12 January2023, New Delhi: Dr. Seema Jaggi, Additional Director General (HRD) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Education (ICAR) inaugurated the 21-day Winter School on Advanced Analytical Tools for Social Science Research being organised by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi on 11th January 2023. Sponsored by the Agricultural Education Division of the ICAR, the Winter School is aimed at providing an opportunity to update the analytical skills of social science researchers and make them more familiar with advanced analytical tools and software. A total of 25 participants from Rajasthan, New Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Telangana, Bihar, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are attending the Winter School.During her inaugural address, Dr Seema Jaggi stated that in line with the National Education Policy (NEP2020), agricultural education in the country will be revamped by laying emphasis on skill development. The course curriculum will be restructured in a way that helps open a wide array of opportunities in the agriculture sector. With this, education and research in agriculture and allied areas will have greater opportunities in the country in the future, she added.Stressing the importance of analytical tools in social science research, Dr. Seema Jaggi said that research would be incomplete without proper data analysis.
Dr A Gopalakrishnan, Director of ICAR-CMFRI presided over the function. He pointed out that the use of statistically valid judgments derived from research programmes is the foundation for the growth of the social sciences discipline. It calls for the use of precise analytical tools for deriving conclusions from scientifically gathered data and hence improving scientific research and reporting efficiency, he added. The course is divided into several theme-based modules, including classroom lectures and hands-on exercises using statistical software.Dr J Jayasankar, Head of the Fisheries Resources Assessment Economics and Extension Division of ICAR-CMFRI, Dr Eldho Varghese, Course Director and Dr Reshma Gills, Course Co-Director also spoke on the occasion.
