USD One Million Follow up: SYLFF Plus Programmes: SRA,SYLFF

prize, SYLFF Leadership, Voices

Source: Nippon Foundation Administered by : Tokyo Foundation

First Indian University 44 countries 69 institutions

Each year 3-4 fellowships are given 29 fellowships given till date Highest valued fellowship in India Governed by the SYLFF Steering

Committee Fellows are guided by SYLFF Mentors Office

Research Course work participation by fellows Regional Forum Workshop Seminars Exchange Visits Social Outreach Programmes

Joyashree RoyProject Director

JU-SYLFF Programme

FAQ + FOC (frequently observed confusion)

Enthusiasm because of the opportunity

But lack of orientation/training

Confusion

Essay? Report? What topic? How to select the topic?

PORUA THEKE GABESAK

Taught mind vs.

Research mind

Some time-tested special techniques to be followed

To ask questions, contradict, provide new explanation, analysis, views, and directions…..

How to Write a Convincing SYLFF (Research)

Proposal

To address the Mission/Objective of the SYLFF project

DO YOU KNOW?

This is an Interactive Session

This Research Orientation Session is about asking insightful questions

Thinking mind

Unending questioning…

Questioning our existing realities

Do we accept them as they are and live in

complacence? Or, do we start questioning

them?

To encourage independent research projects To identify and understand social problems Thinking within and going beyond disciplinary

boundaries To nurture Leadership qualities: vision,

innovation, proactive thought processes Problem solving attitude Good peer-reviewed publishable analysis

The purpose of research is to answer “a” question.

“A question” that is interesting

Not to collect information without “a question”

1. Identify a problem 

2. Ask a clear question 

3. Limit the scope of the research 

4. Say what is known and not known about the problem

5. Identify the skills and information needed to answer the question 

6. Select the methods needed to collect & analyse the data/information 

7. Explain the kind of results expected and how they will be presented

  8. Specify the timeline of research

[Interactive]

[Show multi-disciplinary elements]

Some examples

Violence against women

Confusion around Economic system’s functioning

Growing Social conflicts

Inequality in growing affluence

Growing environmental problems

Rights vs. Access to basic services

Governance: Democracy

Migration

Globalisation

Interaction with JU-SYLFF fellows to discuss their research questions

Choose only one question that deserves special attention

Will be interesting to larger audience

Will produce results that will be new

This is essentially what drives the goal of research; the hypothesis needs to be tested…

Environment induced migration

Investment situation? What is in it for West Bengal?

Migrants and cultural identity: Punjab and Bengal

Globalisation and changing retail supply chain in India and Africa

Access to Health services : Prevention vs. cure

Globalisation and Indian youths

Literature review

Only relevant ones• Relevant literature • Show what is said• Identify gaps• Show your proposed contribution

Interactive sessions to discuss some examples• Decide the goal of study• Decide the objective of the study

Subject skill, methodology Types of information needed: Research Design: Quantitative, Qualitative,

Ethnographic, Archival Source of information

New skills needed/training required? Discussion with existing SYLFF Fellows to learn

from their experience

Policy implication Prescriptive vs implicative Expected result Possible user Contribution to the existing literature Deliverable: Journal/ Paper

Make a chart To follow work with rigorous discipline To show value addition at each step To focus on the scope of the research Monthly/quarterly/biannual/annual review of

research To guarantee a timely completion of research

work undertaken

year 1 Year 2 Year 3Literature survey Objective firming upAnalytical Framework Information collectionAnalysis

General Writing Tips

Writing to Inform -- Writing to Persuade

Appeals to the Goal of your readers!

This means you have to know about SYLFF (look up JU-SYLFF website/ contact existing fellows/ get in touch with the program assistant) as much as you can.

You can find out more at www.jusylffprogram.org.in

Think about your readers before and while you are writing

You need to identify their interest by: finding out the SYLFF Focus finding out SYLFF Priorities

You can find this information by visiting JU-SYLFF website, other SYLFF websites, TKFD website, talking to Project Director, and the SYLFF Fellows

Make your writing as easy to read as you can:• use simple words• use short, direct sentences• use short paragraphs• use sub-heads• use bullets

Put points positively -- avoid negatives

Write as briefly as you can

Re-read and edit your work

Projects can have a theoretical or an applied orientation

Projects can be Desk Studies (e.g. modelling work, case studies), or On-Site Activities.

Interactive Session– Discussions with SYLFF Fellows

Social Change?

Contemporary or allied to contemporary issues?

Tradition ?

Sustainability of developmental (economic, political, social, cultural….) process in general?

Multidisciplinary approach? E.g. past Fellows’ work

Try the colon trick:

A colon makes a title short, snappy, easy to saySome examples are:

Impact of Coastal Inundation: Case of Sagar Island

Small and Medium Enterprises in India:An Analysis of Funding Risks, Risk Mitigants and Sustainable Development

Inter-state River Water Disputes in India: Institutions and Mechanisms

Performing the Political: Left Culture in West Bengal

Negotiating Informality: Changing Face of the Footpaths in Kolkata, 1975 – 2005

Coffee House to Barista: A Study of Cultural Change

Un-gendering Sports:Towards a Revaluation of the Female Athletes in India

Offer a moderate, realistic timeline within which you can deliver the promised outputs and thereby contribute to the existing literature.

Use each day from today to write the proposal Sleep on draft, then re-read, and edit it Think, think and think… Write, read, re-write, re-read… Make final revisions Get approvals from peers Fill up form with immense care Keep to the deadline and submit the Application

Form on time

www.sandeeonline.org

eepsea.org

columbia.edu/cu/cup

worldbank.org/rad

nber.org

wider.unu.edu

ssrn.com

ideas.repec.org

iber.berkeley.edu ipcc.ch unfccc.it worldbank.org developmentgoals.org

Publication in International and National Journals.

Presentations at Seminars

Winning Erasmus Mundus, Fulbright Scholarships, etc.

Chance to conduct advanced research in Mexico, Canada, Australia, Japan, US, Egypt, Netherlands, England, Sri Lanka, etc.

Representations in the Global SYLFF Council

Any questions, please?

A Researcher/Potential Researcher has an infinitely long list of questions…