3rd Annual International Course on Qualitative Methods

Following the successful courses conducted in 2012 and 2013, the third course was held for the third consecutive time in December 2014, as an annual event for researchers from Sri Lanka, the wider South Asian region, and any other part of the world. It was conducted by the Institute for Research and Development (IRD) in collaboration with General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) from the 05th to 09th December, at the Staff Development Centre, KDU.

The course is a part of a global research capacity building initiative for researchers including medical professionals, allied health professionals, NGO workers and other health and social care researchers, to gain theoretical knowledge and practical training in qualitative research methods.

This five-day intensive course aimed to provide students with an understanding of the purpose and appropriate use of qualitative research methods, and to equip them with the skills to design and conduct qualitative research in the field of health and social care.
A special session was dedicated to research ethics in the developing world, as IRD strongly believes in ethics as a part of research.

This year’s group comprised of a multidisciplinary group of students; both local and international. Four international students from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan sponsored by the South Asian Hub for Advocacy, Research & Education in Mental Health (SHARE) participated in this year’s course. SHARE has 18 partner institutions in South Asia, and IRD is the Sri Lankan partner.
Resource persons included Dr. Tine Van Bortel (University of Cambridge, UK), Dr. Chesmal Siriwardhana (IRD and Anglia Ruskin University, UK), Dr. Godwin Kodituwakku (Chairman, IRD), Dr. Gominda Ponnamperuma (IRD and University of Colombo), and Ms. Anna Chiumento (University of Liverpool, UK). Participants of the workshop received their certificates from Major General Milinda Peiris, Vice Chancellor of KDU at the awards ceremony.