5 Day FDP on Advancing Academic Excellence – Research Tools, Funding Opportunities, and E-Content Development

The Faculty Development Programme (FDP), held from 29th July to 2nd August 2025, brought together faculty members from diverse disciplines for a comprehensive and engaging learning experience.

The programme commenced on Day 1 with a formal inauguration, setting the tone for an enriching week ahead. The first session, led by Dr. Sahil Gupta, introduced participants to NVIVO, a software tool for qualitative research analysis. Faculty members gained hands-on experience working with NVIVO datasets, learning coding techniques, theme identification, and data visualization. Following a short break, the focus shifted to Mendeley, where participants explored effective ways to manage references, organize research libraries, and seamlessly integrate citations into MS Word documents. The afternoon session was facilitated by Dr. Durgansh Sharma, who provided an insightful orientation on funding research projects, explaining how to identify appropriate funding bodies, prepare compelling proposals, and align research ideas with national priorities.

Day 2 delved deeper into the theme of research funding with three interactive sessions by Dr. Sharma. Participants were introduced to a range of government funding agencies such as UGC, ICSSR, DST, DBT, and ICMR, as well as international opportunities. Emphasis was placed on the key components of a strong research proposal, including problem statements, objectives, methodology, expected outcomes, and budgeting. Faculty members also worked on drafting mock proposal outlines and received practical guidance on writing methodology and justification sections while gaining exposure to evaluation criteria used by funding agencies.

On Day 3, the FDP welcomed Dr. Mallika Sankar, Deputy Director at ICSSR, who began a two-day workshop titled “Navigating the Grant Maze.” The first day focused on understanding the broader grant ecosystem, including national and international funding sources. Participants were guided on framing research questions aligned with funding priorities and policy relevance. Group activities encouraged brainstorming and mapping of project ideas to suitable funding agencies, with case illustrations of successful ICSSR and UGC projects offering valuable insights.

Day 4 continued with Dr. Sankar’s workshop, which shifted toward practical application. Faculty members collaborated in teams to prepare mini-proposals, covering objectives, expected outcomes, and preliminary budgets. Detailed discussions centered on budget preparation, timelines, compliance requirements, and strategies for interdisciplinary and collaborative proposals. The session also touched upon international funding opportunities from agencies such as the EU, UNDP, and World Bank.

The final day, Day 5, focused on E-Content Development, with two sessions conducted by Dr. Abhijeet Birari. Faculty members learned about creating effective digital learning resources, recording techniques, and integrating materials with LMS platforms. Dr. Birari showcased tools for developing interactive video lectures, multimedia content, and MOOCs. The FDP concluded with a Valedictory Ceremony, where participants shared their experiences, received certificates, and reflected on their learnings. Many expressed enthusiasm for applying digital pedagogy techniques and proposal-writing strategies in their teaching and research endeavors.

Overall, the FDP offered a balanced mix of theory and practice, equipping participants with valuable skills in research funding, proposal writing, and e-content development, thereby strengthening their capacity for high-quality academic research and innovative teaching.

OUTCOMES OF THE EVENT

Outcome 1 Proficiency in NVIVO and Mendeley for research.
Outcome 2 Comprehensive understanding of funding agencies and proposal drafting.
Outcome 3 Development of mock proposals and draft budgets.
Outcome 4 Skills in digital content creation for e-learning.
Goal Achievement

• The objectives of the five-day FDP were successfully achieved to a significant extent. The programme aimed to enhance faculty competence in three core areas:
• Research Tools: Participants gained hands-on exposure to NVIVO and Mendeley, enabling them to manage qualitative research and references more effectively.
• Funding Strategies: Sessions by Dr. Durgansh Sharma and Dr. Mallika Sankar empowered faculty with practical insights into identifying funding agencies, drafting fundable proposals, preparing budgets, and meeting compliance requirements.
• E-Content Development: The final day with Dr. Abhijeet Birari equipped faculty with essential skills to create engaging digital learning resources, aligning with the university’s vision of digital pedagogy.

Overall, the FDP met its goals by integrating research capacity-building, funding navigation, and digital teaching enhancement. Participants not only gained theoretical knowledge but also engaged in draft proposal exercises and e-content demonstrations, making the learning outcome practical, applicable, and measurable.

Key Takeaways

Faculty can now use NVIVO for coding, theme generation, and qualitative data visualization.

Mendeley skills enhanced efficiency in reference management, collaboration, and citation formatting.

Awareness of multiple national and international funding agencies (UGC, ICSSR, DST, DBT, UNDP, EU, etc.) and their proposal requirements.

Practical understanding of how to structure proposals: from framing objectives to budgeting and expected outcomes.

Exposure to common mistakes in proposal writing and strategies to improve success rates.

Development of mock proposals and budgets during the workshop, enhancing readiness for real applications.

Training in e-content development tools for MOOCs and blended learning platforms.

A renewed focus on interdisciplinary and collaborative projects, aligning with institutional and national priorities.