Workshop on research publication ethics concludes

Ganderbal, Nov 22: The one-week online workshop on “Research Publications Ethics,” organised by the Department of English, Central University of Kashmir (CUKashmir), which was inaugurated by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. A Ravinder Nath on November 18 sucessfully concluded here on Friday.

The valediction featured Prof. Appa Rao Podile, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Hyderabad, as Chief Guest and Prof M Afzal Zargar, Registrar. They reflected on the critical role of research in advancing knowledge, encouraging ethical practices, and building a knowledge-driven society. Both speakers underscored the challenges of ethical compliance and the need for systematic reforms to elevate the quality of academic research.

In the feedback, one of the participants, Dr Girija Suri said the experience of participating in the workshop was extremely fulfilling. “Topics chosen for the workshop were highly relevant and the event was conducted in a seamless manner.” Another participant, Menage Sri P said, "the presentations made during the workshop were fruitful and meaningful. The workshop was well structured and impactful. It established a stronger foundation to research.”

Prof Sandhya Tiwari, Dean School of Languages and workshop convener, presented a detailed report about the deliberations held during the workshop. She expressed gratitude to all speakers, participants, and organisers for their contributions and positive feedback. She emphasised that this workshop marked a step forward in enlightening a culture of ethical research and academic excellence and CUKashmir is committed to the cause of Viksit Bharat 2024.

Earlier, on 18th of November, Prof Ravinder Nath, set the tone for the workshop by emphasizing the importance of research in academia. He highlighted ethical practices, the transformative potential of NEP 2020, and the university's role in adopting a research culture, inspiring participants through a personal anecdote on curiosity.

On 19th of November, Prof Damodar Gurrapu, Vice-Chancellor, Chaitanya (Deemed to be University), addressed plagiarism, ethical responsibilities, and the challenges of ethical compromise in various disciplines. Prof Sudhakar Venukapalli introduced philosophical concepts and moral judgments, discussing their foundations and scope. Dr Murugan Pattusamy (University of Hyderabad) demonstrated tools and strategies to identify predatory journals and shared practical tips for recognizing credible databases and avoiding unethical publishing practices.

On 20th of November, Prof Raja Shekhar Bellamkonda (University of Hyderabad) explored qualitative methods, including ethnography and grounded theory, emphasizing their purpose and relevance in diverse research contexts. Dr Akhtar Parvez discussed the objectives of publishing, plagiarism detection tools like Turnitin, and strategies for ethical research and effective similarity exclusion. Dr Punyashree Panda (IIT Bhubaneswar) explained research philosophies, ethical challenges, and best practices.

On 21st of November, Dr. Vaishali Dhingra (SVNIT Surat) introduced participants to quantitative analysis, focusing on descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency, and the impact of outliers on data interpretation. Prof Tanu Gupta (Chandigarh University) addressed the ethical challenges of using AI tools like ChatGPT in research. She highlighted the risks of fake citations and recommended responsible use of AI in academia. Prof Ravinder Nath, emphasised the significance of scientific conduct, intellectual honesty, and adherence to ethical standards, warning against misconduct such as falsification and redundant publications.

On 22nd November, Prof. Shahid Rashool Dean Academic Affairs, discussed ethical concerns like research bias, exploitation, and ethical dissemination. Prof GB Reddy (Osmania University) highlighted the importance of originality, rigorous methodology, and proper citations.