About
Centre for Research and Faculty Development (CRFD)
Centre for Research and Faculty Development (CRFD)
MSSW has taken initiative to promote Research & Faculty Development activities among student community, research scholars and faculty members based on the direction of the University Grants Commission. We facilitate in providing the financial assistance to students, research scholars and faculty members those who have interest in the field of Research and Development.
Objectives:
- To promote research aptitude and horns the skills of student community, converge research skills of scholars and create a collaborative eco system and coordinate the research interest of faculty members.
- To help and facilitate the process publishing the dissemination of knowledge gained through research by the stakeholders of the institution.
- To provide a platform to acquire research knowledge, experiences, innovation for various social issues and problems through research.
About the Centre
The Centre for Research and Faculty Development (CRFD) at the Madras School of Social Work (MSSW) is dedicated to fostering a robust culture of research and scholarly inquiry. Our mission is to support the academic community—including faculty, research scholars, and students—in their pursuit of knowledge creation and dissemination. The CRFD serves as the central hub for all research-related activities within the institution, promoting a spirit of collaboration and innovation from the academic year 2020-21, Dr. K. Sathyamurthi, PhD., is the convener for the centre from its inception. Subsequently the University Grants Commission (UGC) has also issued a detailed guidelines for the establishment of Research and Development (R&D) Cell in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The purpose of these guidelines is to introduce a robust mechanism for developing and strengthening the research ecosystem within HEIs as per the provisions of NEP, 2020. It is expected that these UGC guidelines will facilitate HEIs in the establishment of R&D Cell. It is hoped that the HEIs will find it useful and take the benefits of this initiative of UGC envisages the promotion of quality research and development within the Higher Education System..
Our Role and Functions
The CRFD plays a pivotal role in strengthening the research ecosystem at MSSW. Our key Functions include:
- Promoting a Research-Oriented Culture: We organize workshops, seminars, and training sessions to equip our community with the necessary skills for conducting high-quality research, from proposal writing and methodology to data analysis and ethical considerations.
- Facilitating Research Projects: The CRFD assists faculty and students in identifying research opportunities, connecting with potential collaborators, and navigating the institutional review board process. We also help in the preparation of research proposals for submission to external funding agencies.
- Encouraging Publication and Dissemination: A core function of the CRFD is to support the publication of research findings in peer-reviewed journals, books, and other scholarly platforms indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. We provide guidance on selecting appropriate journals, manuscript preparation, and the submission process.
- Enhancing Faculty Development: Beyond research, the CRFD is committed to the continuous professional growth of our faculty. We support presentations at conferences to ensure they remain at the forefront of their respective fields.
Financial Assistance for Publication
The CRFD recognizes the financial barriers that can sometimes hinder the publication process. To this end, we offer financial support to faculty and research scholars for publishing their scholarly work. This funding is specifically designed to cover expenses such as:
- Article Processing Charges (APCs): Many open-access journals require APCs for publication. The CRFD provides assistance to cover these costs, enabling our scholars to publish their work in reputable journals and ensure wider accessibility.
- Research Grants: Through its research grant program, the Centre aims to facilitate the creation of new knowledge and its dissemination through publications.”
Beyond Funding: Our Support Ideas
The CRFD’s commitment extends beyond financial aid. We are constantly exploring new ways to support our academic community. Our initiatives and ideas include:
- Research Mentorship Program: We are developing a program to pair students and research scholars with faculty mentors who can provide one-on-one guidance on research projects, career development, and publication strategies.
- Institutional Repository: We are in the process of establishing an institutional repository to archive and make accessible the scholarly output of MSSW. This platform will showcase the research contributions of our faculty and students to the global community.
- Collaboration with External Partners: The CRFD actively seeks to forge partnerships with other academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, and government bodies to create collaborative research projects that address pressing social issues.
- Interdisciplinary Research Groups: We encourage the formation of interdisciplinary research groups to tackle complex societal problems from a holistic perspective. The CRFD will provide administrative and logistical support to these groups.
Convenor’s Desk
Convenor’s Desk
Dr. K. Sathyamurthi, Ph.D. – Convener
Dr. K. Sathyamurthi is an Associate Professor, Steering Committee, NISD, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India, Member, Tamil Nadu State Allied & Health Care Council (TNSAHC), Govt. of Tamil Nadu, the former HOD, Department of Social Work, Controller of Examinations, HOD, Dept. of Research (MPhil & PhD) in Social Work, IQAC Coordinator, at the Madras School of Social Work (MSSW). With over two decades of professional experience in teaching, research, and training in the field of social work, he specializes in Medical and Psychiatric Social Work, Adolescent Health, and Slum Entrepreneurship.
Dr. Sathyamurthi holds an Masters in Social Work from Sacred Heart College, a PGDHRM from Pondicherry University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Madras and s. His notable achievement is the development of the ‘Slum Entrepreneurship Scale’ (SE Scale), a tool designed to measure entrepreneurial traits among urban slum youth.
Throughout his career, Dr. Sathyamurthi has served in various leadership roles, including Head of the Department of Research, and has been actively involved in numerous research, consultancy, and evaluation projects. He has been the Principal Investigator for significant projects, such as the “CARE FOR COPS Project for Women Police Officers of Chennai”FCCI-FLO, Chennai and an ICMR-ICSSR joint research project on the health of under-5 children in urban slums.
A prolific author and editor, he has published seven books and numerous research articles in national and international journals on topics ranging from youth entrepreneurship and community health to elderly well-being and social work practice. He is also a sought-after trainer and facilitator in areas such as qualitative and quantitative research, life skills, and therapeutic counseling. Dr. Sathyamurthi has guided multiple M.Phil and Ph.D. scholars, and his expertise is frequently sought for academic assignments, including as an external examiner for Ph.D. viva voce examinations across various universities in India and abroad.
Members
Dr. Laavanya Vinayagaswami
Dr. Laavanya Vinayagaswami is an Assistant Professor at the Madras School of Social Work, Chennai. A licensed and registered Canadian Social Worker, she holds a Ph.D. in Social Work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). Her professional focus is on the theory-practice alignment of social work.
Her career spans academia and field practice across various organizations, including Habitat for Humanity India, where she served as a Senior Manager for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL). She has extensive experience in impact assessment, research methodology, and program evaluation. Dr. Vinayagaswami’s academic background also includes an M.Phil. in Social Work from TISS and an MSW from Health and Counseling from the University of Madras. She has conducted research focusing on the elderly, healthcare, and social security.
Dr. Suriya S
Dr. Suriya S is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Entrepreneurship at the Madras School of Social Work, Egmore, Chennai, a position she has held since 2021. Her academic and professional background is rooted in Sociology, with a Ph.D. from the Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS). Her research interests include gender studies, law and society, and social development. She specializes in exploring the history of social legislation and its impact on contemporary society.
Dr. Suriya has been recognized for her work, receiving a Gold Medal for achieving the first rank in her M.Phil. Sociology program at Pondicherry Central University. She also has received awards for Best Paper at international and national conferences for her work on women empowerment and the reformation of religious traditions. Her scholarly contributions include multiple journal articles and book chapters on topics such as transgender consumer culture, menstrual sanitation, and gender and disaster management. She is a life member of several accredited bodies, including the International Sociological Association and the Indian Sociological Society.
Dr. S. Vijaya Kumari
Dr. S. Vijaya Kumari is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Resource Management at the Madras School of Social Work, Chennai. She has over twelve years of academic experience and holds an MBA, a Master of Labour Management, an M.Phil. in Management, and a Ph.D. in Management Studies. Dr. Vijaya Kumari specializes in areas such as work-life balance, employee well-being, organizational leadership, and business performance. Her research primarily focuses on the telecom sector. She has authored publications in national and international journals on topics including HR trends, remote collaboration, consumer behavior, and workplace dynamics. Some of her notable works include “The Impact of Work-Life Balance on the Wellbeing of Employees in the Telecom Sector” and “A Study on End User Trends in Online Shopping with Special Reference to Chennai”. She also mentors postgraduate students in their research and is committed to advancing the field of human resource management.
Dr.V.Sakthi Rekha
Presiding Officer
Dr.Arivukkarasi
Faculty Member
Mr. S. Xavier Vivek Jerry
Faculty Member
Mr.M.Suresh Babu
Non-Teaching Staff
Ms.Vishnu Priya
III Year U.G. Student
Ms.Mithra.A.K
II Year P.G. Student
Mr.James Davies
Research Scholar
Ms.Aspy Joyson
Social Worker, Aruwe Foundation
Ms.V.S.Jothilakshmi
Advocate, Madras High Court
Activities/ Initiatives of the Centre
The following are the activities of the centre
A. Mary Clubwala Jadhav (MCJ) Research Consortium & Fellowship
The Management, Principal, Dean and the Convener of the centre has formulated the consortium in the name of the founder of MSSW as the Mary Clubwala Jadhav (MCJ) Research Consortium & Fellowship for faculty members, students and other stakeholders by identifying the following three key activities of the centre by nominating the committee annually to function effectively from the academic year 2020-21 onwards. The key activities are
- Mary Clubwala Jadhav (MCJ) Research Consortium & Fellowship for Students
- Mary Clubwala Jadhav (MCJ) Research Consortium & Fellowship – FACULTY Extra-Mural Collaborative Research
- Mary Clubwala Jadhav (MCJ) Research Consortium & FellowshipGrant for FACULTY Publication.
- Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC), MSSW
- Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC-MSSW)
Mary Clubwala Jadhav (MCJ) Research Consortium & Fellowship – FACULTY Extra-Mural Collaborative Research
The Research & Faculty Development Centre (R&D) at the Madras School of Social Work invites faculty members to submit proposals for the Mary Clubwala Jadhav (MCJ) Research Consortium & Fellowship every year. This is a one-year, extra-mural collaborative research opportunity aimed at promoting research knowledge and practice within the teaching community.
Key Features:
- Collaborative Research: Proposals are invited from 2 to 3 faculty members from MSSW in collaboration with other colleges, universities, or academic institutions in Tamil Nadu.
- Principal Investigator (PI): The Principal Investigator must be from MSSW, while Co-Principal Investigators can be from outside MSSW but must be regular employees at an academic institution within Tamil Nadu.
- Funding: A maximum of five projects will be shortlisted, with each receiving a maximum of Rs. 1,00,000 in funding. The grant will be disbursed in three levels: 30% after project approval, 35% after the midterm review, and the final 35% after the submission of the research report, publication in a Scopus or Web of Science journal, and proper bills and vouchers.
- Publication Support: The fellowship aims to facilitate the publication of research findings. The grant can be used for publication costs, and all publications must be approved by the R&D Centre before submission. Awardees are also required to acknowledge the grant in their publications.
- Research Focus: The program seeks to provide a platform for acquiring knowledge and innovation on various social issues through collaborative research. It also aims to create an interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and trans-disciplinary research platform.
Mary Clubwala Jadhav (MCJ) Research Consortium & Fellowship for Students
The Madras School of Social Work (MSSW) is inviting students to submit research proposals for the Mary Clubwala Jadhav (MCJ) Research Consortium & Fellowship for the academic year. This initiative from the Research & Faculty Development Centre (R&FD) aims to provide financial assistance and promote a research aptitude among the student community.
Key Details
- Eligibility: The fellowship is open to 3rd-year undergraduate (UG), 2nd-year postgraduate (PG) students, and full-time and part-time PhD scholars. Proposals can be submitted individually or jointly by a maximum of two students or scholars, with one faculty advisor.
- Funding: The amount of the fellowship varies by program. The grant money is to be used for field data collection, travel, and publication costs, with no provision for honorariums or equipment.
- Department of Social Work:
- MSW (Aided) and MSW (Shift-II), (D & E), (MH), (C&F): ₹10,000.
- BSW: ₹5,000.
- PhD in Social Work: ₹20,000.
- Department of HRM:
- MA (HRM) and MA (HR&OD): ₹10,000.
- Department of Psychology:
- BSc (Psy): ₹5,000.
- MSc (Coun Psy) and MSc (Family Coun): ₹10,000.
- Department of Social Entrepreneurship:
- A (Soc. Entrp): ₹10,000.
- Grant Disbursement: The grant is released in three levels. The first 50% is sanctioned after project approval, the next 25% after the midterm review, and the final 25% is sanctioned after submitting the complete research report, publishing a paper in a journal, and providing proper bills and vouchers.
- Department of Social Work:
Submission and Requirements
- Deadline: The last date for submission is August 14, 2025, at 5:00 PM.
- Proposal Format: The proposal should include the title, introduction, literature review, methodology, novelty, expected outcome, and a time schedule.
- Publication: Awardees are expected to publish an article in a UGC care, Web of Science, or Scopus indexed journal. The draft paper must be approved by the committee before submission for publication, and the research grant must be acknowledged in the publication.
- Submission Process: Proposals must be submitted both online and as a hard copy, with a forwarding and approval letter from the respective Program Heads and HODs. A Bio-Data of the student researcher(s) and faculty advisor is also required.
- Monitoring and Reviews: Awardees will be mentored through a review process to ensure quality research standards. There will be three review meetings (pre-term, mid-term, and end-term) to monitor the progress of the work. Failure to attend these meetings will result in the discontinuation of the award and the return of the funds
6. Mary Clubwala Jadhav (MCJ) Research Consortium & Fellowship for Faculty Publication
The centre is providing an annual seed grant of ₹25,000 for faculty members in each of the programme, the faculty members for jointly work and publish their research in Scopus and Web of Science journals.
Committee
The Management , MSSW
Dr. S. Raja Samuel PhD., Principal – Chairperson
Dr. R. Subashini PhD., Dean
Dr. K. Sathyamurthi PhD., – Convener
Previous year committee
Academic year 2021-22 : Members: Dr. Rachael, PhD., Dr. Arivukarasi, PhD.,
Academic Year 2022-25: Dr.J.Lakshmi, Dr Evangeline Dr Janaki & Dr.V.Gajendran
Members – 2025-26
Dr. Laavanya Vinayagaswami PhD.,
Dr. Suriya S PhD.,
Dr. S. Vijaya Kumari PhD.,
Reports
Photo Gallery
MCJ Research Award Ceremony
Contact Us
Dr. K. Sathyamurthi, Ph.D. Convener
Associate Professor
Department of Social Work – Aided
Email:
Contact Us
Dr. V. Sakthi Rekha
Convenor
E-Mail: icc@mssw.in / sakthi@mssw.in
Mobile: 9841148865
