The workshop opened with a session by Prof. Srinivasa Acharya, Associate Professor at Manipal Academy of Higher Education. He provided an engaging introduction to research methodology, emphasizing curiosity and clarity in defining research questions. Highlighting the interplay between critical thinking and creative exploration, he encouraged students to view research as a dynamic and reflective process.
Ms. Nino Kilarjiani, a lecturer at the Free University of Tbilisi, led the next session, focusing on plagiarism awareness, including overlooked aspects like improper paraphrasing and self-plagiarism. Using real-world examples, she provided clear guidelines for ethical writing. She also demonstrated how to craft strong academic questions, using War and Peace to explore free will versus inevitability. Her session included a practical help sheet and interactive exercises on ethical writing and plagiarism identification.
Dr. Anasuya Agarwala, Assistant Professor at Manipal Academy of Higher Education, concluded the workshop with a session on academic research methods, particularly literature reviews and identifying research gaps. She guided students through analyzing existing scholarship and introduced exercises based on an article on moral objectivism, fostering critical reading and synthesis skills.
The workshop was an enriching experience, equipping students with practical tools and a deeper understanding of research. Insightful and interactive, it left participants feeling more confident and prepared for future academic work.
