Report
Faculty Development Program (FDP) on
"New Trends and Multidisciplinary Approach in Research”
21st to 25th July 2026
Organized by: Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Maharishi University of Information Technology (MUIT), Noida Campus
The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Maharishi University of Information Technology (MUIT), Noida Campus, inaugurated a five-day Faculty Development Program (FDP) on "New Trends and Multidisciplinary Approach in Research", scheduled from 21–25 July 2026. The programme has been designed to strengthen the research competencies of faculty members by fostering multidisciplinary collaboration, promoting innovative research practices, and enhancing the quality of scholarly publications.
The programme commenced with the traditional Gurupuja ceremony symbolizing the pursuit of knowledge and academic excellence. Faculty members from various schools of the University and other higher education institutions of the NCR enthusiastically participated in the inaugural session.
Welcoming the participants, Dr. Trapty Agarwal, Dean Academics, outlined the objectives of the FDP and emphasized the importance of continuous faculty development in achieving academic excellence. She highlighted that the programme would provide participants with valuable exposure to emerging research trends, interdisciplinary collaboration, research ethics, publication strategies, and innovation-driven research practices.
The inaugural address was delivered by the Hon'ble Vice Chancellor, Dr. Bhanu Pratap Singh, who stressed that multidisciplinary research has become the cornerstone of innovation in higher education. He encouraged faculty members to undertake socially relevant and impactful research, collaborate across disciplines, and contribute to high-quality publications, patents, consultancy projects, and externally funded research.
The inaugural session was graced by distinguished academicians and industry experts, including Dr. Saurabh Agarwal, Director, Cloud Operations, Adobe, Dr. Lisa P. Lukose, Professor, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University and Dr. Bharat Bhushan, Assistant Professor, Sharda University.
The first technical session was conducted by Dr. Saurabh Agarwal, Director, Cloud Operations, Adobe, on AI in Research, followed by an expert talk by Dr. Bharat Bhushan and Dr. Lisa P. Lukose on "How to Write a Research Paper." The session provided comprehensive guidance on identifying research problems, conducting systematic literature reviews, framing research objectives and hypotheses, selecting appropriate research methodologies, maintaining research ethics, avoiding plagiarism, organizing manuscripts effectively, and choosing suitable indexed journals for publication.
They also shared practical tips for improving manuscript quality and increasing the impact and visibility of research publications. The interactive session witnessed enthusiastic participation, with faculty members engaging in meaningful discussions and seeking expert guidance on various aspects of scholarly writing.
The inaugural day concluded with a formal vote of thanks, acknowledging the visionary leadership of the Hon'ble Vice Chancellor, the valuable contributions of the eminent speakers, and the dedicated efforts of team IQAC – Dr. Neelu Tiwari, Dr. K.B. Astha, Dr. Archana Pandey, Dr. Awakash Mishra, Dr. Mudita Agarwal, and Dr. Shweta Bajaj – with the support of Mr. Gaurav Thakur, Ms. Priyanka, Dr. Mangal Singh, Mr. Vivek Mishra, and Mr. Ankit Tyagi in organizing the programme. The enthusiastic participation of faculty members reflected the University's commitment to fostering a culture of research excellence, innovation, and interdisciplinary learning.
The five-day FDP promises a series of enriching technical sessions, expert lectures, and interactive discussions aimed at empowering faculty members with contemporary research skills and promoting high-quality academic and research output.
DAY 2
The day featured two highly engaging technical sessions that equipped participants with practical knowledge of advanced research tools and statistical software widely used in contemporary research.
The morning session was delivered by Dr. Amit Dev, an eminent academician from Lovely Professional University, on the topic "Application of SPSS in Research." Dr. Dev provided a comprehensive overview of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), emphasizing its significance in quantitative research across diverse disciplines. Through practical demonstrations, he explained data entry, data management, descriptive and inferential statistical analysis, hypothesis testing, correlation, regression analysis, and interpretation of research findings. The interactive session enabled participants to understand how SPSS facilitates evidence-based research and enhances the accuracy and reliability of data analysis.
The afternoon session was conducted by Professor Sudhi Sharma, who delivered an insightful and hands-on workshop on the "Application of R Studio in Research." The workshop introduced participants to the powerful capabilities of R Studio as an open-source platform for statistical computing, data visualization, and predictive analytics. Professor Sharma demonstrated coding techniques, data manipulation, graphical representation of data, statistical modelling, and reproducible research practices. The practical exercises encouraged active participation and enabled faculty members to gain confidence in using R Studio for advanced research and multidisciplinary data analysis.
The hands-on demonstrations and interactive discussions significantly enhanced participants' understanding of modern research methodologies and analytical techniques.
The programme continues to reflect MUIT's commitment to promoting research excellence, innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies in higher education. The knowledge and skills acquired during these sessions are expected to empower faculty members in conducting high-quality research and producing impactful scholarly contributions.
DAY 3
The third day of the Five-Day Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on "New Trends and Multidisciplinary Approach in Research" was conducted with great enthusiasm and active participation from faculty members across various disciplines. The sessions were thoughtfully designed to strengthen researchers' understanding of emerging dimensions of research, intellectual property, and scholarly communication.
The morning session was conducted by Dr. Sangeeta Nagar, Former Scientist 'F', Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, and Senior Scientist (Intellectual Property Rights), S.S. Rana & Co. Law Firm. Dr. Nagar delivered an insightful and highly engaging lecture on "Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in Research." She elaborated on the significance of protecting innovations, inventions, and creative works through various forms of intellectual property, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, industrial designs, and geographical indications. She emphasized the growing importance of IPR in academia and highlighted the process of patent filing, technology transfer, commercialization of research outcomes, and ethical practices in scientific innovation.
The afternoon session was conducted by Prof. Amardeep, faculty of Law, Delhi University, who delivered an informative and interactive lecture on "Citation and Referencing in Research." He explained the indispensable role of proper citation in maintaining academic integrity, preventing plagiarism, and enhancing the credibility of scholarly work. Prof. Amardeep familiarized the participants with internationally accepted citation styles such as APA, MLA, Chicago, and IEEE and demonstrated effective citation management using modern reference management tools. He also discussed best practices for literature review, referencing research articles, and improving the visibility and impact of scholarly publications through accurate citation practices.
Both sessions witnessed enthusiastic participation, interactive discussions, and thought-provoking question-answer sessions.
The third day of the FDP significantly enhanced the participants' understanding of Intellectual Property Rights, research ethics, and citation management, thereby equipping them with essential competencies required for conducting high-quality, multidisciplinary research.
DAY 4
The fourth day of the Five-Day Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on "New Trends and Multidisciplinary Approach in Research," was successfully conducted with two highly enriching expert sessions. The day focused on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in higher education and the adoption of advanced research methodologies in multidisciplinary research.
The first technical session was delivered by Prof. (Dr.) Praveen Pandey, Delhi Technological University (DTU), New Delhi, on the theme "Transforming Teaching in Higher Education: From Traditional Pedagogy to AI-Enabled Learning." Prof. Pandey provided an insightful perspective on the evolving landscape of higher education, emphasizing the transition from conventional teaching methods to learner-centric, technology-driven pedagogies. He elaborated on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into teaching and learning processes, highlighting how AI-powered tools can enhance personalized learning, improve student engagement, facilitate adaptive assessments, and support outcome-based education.
The session also explored the ethical use of AI in academia, the changing role of educators in an AI-enabled ecosystem, and the necessity for faculty members to continuously upgrade their digital competencies. The session proved to be highly relevant in the context of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the rapidly evolving educational environment.
The second technical session featured an enlightening Expert Lecture by Prof. (Dr.) M. Afzal Wani, Former Dean, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) and Former Pro Vice-Chancellor, IILM University, on the theme "Advanced Research Methods: Contemporary Approaches and Applications." Drawing upon his vast academic and research experience, Prof. Wani provided a comprehensive overview of contemporary research paradigms and advanced methodologies essential for producing impactful, high-quality research.
He discussed the significance of selecting appropriate research designs, integrating qualitative and quantitative methods, and adopting interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches to address complex societal challenges. The session emphasized evidence-based research, ethical practices, critical analysis, data interpretation, and the effective application of modern analytical tools in research.
Both sessions witnessed enthusiastic participation from faculty members, research scholars, and academicians, who actively engaged with the speakers through thought-provoking questions and discussions. The deliberations inspired participants to adopt innovative teaching practices and advanced research methodologies, thereby strengthening their academic and research capabilities.
The fourth day of the FDP concluded on a highly motivating note, sessions significantly contributed to achieving the objectives of the Faculty Development Programme by fostering academic excellence, innovation, and multidisciplinary research among the participants.
DAY 5 (Valedictory Session)
The fifth day of the Five-Day Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on "New Trends and Multidisciplinary Approach in Research," was successfully conducted with two highly enriching expert sessions.
Prof. (Dr.) Praveen Pandey from Delhi Technological University (DTU) delivered an insightful expert lecture during the morning session, focusing on "Research Publications: Strategies for Publishing in High-Impact Journals." Following this academic enrichment, the evening session featured a comprehensive lecture by Dr. Pushpa Singh on the Indian Knowledge System (IKS), exploring ancient educational practices, their historical evolution, and their decline due to invasions. The valedictory session was then addressed by Group Captain O.P. Sharma, who highlighted the significance of education in building a strong value system, discussed research and innovation through multidisciplinary examples, and congratulated all participants on the success of the FDP. The event concluded with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Neelu Tiwari to all participants and eminent speakers, followed by a certificate distribution ceremony and a commemorative group photo session.