The Department of Education, Central University of Punjab (CU Punjab) has commenced a Ten-Day Research Methodology Course (RMC) in Social Sciences, sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), from 9th to 18th March 2026. The programme is being organized under the patronage of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari to strengthen research capabilities among Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral scholars.
The inaugural ceremony began with a welcome address by Course Director Dr. Jaswinder Singh, who emphasized the importance of rigorous research methodologies in the social sciences. Co-Course Director Prof. Shankar Lal Bika highlighted the objectives of the programme and informed that the course received an overwhelming response from scholars across the country, with around 380 applications received from different universities and research institutions.
After a rigorous screening process, 60 participants from various states were selected for the programme. The Chief Guest of the inaugural ceremony, Prof. Ronki Ram, Former Professor, Department of Political Science, Panjab University, Chandigarh, highlighted the significance of research in addressing contemporary societal challenges and encouraged scholars to undertake innovative and impactful research that contributes to national development and knowledge creation.
The course will feature lectures and hands-on sessions by eminent scholars and experts from leading institutions across India on diverse topics such as research design, qualitative and quantitative methods, bibliometric analysis, research ethics, AI tools in research, and scientific writing.
On the inaugural day, Prof. Ronki Ram (Panjab University, Chandigarh) and Prof. Seema Vinayak, Department of Psychology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, delivered lectures on “Problematizing Concept Formation in Social Sciences: A Field View,” “Can Theory Locate Its Context? Some Critical Observations,” and “Importance of Items in Tests/Tools Construction.”
During the ten-day course, eminent academicians and educationists including Prof. Sanjeev K. Sharma (Former Vice Chancellor, M.G.C. University, Motihari, Bihar), Prof. S. K. Senapati (Former Director, NCERT, New Delhi), Prof. Satvinderpal Kaur (PU, Chd.), Prof. R. P. Vadhera (Former Pro-Vice Chancellor, Mizoram University), Prof. Sunayna Khurana (Rayat Bahra University), Prof. Vishal Sood (CU HP), Prof. Kulwinder Singh (Punjabi University, Patiala), Prof. Paramjit Singh Judge (GNDU, Amritsar), and Prof. Sanjeev Kumar Sharma (Vice Chancellor, MRSPTU, Bathinda) will deliver lectures and interact with the participants, providing them with an enriching academic experience.
The inaugural session was attended by Prof. Bawa Singh, Prof. Kanhaiya Tripathi, Dr. S.S. Dhillon, Head and Dean School of Education; Dr. S. Pany; and faculty of Dept. of Education. Organized under the broader vision of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education), the programme aims to equip young researchers with advanced methodological skills, enabling them to conduct high-quality research and contribute to the advancement of social sciences.