1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 ICSSR funds and promotes Research Methodology and Capacity Building Programmes in Universities, Colleges and Research Institutes to enhance the research capabilities of young research scholars and early-career academics and to promote a deeper understanding of the theoretical and methodological concepts of research.

A comprehensive understanding of the methodologies and strategies employed in research is essential for the development of high-quality research. Although the philosophical underpinnings of social science research are universally shared, each discipline has created its own distinctive theoretical framework and research methodologies. Researchers engaging in an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary study need to familiarize themselves with the methodologies of disciplines beyond their own area of competence.

Furthermore, there are a plethora of areas in which a proficient researcher must improve their skills, from the initial stage of the research problem to the final reporting and publication of the results, in order to make a substantial contribution to the advancement of knowledge in their respective fields.

The Training and Capacity Building (TCB) division provides grants to the Social Science faculties for organizing Research Methodology Courses and Capacity Building Programmes for Young Researchers and Faculty Members in all social science disciplines.

2. CATEGORIES

2.1 The Training & Capacity Building Programme is categorized into two distinct categories:

(A) Research Methodology Course (RMC)

The course aims to develop the PG/PhD/PDF scholars as future academicians and social science researchers by strengthening their methodological and writing skills.

(B) Capacity Building Programme (CBP)

This programme aims to improve the general methodological and writing abilities of in-service faculty members, primarily Lecturers/Assistant Professors in Social Science disciplines, and to expose them to the newest developments in their fields, technology spin-offs and the like.

3. ELIGIBILITY

3.1 Institutions/ Organizations:

The organizing institution, which plans to organize a TCB programme should be an ICSSR Research Institutes, ICSSR Recognised Institutes, Institutes of National Importance as defined by the Ministry of Education (MoE), UGC Recognized Indian Universities/Deemed Universities/Colleges under (2) F / 12(B) having proven research capacity, infrastructure and resources.

3.2 Course Directors

The Course Director for both programmes should be a serving Professor/Associate Professor/Assistant Professor (with PhD and minimum 5 years of teaching/research experience) in social and human science disciplines and must have a good publication record. In case a Co-Course Director is required, the person must also be a serving Professor/Associate/Assistant Professor and have a good publication record. There shall, however, be a cooling period of two (2) years for individual applicants from the date of one RMC/CBP and the submission of a new application.

3.3 Participants

3.3.1 Under the RMC, the participants should be enrolled for PG/Ph.D./PDF in a UGC-recognized University/Deemed University/College under 2F/12B /Institutes of National Importance or ICSSR Research Institutes/ Recognised Institutes and their application should be duly forwarded by the affiliating institution.

3.3.2 Under the CBP, the participants should be a Lecturer/ Assistant Professor in a UGC-recognized Indian University/Deemed University/Colleges/Institutes of National Importance or ICSSR Research Institutes/ Recognised Institutes and their application should be duly forwarded by the parent institution.

4. HOW TO APPLY

4.1 Applications are received online throughout the year. Additionally, Special Call CBPs and RMCs dealing with specific themes and issues as decided by the ICSSR will also be invited from time to time through an advertisement which shall be published on the ICSSR website, social media platforms of ICSSR and if required, in print media.

4.2 The applications should be sent at least three months before the due date of the RMC/CBP.

4.3 The applicants need to submit an online application, a hard copy of the same duly forwarded by the affiliating institution along with all the Enclosures I to VIII must be sent to:

The Deputy Director,
TCB Division,
Indian Council of Social Science Research,
Aruna Asaf Ali Marg,
New Delhi 110067
 

With the following enclosures:

• Enclosure I: Forwarding Letter duly signed by the affiliating university/institutions
• Enclosure –II: A concept note in about 1000 words that may be either in English or Hindi
• Enclosure-III: Date wise Tentative Programme Schedule
• Enclosure-IV: List of Resource Persons with their Affiliation, Designation, Department, Specialisation, Mobile No. And Email IDs,
• Enclosure V: Budget Allocations of the programme
• Enclosure-VI: Duly Attested SC/ST/Disability certificate, if applicable
• Enclosure VII: Brief Academic CV of the Course Director and Co-Director (not more than 2-5 pages)
• Enclosure VIII: Self-attested copy of the PhD Certificate

5. PROCEDURE FOR AWARD

5.1 All applications submitted to the ICSSR will be screened by the division regarding the submission of complete documents by the applicants.

5.2 The proposals shall be evaluated by the Expert Committee and grants will be awarded on the basis of recommendations of the committee.

5.3 The recommendations of the Expert Committee are then placed before the Research Committee and the Council for final approval.

5.4 The list of recommended proposals shall be published on the ICSSR website.

6. DURATION, VALUE AND RELEASE OF GRANT

(A) Research Methodology Course (RMC)

6.1 The duration of the course will be ten (10) full working days.

6.2 The maximum limit of the grant may be Rs. 8.00 lakh.

(B) Capacity Building Programme (CBP)

6.4 The duration of the course will be twelve (12) full working days

6.5 The maximum limit of the grant may be Rs. 10 lakh.

(C) The grant in both schemes will be released in two instalments.

Important points:

1. Once the programme is approved by the ICSSR, wide publicity with the ICSSR logo should be given to attract a sufficient number of applicants. This may be done through advertisements in the newspaper and uploading the information to the institution's website. A copy of the same may be sent to the ICSSR for uploading to its website.
2. The Course Director will ensure that at least two sessions each are dedicated to the use of data in social science research, research tools, and library & e-library training. If any Course Director proposes any special training such as SPSS, Disaster Management, Health Training, use of ICT in social science research etc, it must be clearly stated in the proposal along with additional budgetary requirements. One session each should focus on Indian Knowledge Systems and Elements of Academic Writing.
3. The Resource Persons invited for the course should be from different geographical & social science backgrounds preferably a Professor/Associate Professor with sufficient expertise in Resource Methodology and publications. While selecting the Resource Persons for both RMC/CBP, the Course Director should ensure that Resource Persons from outside the state, from the state and from the local area should separately share 1/3 (33%) of total lectures.
4. No Registration fee would be charged to the participants for attending the Course.
5. The Course Director/Co-Course Director is not entitled to draw an honorarium for taking sessions in the same Course.
6. The Council reserves the right to reject any application without assigning any reason. It is also not responsible for any postal delays/loss.
7. Incomplete applications in any respect shall not be considered.
8. Headwise audited statement of accounts and Utilization certificate in GFR-12 A form for the entire sanctioned amount duly signed by the Finance Officer/Registrar/ Principal/Director/Chartered Accountant in case the accounts of the Institution are audited by the CAG/AG. Otherwise, they need to be signed both by the competent authority of the affiliating institution and a Chartered Accountant/Local Audit Fund.
9. The forwarding institution, where the proposed Course is to be located, has to provide, in the prescribed format duly stamped and signed by the Competent Authority, an undertaking to administer and manage the ICSSR grant and provide logistical support for the Course.
10. The Course Director shall be responsible for the overall management and timely conduct of all the sessions and active engagement of the participants during the programme. The Co- Course Director, if any, will assist the Director in discharging the overall responsibility of conducting the workshop.
11. The host University/Institute & Course Director are expected to give wide publicity to the programme, clearly mentioning that it is an ICSSR Sponsored Programme, at least one month in advance.