The eight-day Capacity Building Workshop on 'Research Skills and Methodology' for Master of Education (MEd) Students began at Pondicherry University (PU) on Tuesday.

The workshop is being held under 'Pandit Madan Mohan Malavia National Mission on Teachers and Teaching' (PMMMNMTT) Scheme of the Ministry of Human Resources and Development, Government of India on the Special Theme 'The Maiden Research: A Challenge'.

According to a University release on Wednesday, Dr Chandrika Devarakonda, Senior Faculty from Chester University, UK while inaugurating the workshop highlighted the dire need for 'Qualitative Research' at the foundation level itself so that quality compromise will never happen at a later stage. She stressed the need for 'Inclusive' nature of research which is being followed up in the UK.

Dr Chandrika also pointed out that both India and the UK are in close ties as far as 'Educational Research' is concerned. She advised Students to broad base their network so that the exchange of innovation takes place.

Presiding over the function, PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Gurmeet Singh underscored the importance of 'Capacity Building' and narrated the importance of research even for the Primary Teachers which he has witnessed in Switzerland very recently.

Many new technological developments in research arena have made research simpler and easier, Prof Singh said.