One Week International Faculty Development Programme (IFDP) from 15th January 2026 to 20th January 2026

School of Management and Commerce Studies, under the Aegis of IQAC, SGRRU organized a One Week International Faculty Development Programme (IFDP) from 15th January, 2026 (Thursday) on “Developing Research Competencies: Qualitative & Quantitative Perspectives” with the objective of enhancing research capabilities of faculty members and researchers through structured technical sessions, expert interactions, and practical insights.

The first day of the IFDP commenced with welcoming of dignitaries. This was followed by a Welcome Address delivered by the Convenor Prof (Dr.) Soniya Gambhir, Dean, School of Management and Commerce Studies & Director IQAC, SGRRU who warmly welcomed the dignitaries, resource persons, and participants, and highlighted the objectives of the FDP. The ceremonial Lighting of the Lamp was performed by the Patron & Guest of Honour, Honorable Vice-Chancellor SGRRU, Prof. (Dr.) K. Prathapan, Chief Guest Dr. Anshul Garg, Programme Director, Taylor’s University, Malaysia and other dignitaries, symbolizing the pursuit of knowledge and academic excellence. The Guest of Honour in his address emphasized the institution’s vision for promoting quality research and fostering an ecosystem of academic innovation and also stressed on the importance of strengthening research culture, global publication standards, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This was followed by the Chief Guest’s Inaugural Address provided valuable insights into scholarly publishing, research ethics, and enhancing research impact at national and international levels. The inaugural session concluded with a Vote of Thanks, acknowledging all dignitaries, speakers, organizers, and participants. After a short High Tea break, the technical session began. The resource person of the Technical Session – I, Prof. (Dr.) Pankaj Madan, of Gurukul Kangri University was formally introduced. Session – I focused on Role of Artificial Intelligence on scientific Research Writing. The session covered the use of AI tools structuring of a research paper, identification of research gaps, journal selection, impact metrics, peer-review processes, and ethical publishing practices. Participants actively engaged in discussions and gained practical insights into avoiding predatory journals and improving manuscript quality.

The second day of the One Week International Faculty Development Programme (IFDP) was successfully conducted on Friday, 16 January 2026, at SGRRU, organized by the School of Management and Commerce Studies under the aegis of IQAC. The programme was graced by the presence of the Honorable Vice Chancellor, Shri Guru Ram Rai University, whose address inspired the participants by highlighting the university’s vision of promoting a strong research culture, interdisciplinary collaboration, and global academic engagement. The Honorable Vice Chancellor underscored the importance of ethical research practices, innovation, and the integration of advanced research tools to meet contemporary academic and societal challenges. The programme began with a Welcome Address by Prof. (Dr.) Soniya Gambhir, Director, IQAC and Dean, School of Management and Commerce Studies, who warmly welcomed all dignitaries, resource persons, and participants. She highlighted the significance of building robust research competencies and emphasized the role of qualitative and quantitative approaches in enhancing academic and research excellence. The first technical session featured Prof. (Dr.) Sagi Mathew, Curtin University, Western Australia, who delivered an insightful lecture on Advanced Research Tools and Techniques. The session focused on interdisciplinary research approaches, contemporary research tools, and essential soft skills required for researchers. The session was highly interactive and concluded with an engaging Q&A discussion, followed by a High Tea break. The second technical session was conducted by Dr. Harsh Vardhan Samalia, NITTTR, Chandigarh. The session emphasized Systematic Literature Review (SLR) techniques and explored the growing role of Artificial Intelligence in research methodologies. Participants gained practical insights into technology-driven research practices, enhancing both efficiency and research quality. The day concluded with an interactive discussion and closing remarks, summarizing the key learning outcomes and reinforcing the importance of innovative, ethical, and technology-enabled research practices in academia.

Day 3 of the IFDP was successfully conducted with a strong focus on advanced quantitative research methodologies and their relevance in contemporary empirical research. The sessions commenced with opening remarks emphasizing the importance of quantitative analysis in evidence-based research. Technical Session I was delivered by Dr. Praveen Ranjan Srivastava on fsQCA (Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis). The session introduced fsQCA modelling techniques, applications of machine learning, and the emerging role of Agentic AI in research. Participants actively engaged in discussions and hands-on learning using laptops for enhanced practical understanding. Technical Session II was conducted by Dr. Murali Manohar Bhupati, who provided an in-depth understanding of Partial Least Squares (PLS) techniques. The session covered time-based quantitative methods, model building, interpretation, and the growing application of AI in quantitative research, offering valuable conceptual clarity to participants. The sessions were effectively hosted and convened by Prof. (Dr.) Vipul Jain, ensuring smooth conduct and meaningful academic engagement. Special thanks to Prof. (Dr.) Soniya Gambhir, Dean, School of Management and Commerce Studies and Director, IQAC, for her visionary leadership and dedicated efforts in organizing the programme. Sincere appreciation to the organizing team for their exceptional support and coordination:

Dr. Suchita Gera, HOD – Commerce Dr. Monika Bangari, HOD – Management Dr. Mamta Bansal, HOD – Hospital Administration The day concluded with a wrap-up session highlighting key takeaways and reinforcing the significance of advanced quantitative tools in high-quality research.

The fourth day of the One Week International Faculty Development Programme (IFDP) on Developing Research Competencies: Qualitative & Quantitative Perspectives was marked by rich academic engagement, focusing on research publishing excellence and hands-on qualitative research methods. The day commenced with opening remarks outlining the technical focus areas.

Technical Session I: It was delivered by Prof. (Dr.) C.A. M. S. Jadhav, who provided in-depth insights on Research Paper Writing and Targeting High-Impact Journals. The session emphasized strong research foundations, identifying reputed journals, and upholding research ethics and integrity—key aspects for successful scholarly publishing. Technical Session II was conducted by Prof. (Dr.) Ashulekha Gupta on Qualitative Research Techniques using MAXQDA. Participants were introduced to qualitative research designs, data collection methods, coding processes, and thematic analysis using the MAXQDA software. The sessions were highly appreciated for their practical orientation and applicability, especially in managing and analyzing qualitative data effectively. The day concluded with an engaging Q&A session and closing remarks, reinforcing the programme’s commitment to strengthening research competencies among faculty members.

The final day of the IFDP on Developing Research Competencies: Qualitative & Quantitative Perspectives organized by School of Management and Commerce Studies, under the Aegis of IQAC, SGRRU, focused on Emerging Trends in Research and Publication. In the Technical Session – I, Dr. Amar Johri discussed AI-driven research methodologies, quantum computing, and renewable energy research. This was followed by Technical Session – II by Dr. Juhi Garg, who elaborated on integrating SDG-focused research into teaching and academic practices. The Valedictory Session commenced with an overall summary of the FDP. A detailed FDP Outcome Presentation highlighted the objectives achieved and key learning outcomes. Dr. Lokesh Gambhir, Respected Registrar, SGRRU appreciated all the resource persons, participants, and the organizing committee. Prof. (Dr.) Soniya Gambhir, Dean SMCS and Convenor of the IFDP acknowledged the support of organizing committee, faculty members of the school alongwith institutional and technical support teams. The programme concluded with Certificate Distribution, followed by a Vote of Thanks by Prof. (Dr.) Vipul Jain, Co-Convenor of the IFDP, marking the successful completion of the FDP.