive approach to eliminate all the chances of poor preparation and build-up a confident and optimistic learner who is ever-ready to take on the challenges.

Principal of the College, Dr.Kuldeep Dubey also interacted with the students and motivated the staff to create a safe and inclusive environment where students thrive academically and emotionally.  The session was followed by an interactive question answer session wherein the students exchanged personal experiences, tips and takes away points that will work wonders for them in their life emotionally and academically.

 

The session ended with the vote of thanks to the team of Akashvani, Raipur for organizing such insightful event in college.