Scope and Importance of Research in Higher Education

Dr.Arun S.Vaidya Associate Professor UGC-Academic Staff College, Bangalore University, Bangalore

What is Research
Research is defined as refinement of our daily thinking. New Discovery/Original thinking Revise-Critical thinking Refinement of deligent work Identifying the problem, collecting and analyzing the data and delivering the fruitful conclusion.

Why Research?
As per UGC guidelines every teacher is expected to do teaching, research work compulsorily to impart or share the knowledge with the students, in order to improve/enhance quality of education. Further, much attention is being given to their professional competency such that they have to be regarded as knowledge capitals. There is a severe debacle in the new discoveries and inventions of our country excepting few fields, the interest towards science, other subjects for the past five decades and indeed stood test of our time. Students not getting attracted to learn Science- CNR Rao Choice of career in young minds being haunt of job but not thirst for the knowledge, creation etc. Requirement, Scarcity and Challenges are the Inspirations for research.

Facts
No noble laureates from India after( first award was in 1901 and the most recent one after hundred and eight years. During this period only two, Poet Rabindranath Tagore(1915) & C.V. Raman ( 1930) were Indian born and their field of activity entirely Indian. Other awardees (Hargobind Khorana,1968 Physiology, Subraymanyan Chadrashekhar,1983, Physics Amartya Sen,1998, Economics and Venkataraman Ramkrshnan 2009) -no doubt born India, but migrated to either Britain or America and pursued their investigations in to problems which had no connection with India- B.P. Radhakrishna

 No women takers for research (VTU press note). No. of patents claimed very meager. UK and US Universities top 10 in the world. None of our Indian Universities are top ranked globally. Delhi-254, Calcutta-410, Bombay-456, Pune-469 (UGC News). UGC and other organizations provide grants/financial assistance to do research. However, every year the sanctioned grants/funds are not utilized properly (JSUGC).

 Research, publications citations received, number of papers which resulted from international collaboration to the total number of papers published are the criteria considered for assessing top rankings. Research is one of the major criteria of NAAC for grades. IISC bags No.1 rank in India. Mysore(21/25) only saving grace ;TN Varsities top South. Americans appoint only noble laureates in the R&D and other scientific organizations.

Concern and Expectations

Universities become great not just by good teaching but by undertaking leading edge in research Narayanamurthy. Time has come now to raise the aspirations, confidence, energy and enthusiasm of our educational Institutes through transparency and accountability to challenge the entry of Foreign Educational Universities and Private Universities - PM. Liberate Science from shackles of Bureaucratism :PM In India the higher education sector in terms of students is the third largest after China and the US. Further, being one of youngest country in the world as 72% of its population is less than 35 years old. The Government has decide to spend Rs 3 lakh crore during the 11th Plan Principal Secretary Prime Minister of India announced recently during Science Congress that the much awaited National Science and Engineering Research Board would start functioning before March. The protection of Intellectual property bill which focused on sharing revenue from intellectual properties with researchers would be taken up for discussion in parliament soon.

Teachers should be creative and must teach the subjects with new methodologies to develop curiosity in students CNR Rao Young researchers should not hanker after what is fashionable the trend of the moment but pursue only that which they find interesting. The subject of research for a young scientists should be so gripping for him that he should be willing to pursue it even if no one else is ready to do so. Science should be done for basic curiosity and useful purposes. There are good scientific work in spite of lack of facilities- Noble Laureate Roger Y Tsein (during Science Congress). Prime Minister in his address expressed that dismay that red tapism, political interference and lack of proper recognition of good work has resulted in regression in Indian Science. However, the centre is considering formulation of schemes of funding to improve quality of research and encourage young minds by means of various fellowships.

Who is a Researcher?
One who is intelligent and possess strength of reasoning, grasping, presence of mind, scientific temper, patience and devotion. Willing to trace/search Creative Collaborative Practical Methodical Aware of analytical tools/equipments. Computational- Basics, Software packages, Mathematical/Statistical modules etc. Surfing the articles globally.

Characters of Research
Originate with a question to a problem. Requires clear articulation of a goal. Follows a specific plan or procedure- (time management). Often divides main problem in to sub problem. Generating the Sources. To be bold enough to justify the facts with guide and experts. Sponsorship. Dedication.

Ethics in research
Original thinking/Problem Avoid copying/Plagiarism The facts must be true and should not be unethical.

Research Methodology
Descriptive- observing the facts and recording. Experimental-Conducting the Experiment and analyzing. Pragmatism- Futuristic vision. Ex. Vision 2020, Carl Marx predicted Russia will be Communist country in advance. Steel era/plastic era. Creative- Raga Indirapriyadarshini by Ravishankar ( Sitarist). Sociological etc.

Common tips for preparing thesis/ report

Introduction Preamble Supporting evidence-previous works Objective of a problem and mode of approach Material and Methods Results Discussion and conclusions Recommendations References / Bibliography

Where to look for finance/funds

Minor and Major research projects University Grants Commission- UGC Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Department of Science and Technology Department of Ocean Technology DRDO- Dept. of Research and Defense Organization Social Institutes/ Research Centers State/Central Govt. & NGO Funding agencies

Scope for research

Universities and other funding agencies encourage research by special schemes (swarna Jayanthi, Fast track schemes etc. To encourage women researcher DST is providing Rs.20 lakh to conduct research in technology. Infosys Science foundation provides Prizes Rs.50 lakhs for outstanding researchers globally recognized. 4 categories (Natural Science, Social Science and Technology. Accordingly announced 4 prizes for Astrophysicist, Biologist, Mathematician and History etc. Grade Pay introduced by 6th Pay commission.

Importance of research
Advance our Knowledge Procure important equipment/Infrastructure to the Institution where we are working. Self satisfaction for contributing something to the society/reaching the goal. Serving the purpose and needs of the society. Appreciation/ Awards/Remembrance for ever. Ultimately reaching the goal, Vision and Mission of the Universities and Educational Institutions and contributing directly or indirectly to the National development.

Rabindranath Tagore
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high Where knowledge is free Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow minded domestic walls Where words come out from the depth of truth Where tireless striving stretches its way towards perfection Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way in the dreary desert sand of dead habit; Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action Into that heaven of freedom, my father, let my country awake. Thank You