Research

Research Policy

PREAMBLE

Research, considered the primary aim of higher education, not only contributes to a person’s academic growth, it also helps society to achieve sustainable development. Both the Government and Non-Government organizations have been funding a lot towards research. India stands 4th in the world research output but ranks 9th in citations. India is one of the fastest-growing research hubs in the world. Our Institution actively contributes towards this national research growth ever since its establishment in the year 1968. The college has worked towards quality research. In par with the vision and mission of the college, the Research & Development Cell strives to build the researcher’s competencies to facilitate active participation in research activities. IQAC facilitates the research environment inside the campus. The recommendations given by IQAC for quality enhancement in research are carried out through the Research & Development Cell. The Research & Development Cell has produced numerous research findings as doctoral thesis, funded projects and Journal articles.

OBJECTIVES

The success of the Research & Development Cell undoubtedly rests on the systematic work that focuses on the following objectives laid by experts,

• Inculcate research attitude among scholars and promote original research work.
• Ensure all the research activities benefit society.
• Organize national and international seminars and conferences in collaboration with other institutions, universities and industries and transfer knowledge across the boundaries.
• Extend MoUs for long-term relationships with universities, industries, and corporate houses to assist and support the researchers.
• Practice ethical and legal norms in the conduct of research.
• Facilitate the utilization of all available research-related resources on the campus.
• Create awareness about filing patents and Intellectual Property Rights.
• Increase the number of Research Supervisors in the campus 
• Upgrade the Departments to Research Departments.
• Encourage faculty members to undertake major and minor projects in a wide range of fields.

The Research & Development Cell of our Institution comprises two committees, the Research Advisory Committee and the Research Ethics Committee whose functions are monitored by the Cell. The Research Cell further helps the Management to identify scholars with the zest for research work to provide them with financial assistance as Seed Money to take up minor projects. Apart from this, every year during the college day to encourage the faculty members, their research achievements are recognized and cash incentives are given to them by the College Management. An Intellectual Property Rights Cell too works tirelessly to encourage and guide the scholars regarding protection of their intellectual original works. 
 

Guidance to Scholars:

Scholars get guidance through a Research Advisory Committee that includes a Chairperson, Members from the college and Experts from other Institutions. The committee strives to improve quality by encouraging, guiding and monitoring research activities in the college. Further the Committee,

• Envisions a utopian society through selfless and dedicated research. 
• Generously supports research culture anticipating the needs of the society. 
• Takes major decisions regarding Research activities within the campus.
• Promotes an integrated research culture analyzes the risks and benefits.
• Advocates transparency in research administration.
• Encourages innovation, reflective thinking, flexibility, adaptability and quality research.
• Develops effective relationships with the research community around the world.

Research Ethics:

Researchers are expected to follow research ethical code drafted by the Research Ethics Committee realizing the responsibility towards our society. The research cell atmosphere is made vibrant with 8 Ph.D. programmes and 13 PG programmes. Researchers are responsible for the maintenance of integrity in the college. The committee works towards creating a healthy research environment for a global cause and inculcates ethical values thereby promoting quality research. The REC has postulated the following norms for the Scholars,

• Ethical frameworks set by UGC and University should be strictly followed.
• Researchers are instructed to publish their papers in research journals which prioritize quality.
• Researchers should acknowledge the institution in their research articles.
• Researchers are responsible for the legal issues related to copyright, patent and publication.
• Research Departments should ensure proper support to the research scholars.
• Faculty Members who are interested in collaborative research work with other institution should get prior permission from the Head of the Institution.
• Researchers should be transparent about their research activities.
• DRILLBIT, Plagiarism Check Software available in the College Library should be compulsorily used before submitting any research work.
• Any legal issues related to research should be informed to the REC which will be forwarded to the Research Advisory Committee.

Consultation Services

The Institution’s research culture is further extended and strengthened by the Consultation Services provided by the highly equipped Science Instrumentation Centre (SIC).The objective of the consultancy policy in SFRC is to facilitate its expertise in knowledge, experience of faculty members and available instruments to support the industries, institutions or other research organizations. The college has framed a general consultancy instruction and has made it available in the college website,

• The list of consultancy services available in the SFRC campus is published in the College website along with the requisition form and details of fees structure.
• Fees for the consultancy work should be paid through Demand Draft in the name of, “The Secretary, The Standard Fireworks Rajaratnam College for Women, Sivakasi payable at Sivakasi.
• All these processes will be completed within 7 -10 working days of the Institution.
• An MOU may be signed between the organization and the Departments towards the consultancy work with the approval of the Principal.
• Instrumentation facilities utilized on the SFRC campus should be properly acknowledged by the beneficiary.

Seed Money

The College Management encourages faculty members who have an ardent thirst for research by providing Seed Money to take up a one-year minor research project.
 Guidelines are as follows,

• The permanent teachers working in Self-Financing and Aided streams are eligible to apply for financial assistance.
• Proposals will be reviewed by the Research Advisory Committee and qualified proposals will be recommended and forwarded to the Management for approval.
• The duration of the project will be one year.
• Interdisciplinary projects are also welcome and they can be carried out by the Principal Investigator along with the Co-Investigator.
• Investigators should ensure that the progress of the project be satisfactory and understand that no extension in tenure will be entertained in any circumstance.
• Quality of the project should not be compromised.
• The project will not be transferable in any case.
• The Principal Investigator is expected to publish at least one paper in reputed UGC-approved, Scopus or Web of Science journals by acknowledging the contribution made by the Management. 
• A Maximum of Rs.1,00,000 will be sanctioned for projects under this scheme.

Intellectual Property Rights Cell (IPRC)

Our college bolsters creativity and innovation. To foster it further our college has set up an IPR Cell to guide the faculty and students regarding the practices of IPR. The cell aims to,

• Promote creativity by creating awareness about IPR.
• Provide an able environment for innovation.
• Shed light on the commercial benefits of IPR
• Conduct academic programmes with the help of the experts in the same field.
• Advice on the legal issues of IPR.
• Encourage innovation that brings technological advancements and societal ethics under one frame.

With the abundant academic resource available in the campus along with the inquisitive researchers, the research standard of The Standard Fireworks Rajaratnam College for Women is a class of its own. The Research Policy has been framed in such a way that it enables our institution to adapt itself to the ever changing global research scenario and to utilize all the opportunities available in the academic environment with its innovative and ever widening prospects for growth in the field of research.