The second session of the Study Circle on Research Skills was successfully convened at the IRD Conference Room, International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), as part of a collaborative academic initiative between the Iqbal International Institute for Research & Dialogue (IRD), Jamia Muhammadi Sharif, Chiniot, and the Faculty of Education, IIUI. The initiative aims to strengthen research capacity among faculty members and postgraduate scholars through structured academic engagement, guided readings, and rigorous scholarly dialogue.
The session focused on Chapter 10 of John W. Creswell’s Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, emphasizing mixed methods research. Attended by MS Education students (Educational Leadership & Management and Teacher Education), PhD Education scholars, and faculty members, the three-hour session began with opening remarks by Mr. Nasir Farid, Additional Director, IRD, and Dr. Azhar Mahmood, Incharge, Faculty of Education, IIUI, highlighting the importance of collaborative academic platforms for enhancing research competence and methodological rigor.
The keynote presentation was delivered by Dr. Azhar Mahmood, Chairperson of the Department of Educational Leadership & Management, IIUI. He provided an in-depth overview of mixed methods research, covering its philosophical foundations, typologies, and practical strategies for integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches in educational studies. This was followed by an interactive discussion moderated by Dr. Fouzia Ajmal, Incharge Academic Affairs, Faculty of Education, IIUI, where participants analyzed key concepts and explored their applicability in ongoing research projects.
The session concluded with a reflective synthesis, consolidating key insights and identifying practical implications for participants’ research endeavors. A copy of an IRD publication was also distributed by Jamia Muhammadi Sharif to the participants.
The successful conduct of the session underscores the commitment of IRD, Jamia Muhammadi Sharif, and IIUI’s Faculty of Education to institutionalize sustained academic dialogue, enhance methodological training, and promote collaborative scholarship among postgraduate researchers and faculty members.