An Interaction Session with A Senior Student on Research Methodology

Reported by: Siak Chung Chai, MA1 student
On September 9, 2025, the International Buddhist College (IBC) organized an interaction session for us, first-year students of the Master of Arts in Buddhist Studies program, with Ph.D. candidate Ms. Usha Chakma. The sharing session was conducted in connection with our Research Methodology course.

During the session, Ms. Usha provided many valuable tips on research, covering strategies, approaches, and methods for conducting qualitative research. She emphasized the importance of maintaining proper documentation, analysis, and process flow-charts throughout the research journey, including careful planning and activity scheduling.

She also highlighted the need to foster good communication and relationships with local communities, as well as the importance of focusing on key locations and critical communities in fieldwork. Flexibility, adaptability, and openness to valuable feedback from the field were also underlined as essential qualities for successful research. Furthermore, she stressed the importance of effective time management, planning, and building strong networks with peers and supervisors.

In addition, Ms. Usha drew our attention to the significance of Intellectual Property (IP) in research and encouraged us to participate in academic conferences to gain greater exposure and experience. We learned not only about the practical aspects of research methodology but also about the dedication and perseverance needed for academic work at the doctoral level.

We sincerely wish Ms. Usha success in completing her Ph.D., and we thank her for delivering such an inspiring and insightful presentation.