STATE OF RESEARCH AND INSTITUTIONAL LINKAGES
Royal University of Bhutan
2018-2019
Royal University of Bhutan, Office of the Vice Chancellor, Lower Motithang, Thimphu, Bhutan, P.O. Box. 708 Tel: +975 2 336454 Fax: +975 2 336453 www.rub.edu.bt
Printed at Bhutan Printing Solutions (www.prints.bt) STATE OF RESEARCH AND INSTITUTIONAL LINKAGES
Royal University of Bhutan
2018-2019 Department of Research and External Relations Office of the Vice Chancellor Royal University of Bhutan Lower Motithang P.O. Box. 708 Thimphu: Bhutan
Copyright © 2020 Department of Research and External Relations (DRER), Royal University of Bhutan. Any part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, transmitted, or disseminated, in any form, or by any means with due acknowledgement. State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
Preface This annual report of the financial year 2018-2019 is the 1st year document of the 12th Five Year Plan (12FYP 2018-2023). Two consecutive annual reports of the “State of Research and Institutional Linkages of the Royal University of Bhutan” were published during the 4th and 5th year of the 11th Five Year Plan 2013-2018. This report is expected to serve as the baseline in evaluating research, innovation and external collaborations services rendered by the Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) at the end of the 12FYP period.
The structure of the report is therefore aligned to the specific objectives of the RUB Strategic Plan (2018-2030) wherein the Department of Research and External Relations (DRER) has entered into the Annual Performance Agreement (APA) by establishing clarity and consensus of annual priorities in making the department accountable and providing a fair evaluation of the services during the reporting year.
This report is made possible after designing the standard reporting template for research and external relations services that was endorsed by the Research and Innovation Committee (RIC) and a series of initiatives on capacity building using the reporting format for all Deans of Research and Industrial Linkages (DRILs), Assistant Research Officers (AROs), and Research Centre Coordinators (RCCs).
In the first year of the 12FYP, information from the Colleges was collected using the same reporting format. RUB has strengthened research institutions on various thematic areas and got endorsed for operationalization of the 16 RCs by adding one new RC in the first year of 12FYP.
The DRER acknowledges the Office of the Dean of Research and Industrial Linkages and the Assistant Research Officers who have facilitated in keeping the record at one-stop-office for all activities that are directly related to research, innovation and collaboration and, also expect to receive the same support in future. It is also very likely that many external relations activities pursued directly by the management might have been under-reported.
i State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
This report is not intended to compare performance across the colleges, but to inspire and appreciate the work done in keeping proper information for better communication within and across the RUB system, and this in the process has also allowed for evidenced based judgement by the respective colleges.
The DRER looks forward to promotion and conduct of research by RUB in order to contribute in the creation of knowledge that is of relevance to our context and to assist the colleges in its pursuit of enhancing research through institution of proper facilitation and guidelines.
Dr. Phanchung PhD (UniMelb) Director Department of Research and External Relations
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Table of Contents Preface i List of Tables v List of Figures vii 1. Introduction 1 2. Operational Research Centre 2 3. Enhancement of Quality and Relevance of Programmes 5 3.1. Develop Capacity 5 3.1.1. Research Trainings and Workshops 5 3.1.3. International Staff Exchange Facilitated 13 3.1.4. Research Centres Evaluated and Reviewed 16 3.2. Enhance Student Learning Environment 17 3.2.1. Semester Abroad Students 18 3.2.2. Short-term Study Programme 19 3.2.3. Visiting Research Students 20 3.2.4. Full-time International Students 21 3.2.5. HDR External Supervisors Appointed 23 3.2.6. HDR External Examiners Appointed 23 3.2.7. HDR Programme Reviewed 23 3.2.8. HDR Programme Validated 24 4. Enhancement of Research, Innovation and Scholarship 24 4.1. Research Grants Applications 24 4.2. Research Projects 39 4.3. Research Conference and Seminars 40 4.4. Publications 44 4.4.1. Publication of Journal 45 4.4.2. Papers Published in Journals 46 4.4.3. Paper Published in Conference and Seminar Reports 62
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4.4.4. Books and Book Chapters Publication 66 4.4.5. Promotional Materials Publications 71 4.5. Establishment of External Relations 71 4.5.1. Institutional Collaborations Through Memorandum of Understanding 71 4.5.2. Institutional Linkages Through Other Means 73 5. Diversification of Revenue Streams 81 6. Ensuring Quality Services 83 6.1. Ensure Quality of Administrative Services 83 6.1.1. RDC Meetings 83 6.1.2. RIC Meetings 84 6.1.3. ACDRIL Meeting 85 6.1.4. Development of SOP and TAT 86 6.1.5. Utilization of University-wide Sponsored Research 87 6.1.6. Publication of Annual Report 88 6.1.7. Operation of Research Endowment Fund 88 6.2. Community Services 89 6.2.1. Technical committee and memberships to external agencies 89 6.2.2. Review of Policy documents, reports and guidelines 90 7. Way forward 90
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List of Tables Table 1. Research Centre Operational during 2018-2019 ...... 3
Table 2. Research Capacity Building Trainings and Workshops ...... 8
Table 3. Field Visit Carried out by DRER to Review RCs Activities in 2018-2019 ...... 16
Table 4. Number of International Students Enrolled for Semester Abroad Programme ...... 19
Table 5. Short-term International Students Visiting RUB Colleges from International Universities ...... 20
Table 6. International Visiting Research Students to RUB Colleges during 2018-2019 ...... 21
Table 7. International Students Enrolled to Postgraduate Programmes in RUB Colleges ...... 22
Table 8. Comparative Data of International Students for Various Study Abroad Programmes During the Last Two Years ...... 22
Table 9. Grant Proposals Submitted by RCs to Various Funding Agencies within College, University-wide and External Sponsored Grants ...... 27
Table 10. List of Conferences and Seminars Organized by RCs during 2018-2019 ...... 42
Table 11. Journal Publications of the Royal University of Bhutan during 2017-2018 ...... 46
Table 12. Paper Presented to National and International Conference and Seminars ...... 63
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Table 13. Books and Book Chapter Published by Authors from RUB Colleges ...... 67
Table 14. Collaboration with International Institutions Through Other Means Besides MoU ...... 74
Table 15. Institutional Linkages Established Between RUB and Agencies in Bhutan ...... 79
Table 16. Revenue Diversification Sources Administered by DRER . 82
Table 17. RIC Meeting Schedule during 2018-2019 financial year .... 85
Table 18. Number of AURG Application Received and Awarded to Different Category of Researchers ...... 88
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List of Figures Figure 1. Number of PD Programmes organized by RCs ...... 6
Figure 2. Percentage of staff, students and external participants to research PD programme ...... 7
Figure 3. Number of International Exchange Staff to Bhutan ...... 13
Figure 4. International Staff Visit to RUB Colleges from Different Regions of the World (shaded) ...... 15
Figure 5. Increasing Trend of International Staff Visiting RUB Colleges During Last Three Years...... 15
Figure 6. Number of Research Grant Proposals Submitted by RCs to Funding Agencies ...... 25
Figure 7. Amount of Research Grants Secured by Colleges to Support Research Activities ...... 40
Figure 8. Number of Conferences and Seminars organized by RCs . 41
Figure 9. Number of Papers Published by Each College in Various Journals ...... 47
Figure 10. List of Active International Universities Collaborating with RUB ...... 73
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1. Introduction The Royal Charter of the Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) mandates research as one of the dual objectives of the University by stating “to promote and conduct research, to contribute to the creation of knowledge in an international context and to promote the transfer of knowledge of relevance to Bhutan.” In a recent desktop research carried out by the Department, it indicates that there are challenges in changing the mind-set and working practices of academics concerning research, innovation and the use of knowledge when the University is young, federated and has evolved from a strong tradition of teaching- learning environment. Yet facts, figures, evidences, information and documentations compiled over the years increasingly evidence need to support informed judgment on the impact and its contributions to policy interventions.
In view of the above, and also as mandated by the Royal Charter, it gives opportunity to the University to promote research by disseminating through publications, conference and seminar presentations and policy discourses. For this reason, the University academics have to conduct research to contribute to the creation of knowledge that is of relevance to Bhutan and also to international context, in addition to providing teaching-learning services. Therefore, it is important that a regular monitoring, data collection, compilation, analysis and evaluation of the planned annual research activities is strengthened to support evidenced based decisions and improve the quality of teaching-learning in the classroom.
While the Annual Report of DRER for 2018-2019 is already published in the Annual Report of the RUB, the report covers information of research and institutional linkages implemented by all colleges and DRER during the 2018-2019 financial year which fairly represents the overall performance of the University. The success of research performance is dependent on the existing institutions put in place, research policies and guidelines in operations, research capacities of academics, support mechanisms in enhancing research capacity, platforms created for dissemination of research findings, increased visibility of University leading to mutual collaborative projects and exchange programmes, and structured research module and
1 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019 undergraduate projects inclusion into the curriculum. If there are limitations for doing research and collaborations with external institutions, it is mainly due to budgetary constraints for research and development and government policies for communications with foreign institutions.
This annual report is prepared by aligning with specific objectives of the RUB 12th FYP namely 1) enhancement of quality and relevance of programmes; 2) enhancement of research, innovation and scholarships; 3) diversifications of revenue streams, and 4) ensuring quality services along with their respective actions and success indicators agreed between the Director of DRER and the Vice Chancellor.
In the process of compiling and drafting this annual report, the structure and format differ from the past two publications while the essence of report remains the same with detailed data for future reference. 2. Operational Research Centre The purpose of establishing Research Centre (RC) in each college is envisioned to develop appropriate infrastructure, enhance research capacity and support, and maintain sustainable financial base for research so that RC can provide research leadership to various thematic research areas. While the existence of the RCs within the existing structures headed by an academic as a RC Coordinator is operational, the efficiency and effectiveness of a separate research institution within the existing structure is yet to be studied. Considering the main purpose of the thematic research centre to enhance research capacity and support institutional linkages with industries both within and outside Bhutan and a visible contribution of enhance research within the University is noticed, establishment of new RC is continued to be supported when initiated as per existing guidelines spelled under Chapter 17 of ZHIBTSOL: RUB Research Policies 2014.
In the first year of the 12FYP reporting year, the University endorsed one additional RC and have recommended operation and continuation of 16 University Research Centres.
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The oldest RC within the University was established way back in 2001 with CERD in PCE, even before the University was established. The latest addition is the Centre for Sustainable Mountain Agriculture (CSMA) recommended by the 24th Research and Innovation Committee (RIC) Meeting in August 2018 and endorsed by the 43rd Academic Board (AB) Meeting in November 2018.
The details of the 16 RCs located in various University campuses with their year of establishment is presented in Table 1. Sherubtse College has a maximum of four RCs followed by three RCs at the College of Natural Resources (CNR). The College of Language and Culture Studies (CLCS), College of Science and Technology (CST) and Jigme Namgyal Engineering College (JNEC) have two RCs each while the DRER, Gedu College of Business Studies (GCBS), and Paro College of Education (PCE) have an RC each. In the first year of 12FYP, Samtse College of Education (SCE), Gyalpozhing College of Information Technology (GCIT) and Yonphula Centenary College (YCC) campuses continued to promote and conduct research and external collaborations activities within their existing structures.
The details of each RC’s mandates were already published in our first edition of the annual report of 2016-2017 which may be referred to, if necessary. In this report, we propose to list down the summary of RCs only.
Table 1. Research Centres Operational during 2018-2019
S. Research Centre Campus Establishment No. Year 1 Centre for Educational PCE 2001 Research and Development (CERD) 2 Centre for Buddhist Studies CLCS 2008 (CeBS) 3 Centre for Population and SC 2008 Development Studies (CPDS) 4 Centre for Rural Development CNR 2010 Studies (CRDS)
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5 Bhutan and Himalaya Research CLCS 2011 Centre (BHRC) 6 Centre for Climate Change and SC 2011 Spatial Information (CCCSI) 7 Centre For Business Research GCBS 2012 and Entrepreneurship Development (CBRED) 8 Institute of GNH Studies DRER 2014 (iGNHaS) 9 Centre for Appropriate JNEC 2014 Technology (CAT) 10 Centre for Archaeology and SC 2016 Historical Research (CAHR) 11 Centre for Disaster Risk CST 2016 Reduction and Community Development Centre (CDRR&CDS) 12 Centre for Renewable and CST 2016 Sustainable Energy Development (CRSED) 13 Centre for Science & SC 2017 Environmental Research (CSER) 14 Centre for Environment and CNR 2018 Climate Research (CECR) 15 Centre for Lighting and Energy JNEC 2018 Efficiency (CLEE) 16 Centre for Sustainable Mountain CNR 2018 Agriculture (CSMA)
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3. Enhancement of Quality and Relevance of Programmes This is the first development theme or objective of the 12FYP of the RUB. In order to fulfil this objective, there are two actions namely i) to develop capacity, and ii) to enhance student learning environment. For each action, there are specific success indicators prescribed. In the following sections, a series of activities planned and performed for each success indicator is presented. 3.1. Develop Capacity In order to enhance the quality and relevance of programme, one major action of research and development is to build up research capacity by participation to the professional development (PD) programmes, organizing and conduct of professional development programmes, facilitating international staff exchange programmes and reviewing the performance of existing RCs. 3.1.1. Research Trainings and Workshops As many as 61 research capacity building trainings and workshops were conducted by the colleges and DRER (Figure 1). Amongst the sixteen operational institutions, fourteen RCs reported having organized different research capacity building programmes engaging both the staff and students. Further, the PD programmes have also benefited maximum number of staff from external agencies. The CECR in CNR in particular has organized maximum PD programmes (35 nos.) funded by the European Union to the 601 participants from outside university agencies. All the other RCs have at least organized one PD programme during the year. However, CeBS in CLCS and CRDS in CNR have not recorded any PD programmes.
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Figure 1. Number of PD Programmes organized by RCs
Although GCIT in Mongar does not have an RC yet, the College has conducted one PD programme in research methods and data analysis to their seven academics supported by the RGOB.
The research PD programmes have benefited 368 university staff and 264 students (Figure 1). Enhancement of student learning was organized by GCBS, JNEC, and Sherubtse College in the trainings and workshops on different topics namely- design thinking and creative problem solving, energy efficient lighting equipment demonstrations, basic research method in social science, basic data visualization and interpretation, qualitative technique for research and publication, and basic research methods and techniques.
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Figure 2. Number of staff, students and external participants to research PD programme
Having reached the universities services to a total of 641 external participants, the University has strengthened its industrial linkages with relevant agencies in Bhutan.
The details of trainings and workshops conducted by the RCs is shown in Table 2.
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Table 2. Research Capacity Building Trainings and Workshops
Sl Name No of No of std No of Centre Name staffs External staff 1 Research Training on the Use of SPSS 21 0 0 BHRC 2 Training on Qualitative Data Analysis & Report Writing 30 0 0 BHRC 3 Proposal Writing training 21 0 1 CSMA 4 Training of Trainers on Water User Associations 0 0 8 CECR 5 Vegetable Production & Post Harvest Management 0 0 8 CECR 6 Field Crops Production & Management 0 0 8 CECR 7 Natural Resources Management, Soil and Land 0 0 10 CECR Management 8 Plant and Animal Biosecurity (Risk Analysis: 0 0 20 CECR Assessment, Communication & Management) Batch I 9 Plant and Animal Biosecurity (Risk Analysis: 0 0 20 CECR Assessment, Communication & Management) Batch II 10 Plant and Animal Biosecurity (Risk Analysis: 0 0 20 CECR Assessment, Communication & Management) Batch III 11 Food Safety (Risk Analysis: Assessment, 0 0 24 CECR Communication and Management)
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12 Handling of GIS and GPS for field staff 0 0 50 CECR 13 Identification of Flora and Fauna 0 0 24 CECR 14 Timber harvesting, Silviculture and Logging Techniques 0 0 16 CECR 15 Integrated Watershed Planning 0 0 12 CECR 16 Forest plantation, Nursery Management & Record 0 0 22 CECR Keeping 17 Eco-tourism Development and Management 0 0 22 CECR 18 Development of Recreational Areas Guidelines 0 0 14 CECR 19 Wildlife Handling and Management 0 0 18 CECR 20 Operational Planning and Inventory 0 0 14 CECR 21 Wetland Inventory 0 0 10 CECR 22 Preparation of Local Forest Management Plan 0 0 16 CECR 23 NWFP Assessment and Management Planning 0 0 14 CECR 24 Forest Management plan writing 0 0 16 CECR 25 Biodiversity Assessment for Monitoring and Assessment 0 0 16 CECR 26 Statistical Analysis tools for Forest Research 3 0 30 CECR 27 Information Management and Communication 0 0 20 CECR Competency for Forestry Field Staff in Service Delivery
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28 Forestry Data Management 0 0 20 CECR 29 Bookkeeping for Community Forests & Non- Wood 0 0 16 CECR Forest Product groups 30 Geographic and GPS 0 0 3 CECR 31 Livestock Survey and Data Analysis 30 0 3 CECR 32 Postharvest Management (storage, processing, 0 0 2 CECR packaging, brand marketing) 33 Cost of Production Methods 0 0 5 CECR 34 Group Organization and Group Marketing 0 0 10 CECR 35 Training of Trainers on Business planning and Financial 0 0 8 CECR Management 36 Training on Quantum GIS, Forest Mensuration and 25 CECR Ethno-Botany for Frontline Staff of Divisional Forest Office, Sarpang 37 Basic training on Spring Shed Management and Water 41 CECR source protection in Dorangthang 38 Basic Training on Forest Fire Awareness and Waste 35 CECR Management 39 Design Thinking Workshop 25 0 0 CRSED 40 Workshop on Design and Operation of Biogas 25 0 0 CRSED
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41 Workshop on Design and Operation of Biogas 25 0 CDRRCDS 42 TROP-ICSU (Climate Across the Curriculum: 20 0 CDRRCDS Educational Resources for Teachers) 43 Workshop on Design Thinking and Creative Problem 3 30 CBRED Solving 44 Entrepreneurial Mindset & Skills Development Training 5 CBRED 45 Awareness Workshop on IP and training on Patent 7 0 36 CAT Database Search 46 Demonstration of Equipment at Energy Efficient Lighting 5 CLEES Laboratory 47 Grant Writing Proposal 40 CERD 48 Introduction to Basic Research Methods and Social 6 40 CAHR Science Writing 49 Workshop on Basic Data Visualization and Interpretation 4 30 CCCSI in QGIS 50 Quantitively Technique for Research and Publication 5 40 CPDS using Statistical Software 51 Basic Scientific Research Methods and Techniques 6 44 CSER 52 Statistical Data Analysis Using Software R Workshop 36 CSER 53 Research Methods and Data Analysis 7 0
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54 Research Management Training Programme in 7 0 0 iGNHaS Princeton Academy, Mumbai 55 Chulalongkorn University Study Abroad Fair 2018 in CU, 3 0 0 iGNHaS Bangkok 56 High Level Round Table Meeting with Universities for 1 0 0 iGNHaS Research Collaborations organized by Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Royal Norwegian Embassy New Delhi. 57 UN International Workshop on Global Mountain 1 0 0 iGNHaS Safeguard in EURAC Research, Bolzano, Italy 58 European Union’s Erasmus+ Regional Seminar for Asia 3 0 0 iGNHaS in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 59 Himalayan University Consortium Annual Board Meeting 1 0 0 iGNHaS in ICIMOD, Kathmandu, Nepal 60 Executives’ institutional visits for collaborations with 1 0 0 iGNHaS Gadja Mada University, Indonesia, University of Philippines Diliman, and Asian Institute of Management in Indonesia and Philippines
61 Training on Communicating Research in Gedu 7 0 0 iGNHaS TOTAL BENEFICIARIES
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3.1.3. International Staff Exchange Facilitated In general, the External Relations Division within the DRER facilitates incoming international staff to the University for various academic purposes such as exchange programmes, implementation of collaborative projects, feasibility studies for academic collaborations, signing of memorandum of understandings, or for short-term adjunct faculty needs of the colleges. Clearances are required from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for agreements and execution of projects involving funds and travel documents have to be processed for entry into Bhutan from the Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs.
Figure 3. Number of International Exchange Staff to Bhutan
As illustrated in Figure 3, a total of 114 international staff from 19 Asian countries were facilitated to visit RUB Colleges. Likewise, 65 collaborators from 16 European nations visited different college campuses to meet their counterparts in Bhutan and work on collaborative projects.
International staff from USA, Canada, Australia and South Africa also visited the colleges for various academic exchange programmes. A total of 251 international staff from across the globe (Figure 4) visited
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RUB to attend conferences, seminars, workshops, trainings, exchanges, for short-term studies, for joint research projects, on short- term teaching assignments, meetings, collaborations, and for exploratory visits.
Facilitation of international staff visiting RUB Colleges over the past three years show an increasing trend indicating internationalization of the RUB Colleges and considering it as a preferred destination for academic collaborations (Figure 5).
While increased staff exchanges have greatly helped assist RUB academicians in networking and collaborating with external academicians in learning and working on projects relevant to enhancing research and teaching-learning, it has also created avenues for RUB faculty to host and participate in seminars and conferences relevant to global higher education.
However, as RUB continues to facilitate and create avenues within Bhutan to host international experiences and MICE events to help provide international exposure to its staff and students, the University has to work and seek approvals from relevant departments and ministries like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home and Culture Affairs, and the Tourism Council of Bhutan to facilitate such events and in segregated timeframes that does not impact tourist seasons in Bhutan.
The University continues to be guided by the ministries to ensure it benefits from such networks and linkages. One reason for the increase in the number of Asian staff visit during 2018-2019 is due to the number of seminars and workshops hosted by different RUB Colleges. A huge increase in staff from Europe has also materialized due to the increasing number of Erasmus projects that RUB colleges have secured by joining as partner universities in the Erasmus network and its related mobility projects. And the colleges continue to learn and benefit from such projects and is an ongoing feature as Erasmus collaboration is encouraged to enable our colleges to learn from their network with international partners and bring positive lessons relevant to Bhutan to help us grow from strength to strength.
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Figure 4. International Staff Visit to RUB Colleges from Different Regions of the World (shaded)
The External Relations division at DRER has also recorded significant number of international staff visiting the colleges and Head Office through other government agencies and private sectors. Although record of our own staff going out to other institutions is not maintained by the Office of the DRILs and RCs, there are indications that both staff and students from RUB Colleges (like CST, JNEC, GCBS, PCE and SC) are also sponsored by international universities, and projects are secured by the colleges to the foreign institutions and universities.
249 251
175
2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019
Figure 5. Increasing Trend of International Staff Visiting RUB Colleges During Last Three Years 15 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
3.1.4. Research Centres Evaluated and Reviewed Since the existence of the RCs in each college is to support research and development events and international linkages, all RCs are required to plan annual activities to enhance research environment within their respective colleges. However, research culture within the University is still young and there is a need to provide clarifications of activity implementations and data management in a standard reporting format besides sharing government policies on communications with foreign institutions with the colleges from time to time.
Over the recent years, almost all Colleges have recognized the need of an assistant to support DRILs and have recruited Assistant Research Officers. The DRER therefore visited RCs activities in all Colleges during the middle of financial year, including activities of SCE. The details of field visits are shown in Table 3.
Table 3. Field Visit Carried out by DRER to Review RCs Activities in 2018-2019
S. Name of Research Centre / College Period No. reviewed 1 Samtse College of Education 29th No formal Research Centre is November established, team reviewed the 2018 overall research and external relations performance of the College 2 College of Science and Technology 1st December 2.1. Centre for Renewable and 2018 Sustainable Energy Development (CRSED) 2.2. Centre for Disaster Risk Reduction and Community Development Studies (CDRR&CSD) 3 College of Natural Resources 10th 3.1. Centre for Rural Development December Studies (CRDS) 2018 3.2. Centre for Environment and Climate Research (CECR)
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S. Name of Research Centre / College Period No. reviewed 3.3. Centre for Sustainable Mountain Agriculture (CSMA) [Note: CSMA was approved only on 16th Nov 2018 therefore it was not reviewed] 4 College of Language and Culture Studies 11th 4.1. Bhutan & Himalaya Research December Centre (BHRC) 2018 4.2. Centre for Buddhist Studies (CeBS) 5 Sherubtse College 13th 5.1. Centre for Archaeology and December Historical Research (CAHR) 2018 5.2. Centre for Climate Change and Spatial Information (CCC&SI) 5.3. Centre for Population and Development (CPD) 5.4. Centre for Science & Environmental Research (CSER) 6 Jigme Namgyal Engineering College 15th 6.1. Centre for Appropriate December Technology (CAT) 2018 6.2. Centre for Lighting and Energy Efficiency Studies (CL&EES) [Note: CLEES was approved only on 9th April 2018 and therefore it was not reviewed] 7 Paro College of Education 19th 7.1. Centre for Educational December Research and Development (CERD) 2018
8 Gedu College of Business Studies 11th March 8.1. Centre for Business and 2019 Entrepreneurship Development
3.2. Enhance Student Learning Environment Under the enhancement of student learning action, it is measured mainly through enrollment of international students to various study
17 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019 abroad programmes and Higher Degree Research (HDR) programme implementation as its key success indicators. 3.2.1. Semester Abroad Students Enrolled
Semester abroad students (SAS) to RUB Colleges have mainly come from Naropa University, Boulder, US and University College Leuven Limburg (UCLL), Belgium. During the 1st year of 12FYP, fourteen international students were enrolled to various RUB Colleges as shown in Table 4.
In a SAS modality, a student takes a minimum of two modules from RUB programmes and enrolls for a duration equivalent to a semester.
In 2018-2019, a total of eleven out of fourteen students opted to undertake their semester abroad programme at PCE. Exemplary foreign student management and logistical support to enhance international student’s cultural immersion have been noted as highlights to attract foreign students. Witnessing trends of courses availed by the students, it is seen that courses related to Creatives Arts in Upper and Lower Primary; Education for Development; Visual Communication; Teaching Practice; and Guidance and Counseling are popular and common choices for the international students at PCE. Since Naropa University has accredited courses of RUB, students during their semester at RUB are able to earn credits through Naropa University and also get to avail international immersion experience in a different learning setting, and this is something RUB colleges should aspire to institute with the other international universities as well.
However, the colleges of RUB will also have to take into consideration accommodational and other services for foreign students and include it in its Strategic Planning if it is to provide meaningful immersion experience to its foreign students. The DRER office in Thimphu is also challenged with placing its international students in Thimphu due to lack of inexpensive accommodational and logistical services.
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Table 4. Number of International Students Enrolled for Semester Abroad Programme
S. No. University sending SAS Number RUB Colleges hosting SAS 1 Naropa University, Boulder, 10 PCE USA 2 University College Leuven 4 1 by PCE and 3 Limburg, Belgium by DRER Total International Students enrolled to SAS 14
3.2.2. Short-term Study Programme During the financial year 2018-2019, fifty-nine international students from US, Australia, Japan, Sweden and Canada visited RUB colleges for a duration ranging from one to six weeks. All the international student visit to RUB Colleges were facilitated within the collaborations established between RUB and the international universities. The details of short-term students (STS) facilitated is show in Table 5.
In a STS modality, students in small groups visit RUB college from a week to six weeks tailor made programme agreed between RUB and the sending institution, and is usually led by a faculty from the students’ parent institution.
Looking at the trends, it is witnessed that students from Australia come to RUB on short term visits on the New Colombo Plan (NCP) modality and has been instituted in line with the advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan. Another annual feature of short-term visit is also from Kyoto University, Japan, which hosts short term exchanges with Sherubtse College and provide mobility in studies related to rural development and comparisons between Japan and Bhutan. If we look at all the programmes instituted under short term modality, we notice that short term exchanges have been carried out with institutions that have long standing ties with RUB or have clearly defined terms and responsibilities drawn between institutions to carry out specified projects in an agreement or through MoUs.
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Table 5. Short-term International Students Visiting RUB Colleges from International Universities
S. No. University / Institutions Number Institution / sending STS College placed in Bhutan 1 William and Mary College, 8 CLCS USA 2 Edith Cowan University, 10 KGUMSB Australia 3 University of New England, 19 PCE Australia 4 University of Technology, 7 PCE Sydney, Australia 5 Kyoto University, Japan 9 Sherubtse College 6 University of Fukui, Japan 2 Sherubtse College 7 Lund University of Sweden 1 CST 8 University of New 3 Sherubtse Brunswick, Canada College Total International STS 59
3.2.3. Visiting Research Students Two postgraduate students from Japan and a student from Nepal were placed at Sherubtse College and the College of Natural Resources for their respective fields of research.
The details of visiting research students (VRS) facilitated is shown in Table 6.
In a VRS modality, a student researcher from an external institution visits RUB college, endorsed by the College Research Committee, to conduct research towards his/her degree at another institution and the duration can range from one month to not more than one year.
The VRS students in 2018-2019 have stayed in Bhutan for duration ranging from a few weeks to a few months to do their data collection, meet their Research Supervisor in Bhutan and to fine tune their research findings.
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Table 6. International Visiting Research Students to RUB Colleges during 2018-2019
S. Country Number Institution / College placed in No. Bhutan 1 Japan 1 Sherubtse College 2 Japan 1 College of Natural Resources 3 Nepal 1 College of Natural Resources
3.2.4. Full-time International Students The External Relations Division of the DRER facilitated enrollment of three international students as Full Time Students (FTS) to RUB programmes, namely MSc in Natural Resource Management and MDP programme in CNR.
In a FTS modality, a student is enrolled in a full RUB validated programme and will take the entire programme and fulfil the requirements to earn a degree from the Royal University of Bhutan (RUB).
The DRER office at RUB does not deal with any fees related to FTS and this is handled directly by the respective colleges of RUB. For instance, there are a few FTS scholarship like UNESCO Madanjeet Center for South Asia Forestry Studies (UMCSAFS) administered by Ugyen Wangchuk Institute of Conservation and Environment Research (UWICER), Bumthang for four years BSc in Forestry and two years MSc in NRM in CNR, Lobesa. UMCSAFS is eligible to all SAARC countries and selection is done jointly by UMCSAFS and CNR based on set entry criteria. UMCSAFS scholarship cover tuition fees, stipend, international travels, book allowances, establishment cost for international student, research grants and in-country travel during study. All scholarship administration is handled by UWICER and CNR and the international student number has not been captured under the FTS reflected here due to lack of data.
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Table 7. International Students Enrolled to Postgraduate Programme in RUB College
S.No. Country Number Institution / College placed in Bhutan 1 USA 1 College of Natural Resources 2 Tanzania 1 College of Natural Resources 3 Germany 1 College of Natural Resources Total International FTS 3
RUB’s student learning environment is enhanced by multicultural immersions with increased number of international students visiting RUB colleges for various study abroad programmes such as full-time, semester abroad, short-term abroad, and visiting research programmes. The increase in trend compared to the previous year 2017-2018 is seen in Table 8.
Looking at Table 8, it is noted that all four types of study abroad programmes: the FTS, STS, STSS, and VRS have increased in the last two years and still continue to increase in 2019-2020 which will be reported later on. This shows that RUB is considered as an educational hub and that RUB should strive to better its services and support to ensure the trend is continued, and that it, in its process shapes the credibility of RUB as a visible University in the region and beyond.
Table 8. Comparative Data of International Students for Various Study Abroad Programmes During the Last Two Years
S.No. Study Programme 2017-2018 2018-2019 1 Full Time Study Students 1 3 2 Semester Study 14 14 Students 3 Short-Term Study 18# 59 Students 4 Visiting Research 1 3 Students # Excludes 46 students who visited GCBS from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune, India
22 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
3.2.5. HDR External Supervisors Appointed The MSc in NRM specializes in Agriculture, Animal Science, Forestry, and Environment by research. Although the College of Natural Resources (CNR) has not processed to the Research Degree Committee (RDC) Meeting for appointment of HDR External Supervisors to the students enrolled in MSc in NRM, a review of draft annual monitoring report submitted by the College to HDR Secretariat in August 2019 indicated that CNR had already appointed Supervisors and Co-supervisors to four MSc NRM students (3rd cohort) within the college and considered them as the Confirmation Panel of MSc NRM Thesis. CNR has adequate teaching faculty with PhD degree (10 PhD degree holder as of August 2019) in all Departments that ensured quality supervision of the research programme.
However, there had been also a case of withdrawal of one international student during the reporting year. 3.2.6. HDR External Examiners Appointed Appointment of external examiners is endorsed by the College Academic Committee (CAC). However, during the 2018-2019 financial year, there were no students qualified to graduate. Since the programme is new and the management of MSc in NRM has also changed over the years within the college, there was a need for the programme leader to familiarize in annual monitoring report. Despite no formal appointment of external examiners by the RDC, CNR has already identified and assigned external experts mainly in renewable natural resources who were closely associated with teaching in the university education. 3.2.7. HDR Programme Reviewed The management at CNR has been advised to initiate review of MSc NRM and propose to RDC, if required. The Annual Monitoring Report of MSc NRM is received in August 2019 for review by RDC. The RDC meeting schedule is on hold due to lack of dealing staff not recruited since November 2018. The HR office in OVC is under process of new recruitment since requisition for the new staff is endorsed.
23 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
3.2.8. HDR Programme Validated Although two PhD programmes have been considered by the APRC in early 2018, both the programme documents have not been submitted to RDC for consideration. In general, it takes around six to two years to develop the programme document for consideration of its quality.
However, two initiatives have been taken by the Department – one to convene HDR workshop on PhD admission, curriculum map, supervision skills and resource pooling within the RUB involving CLCS, CNR, CST, PCE and SCE and second in assisting project proposal development for education and research in climate change in Bhutan by CNR. The project proposal on climate change of CNR is submitted to GNHC, UNDP and NEC to assist in PhD degree launching by CNR, RUB since the financial support from the Government in terms of research, institutional capacity building, scholarships to PhD students and publications is constrained. The UNDP also scheduled an early breakfast meeting with a few international partners to garner support during the Round Table Meeting in Bhutan in mid-March 2019. 4. Enhancement of Research, Innovation and Scholarship In order to promote research and innovation for the enhancement of research, innovation and scholarship, a series of success indicators such as application of research grants to various agencies; total research grants in amount and number secured; number of conferences and seminars organized; and publications of journals, books, articles in journals, conferences and international and national relations have been put in place. 4.1. Research Grants Applications Grant writing by academics across RUB colleges has consistently maintained around 90 grants per annum. While this represents below 20 percent engagement of academics in grant writing, many academics are involved as co-authors which indicates almost 40 percent of teaching staff involved in writing grant proposals.
24 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
The University has three types of sponsored research encouraging staff to conduct and promote research, namely, through i) Annual College Research Grants (ACRG) where all colleges are expected to dedicate a minimum of one percent annual operational budget; ii) Annual University Research Grants (AURG) sponsored by the DRER to build research capacity of young researchers and also to support enhancing mid-career and advanced researchers; and iii) External sponsored research grant outside of the University both by institutions and agencies within Bhutan and international research institutions and universities as collaborators.
This is encouraging since the mind-set of academics are now changing to engage in writing project proposals after reviewing several literatures and drawing analysis of the knowledge gap. Therefore, the operation of the RCs have justified in supporting the grant writing proposals and strengthened the function of College Research Committee (CRC) in improving the quality of grant writing by providing peer review and feedback mechanisms.
During the financial year 2018-2019, all RCs (16 nos.) including GCIT and SCE have facilitated draft grant writing and submission of the grant applications to various funding agencies within the college, university- wide grants and external sponsored grants as illustrated in Figure 6.
Figure 6. Nos. of Research Grant Proposals Submitted by RCs to Funding Agencies
25 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
Over the recent years, CBRED in GCBS has consistently submitted a maximum number of AURG applications to DRER. One possible hypothesis is that GCBS has only one RC and has maximum academics. GCBS strategizes first to submit applications for University- wide competition and support study proposals that could not secure funding from AURG. However, when it comes to College level, Sherubtse College had applied maximum research grants (Table 9). Overall, all RCs have confirmed their active operation by initiating grant writing and facilitation for submission to funding agencies, including proposals from GCIT and SCE.
Table 9. Number of Research Grants Applied to Various Funding Agencies
S. No. Name of College Number of Research Grants Applied (Nos.) 1 CLCS 7 2 CNR 14 3 CST 4 4 GCBS 15 5 GCIT 2 6 JNEC 5 7 PCE 5 8 SC 19 9 SCE 2 10 DRER 22
The comprehensive list of study proposals submitted by various RCs in the colleges to different funding sources are detailed in Table 10.
26 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
Table 10. Grant Proposals Submitted by RCs to Various Funding Agencies within College, University-wide and External Sponsored Grants
S. Research Project Titles Funding Agency RC Name No. /Instution, Country Applied
1 ACRG BHRC མ་ཐང་པ་ཡ་་ར།
2 The Shubangla Ritual in Buli AURG BHRC
3 Dzongkha Literature: A Comparative study on the genres of ACRG BHRC Sung and Inamthar
4 AURG CeBS རང་གས་་ཐོག་ནང་་ག་དང་ས་ངས་ག་ཆད་འང་ད་པ་ར
5 AURG CeBS ངས་ཁ་དང་ས་ད་་ད་་འལ་བ་དད་པ།
6 AURG CeBS ་བ་ན་ས་པ་ག་་ག་ལ་ཡར་ས་གཏང་།
7 AURG CeBS མད་ས་བ་དོན་་བ་ཁ་ང་དང་ད་ག་གས་བས།
27 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
8 Biodiversity Assessment in Biological Corridors under Environmental Fund, CRDS Sarpang Dzongkhag Japan
9 Morphological Characterization and DNA analysis ACRG CRDS
10 Ecological Study and Oil Property Analysis of Sandalwood NORHED CRDS (Santalum album) at three plantations in Bhutan
11 In-Vitro Culture of Acquilaria Malaccensis for Agar Wood NOHRED CRDS production
12 Rainfall Pattern and Water Poverty and their Implication to AURG CRDS Local Livelihoods in the Context of Changing Climate in Bhutan.
13 Sustainable Management of Natural Resources SUNRAISE CRDS
14 Rapid Assessment of Roadside Bird Diversity in Punakha AURG CECR District, Bhutan.
15 Exploration of Human Self-Medication by use of Plants and CNR NORHED research CECR Animal Species in Dagana district, Bhutan grant
16 Bat Diversity Dominance and Richness in the South Western RUFFORD, UK CECR region of Bhutan
28 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
17 Develop Tick Collar using Xanthoxylum Pods and Seeds to ACRG CSMA Control Tick Infestation in Dairy Cattle
18 Assessment of Nutrient from Parthenium hystephorus L. AURG/ ACRG CSMA compost using Different Inoculants
19 Evaluation of Different Bio-Pesticides on Cabbage Aphids NORHED, Norway CSMA
20 Sustainable Development Smart Agriculture Capacity Erasmus Plus CSMA (Sunspace)
21 Hirosaki Bhutan Apple Project (Capacity development and Hirosaki University, CSMA introduction of innovative technologies on apple production, Japan & Department of productivity and processing) Agriculture, MoAF
22 Electric Energizer NPPC, MOAF CRSED
23 Standalone Solar PV Systems Indo-Bhutan CRSED
24 Feasibility Study of Concrete Road Pavement DHI CDRRCDS
25 NAPA II Project from Phuntsholing Thromde Phuntsholing Thromde CDRRCDS
26 Competitive Strategies of Business Tour Operators - An AURG CBRED Analysis using Analytic Network Process (ANP)
29 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
27 Collaborative Overload: A Study of Employees under Royal AURG CBRED University of Bhutan
28 Student Satisfaction Index for selected Colleges under RUB AURG CBRED
29 A Study on Challenges of Rural Enterprise in Bhutan: A Case AURG CBRED of Poultry Farming in Chukha from Value Chain Perspective
30 Financial Inclusion (FI) and its impact on the Socio-Economic AURG CBRED life of Bhutanese - A Case Study
31 The Effect of Teacher Interpersonal Behavior on University AURG CBRED Students' Motivation
32 Objectivity of including Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET) CRG CBRED in Performance Evaluation for Teaching Faculty Under RUB
33 Teachers’ Awareness and Adoption of Bloom’s Taxonomy in CRG CBRED Higher Education Institutions in Bhutan: A Study of Academic staff of GCBS and Staff
34 Socio-Economic Sustainability of Organic Farming in Bhutan: CRG CBRED From the perspective of farmers group in Thimphu, Chukha and Paro.
30 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
35 Reading Attitude of Freshmen of GCBS CRG CBRED
36 Gender and Leadership CRG CBRED
37 Student’s Motivation for Entrepreneurship among Business CRG CBRED College under RUB in Bhutan
38 Impact of Faculty’s Intimacy Behaviour on Student’s Academic CRG CBRED Mindset and Academic Performance
39 Entrepreneurial Characteristics amongst University students CRG CBRED (RUB) in comparison with established Entrepreneurs of Bhutan
40 Competency Mapping for training needs Identification of CRG CBRED faculties at GCBS
41 The Role of Internet Of Things (IoT) in Waste Management in Bhutan Trust Fund CAT Bhutan: A Technology Intervention (THROW MABAY)
42 Smart Farm Management System, An IoT Intervention in Druk Holding Investment CAT Sustainable Farming in Bhutan
31 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
43 Study on Implementation of Sustainable Land-filling Bhutan Trust Fund CAT Approaches in Bhutan: A Case Study on Municipal Controlled Landfill in Samdrup Jongkhar
44 Building Energy Modelling UNDP CLEES
45 Waste Management in Bhutan - Switch Asia Call Switch Asia, EU CLEES
46 Self- Efficacy Beliefs and Identity Construction of beginning AURG CERD Pre-service Teachers: An Insight into the making of Teachers
47 Assessing the Self Efficacy Beliefs of Lecturers of the AURG CERD Colleges of Education in Bhutan in the three core areas of Teaching, Research and Services
48 Constructivist Learning Environment: Bhutanese Preservice AURG CERD Teachers’ Perspectives
49 Collaborative Action Research on Science and Maths DFAT, Australia CERD
50 Happiness and Wellbeing Ismai University, CERD Portugal, VUB, Belgium, UoB, UK.
32 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
51 ACRG CAHR བས་ང་ོང་ཁག་ནང་་ོབ་ག་ོབ་མ་༩པ་ལས་༡༢་པ་ན་འབད་་་ས་ོང་ ཁ་དང་ང་ད་ཁ་ད་གས་་ཚོར་ང་་ག་བར་བག་བ།
52 ACRG CAHR ོང་ཁ་ག་མཚམས་བཅད་ཐངས་་དད་པ་ོ་གསལ་་།
53 ACRG CAHR བས་གཡང་་མ་་མོར་ོང་ཁག་གམ་་ཤག་བཟོ་མཁན་དང་འལ་བ་འཐབ་་ ཤག་བཟོ་མ་ཆས་བ་ལོ་ས་་ན།
54 Integration of Traditional and Scientific Knowledge for Micro LEF Award, Nangyang CCCSI Watershed Management Technological University, Singapore
55 Analysis of Rural Fuelwood Dependency and Sustainable Department of CCCSI Energy Potentials in India and Bhutan Geography, Gauhati University, India
56 Impact of Rural-Urban Migration on Food Security: A Case ACRG CPDS Study in Bartsham Gewog, Tashigang
57 Statistical Analysis of Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Bhutan ACRG CPDS
33 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
58 Impact of installation of family sized Boigas equipment on ACRG CPDS Firewood Consumption: A case study of Samkhar Gewog, Tashigang
59 Development of Liquid Formation of Bio-pesticide and CSER Evaluating its Field Efficacy for Sustainable Agriculture
60 GCRF South Asian Nitrogen Hub (SANH) UKRI-GCRF CSER
61 Meeting with the Dragon King: First hertological Expedition to CSER the Kingdom of Bhutan
62 Hydrograph Separation of Stream Flow using Geochemical The World Bank CSER Traces in Paa Chu Basin
63 Rufford Project: A Communication Education Programme to The Rufford Foundation CSER curb direct pollution of Amphibian Breeding sites in Eastern Bhutan
64 A Preliminary Study of Medicinal Plants in Pemathang ACRG CSER (Samdrup Jongkhar) and Dekiling (Gelephu) Bhutan: A Retrospective Analysis for a Better Vision
65 Study of Floral and Faunal Diversity in Sherubtse Gene Park ACRG CSER
34 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
66 Study the Land Management Practices that sustain the soil ACRG CSER Organic Carbon and its Relationship with the Rice Yield in Radhi, Trashigang.
67 Efficiency of Natural Wetland in Wastewater Treatment: A ACRG CSER Case Study of Sherubtse College Wetland, Kanglung, Bhutan
68 The Impact of Social Media in Writing and Speaking of college AURG, RUB GCIT level students
69 Usage of Transitive and Intransitive verbs and its definition in AURG, RUB GCIT Dzongkha
70 Factors Contributing to Student's performance in Mathematics AURG, RUB SCE at the Higher Secondary Schools in Bhutan
71 Linnueus-Palme Project on Students-Teachers Exchange Linneaus Palmae SCE Programme 2019
72 Building Research Capacity in Least Developed Countries in Global Development iGNHaS July 2018 Network, New Delhi
73 Institutional Capacity Building of Media Studies in RUB – Edith Cowan University, iGNHaS Communication Equipment July 2018 Perth, Australia
35 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
74 Enhancing Learning Resources – Text books for Engineering Edith Cowan University, iGNHaS Programmes August 2018 Perth, Australia
75 Project proposal for Technical Cooperation Program with Science and Technology iGNHaS Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (DRER, CNR, SCE and Research Partnership for GCIT) Sustainable Development (SATREPS), Japan
76 Expatriate Conference on Academic Fraternity Beyond India Bhutan iGNHaS Borders – Vice Chancellor Symposium Series Foundation, Embassy of India, Thimphu
77 India Science and Research Fellowship Programme Centre for Cooperation iGNHaS in Science and Technology among Developing Society (CCSTDS), DST, Ministry of Science and Technology, GoI, Chennai
78 Strategies to Business Growth by Lean Six Sigma DHI, Thimphu iGNHaS Methodology and Tools in BoB by Sherubtse College
79 Preliminary Assessment of Longhorn Beetle of Bhutan by CNR DHI, Thimphu iGNHaS
36 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
80 The Effect of Climate Change on Food Systems and its DHI, Thimphu iGNHaS Implications to Human Nutrition and Diet in Bhutan by CNR
81 Farmers Adaptation Strategies to Climate Variability and DHI, Thimphu iGNHaS Change and its Implications to Food Security in Bhutan by CNR
82 Nutrition Flows in Organic Farms in Bhutan by CNR DHI, Thimphu iGNHaS
83 Diversity Assessment of a Lizard Community in Punakha DHI, Thimphu iGNHaS district, Bhutan by CNR
84 Study the Impact of Introducing EV Charging Infrastructure in DHI, Thimphu iGNHaS Bhutan on Low Voltage Network by CST
85 Land Slide Monitoring System for Bhutan by CST DHI, Thimphu iGNHaS
86 Development of Net-Zero Living Model by CST DHI, Thimphu iGNHaS
87 Enhancing Youth Employment Through Impact Driven- DHI, Thimphu iGNHaS Solution Based Entrepreneurship and Incubation by GCBS
88 RF Wireless Power Transfer Scheme for Multiple Access DHI, Thimphu iGNHaS Cooperative Wireless Systems by JNEC
37 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
89 Study on the Interlocking Bricks Masonry for Sustainable DHI, Thimphu iGNHaS Infrastructure Development in Bhutan by JNEC
90 e-Procurement System in DHI: Importance and Impacts on DHI, Thimphu iGNHaS Supply Chain Operations by JNEC
91 Climate Studies Capacity Building through Workshop and UNDP Thimphu iGNHaS Training
92 Building Capacity for Education and Research in Enhancing UNDP, GNHC, NEC, iGNHaS Resilience to Climate Change Impact in Bhutan Himalaya Thimphu
93 Research Collaboration in Hydropower Technology and MoEA, Thimphu iGNHaS Development between RGoB and NTNU
38 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
4.2. Research Grants Secured While RUB Colleges have applied as many as 93 project proposals to various agencies to support the study proposals, securing the grant is not always automatic since it has to compete for grants. Many agencies also do not support the grant proposals if it has no direct interest to their agencies.
However, there is an increased recognition of grant support coming forward by some RUB Colleges to sponsor the study proposals of their respective academics by putting guidelines in place annually. The University-wide research grant is most preferred funding source since it is competitive and merit-based scholarship. There is also a feeling of pride and satisfaction among the study grant proponents being applied for university-wide grants and receiving critical feedback for improvement of their project proposals. However, the amount has remained constant over the past four years.
A small group of academics across the colleges have also built-up grant writing capacity and have always been inquisitive in finding suitable funding agencies to their study proposals. Some of the study grants are offered directly by the funding agencies to the College based on their industrial relations, experiences of past study projects and recognition of staff research capacity.
During the 1st year of 12FYP, RUB Colleges have secured research grants amounting to Nu. 6.600 million from various funding sources, including external agencies in Bhutan, international funding organizations, university-wide grants and respective College grants (Figure 7). However, it excludes significant proportion of grant received (Nu. 43.000 million) by PCE for “Happiness and Wellbeing” project in collaboration with three Universities in Europe namely in Belgium, Portugal and the UK. It also excludes two projects of CNR namely SUNSPACE (Nu. 4.872 million) and SUNRACE (Nu. 5.100 million) through EU projects. Further, the research grant also excludes the grant (Nu. 3.098 million) received by Sherubtse College to study Paa Chu basin from World Bank. All these major external grants were beyond one-year project and therefore excluded from the total research grants.
39 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
The overall research grant secured during the financial year was around Nu. 74.047 million that includes Nu. 10.000 million release from the Ministry of Finance for the Research Endowment Fund and 1.440 million to support Social Policy Certificate training from UNICEF.
Figure 7. Amount of Research Grants Secured by Colleges to Support Research Activities
The research grants secured by the colleges are mainly from the grant proposals submitted to various funding agencies as illustrated in Table 9 earlier. 4.3. Research Conference and Seminars Conducted There were as many as 36 conferences and seminars organized by eleven RCs and two colleges (GCIT and SCE) during the 1st year of 12FYP (Figure 7). Majority of the events were sponsored by the College Research Fund by dedicating a minimum of one percent of annual operational cost to support such events. Some external agencies like the Kyoto University, UNICEF and National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) have also funded the conduct of conferences and seminars. For instance, the UNICEF was responsible for supporting International Conference on Emerging Social Work Practices and Education in SCE while NCHM sponsored Hydrology and Meteorological Data and its Application seminar in Sherubtse College. Kyoto University and RUB also jointly hosted the 42nd South East Asian 40 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
Seminar in Bhutan where 12 participants from South East Asian countries were funded by Kyoto University. The 42nd South East Asian Seminar was significant wherein the Resident Representative of JICA in Bhutan and two Secretaries namely from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education delivered Keynote Addresses to the international participants. Four academics from Sherubtse College also benefitted by co-hosting the international seminar with Kyoto University.
As a University striving to conduct relevant research and increase its visibility, the Colleges of RUB are mandated to conduct and host international conferences and seminars to share their findings. For any activity involving international participants, the DRER office has to seek approval and clearances from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tourism Council of Bhutan, and the Department of Immigration (Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs) and the time taken to seek clearances can deter international participants from taking part in such events as the international academicians book their events and plan a year ahead. The DRER office still continue to facilitate research events in light of the benefits it accrues to RUB through learning best practices and networking with experts in their relevant field of study across the world.
Figure 8. Number of Conferences and Seminars Organized by RCs
41 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
Majority of the seminars were targeted to enhance student learning environment. The CERD in PCE has scheduled Rimpung Experiment Seminars throughout the semesters to the staff and students. SCE has also organized two major events involving staff and students during the reporting year. Likewise, Sherubtse College engaged maximum students besides academics when three RCs organized seminars during the financial year. Engagement of students from CST was for a seminar on “Bridge Engineering” conducted by Department of Roads. A total of 4023 students participated in the conference and seminars while 756 staff from the University attended the research events (Table 11). There was also significant number of external participants (512 nos.) mainly the events organized by iGNHaS in collaborations with relevant stakeholders.
Table 11. List of Conferences and Seminars Organized by RCs during 2018-2019
Sl Title Centre Name 1 National Seminar CeBS 2 4th Annual Joint Faculty Research Meet CRSED 3 International Seminar in collaboration with CRSED Allipurduar College, India) 4 Seminar on Fab Lab Familiarization CDRRCDS 5 Seminar by DOR on Bridge Engineering CDRRCDS 6 International Seminar in collaboration with CDRRCDS Allipurduar College, India) 7 Rimpung Experiment CERD 8 Rimpung Experiment CERD 9 Rimpung Experiment CERD 10 Rimpung Experiment CERD 11 Rimpung Experiment CERD 12 42nd South East Asian Seminar CAHR
42 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
13 Traversing from Local to Global: Journey of CAHR Literature Across Time and Space 14 National Seminar Understanding Gender in CPDS Bhutan, Issues and Challenges 15 Hydrology and Metrological Data and its CSER Application 16 Research in Computer Science Education CSER Seminar 17 International Conference GCIT 18 International Conference on Emerging SCE Social Work Practices and Education 19 Assembly Faculty-Student Research SCE Convention (paper presentation) by President and Dr. Kinley Sedey
20 BHRC རང་གས་དཔལ་ན་འག་པ་ག་ལམ་མ་གཞག་་ས་
བར་ཞལ་འཛོམས། 21 Awareness Workshop on IP and Training CAT on Patent Database Search 22 Awareness Workshop on IP and Training CAT on Patent Database Search 23 International Seminar on Energy Efficient CLEES Lighting, organized by CLEES, JNEC 24 Presentation of Energy Efficient and CLEES Equipment at 3rd Town Hall Committee Meeting, at Samdrup Jongkhar 25 Big Data Workshop CRSED 26 Seminar on Writing Grant Proposals and SCE HDR application for the faculty 27 Seminar on Bhutanese and Bodo Language iGNHaS and Literature, Culture and History and Socio-Economic Development
43 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
between Bodo Writers Academy Assam and RUB July 2018 28 42nd South-East Asia Seminar on Health iGNHaS and Rural Development based on GNH in collaboration with Kyoto University Japan December 2018 29 Seminar between Schools of ECU and iGNHaS Colleges of RUB for collaborative activities August 2018 30 National Conference on Promoting iGNHaS Research and Innovation in Bhutan February 2019 31 Annual Conference of Dean of Research iGNHaS and Industrial Linkages December 2018 32 Bhutan Democracy Forum 2019 iGNHaS 33 Research Sensitization Seminar to iGNHaS corporate sector 1 - DHI 34 Research Sensitization Seminar to Member iGNHaS of Parliaments 35 Networking Seminar with ECU delegates iGNHaS 36 HKH Education for Sustainable Mountain iGNHaS Development in CNR 19-21 June 2019
4.4. Publications Publication culture within University Colleges is visibly improving for both staff and students since the space to publish is established in most college campuses. However, publication is a big challenge since it involves time to write manuscripts, dedicated editorial staff to review and process for publication, and publication expense support.
Further, publications of Journals are time bound that does not fulfill the requirements or expectations of authors to publish their articles in short time by not understanding the tedious processes involved in peer review of manuscripts before their acceptance for publication. As a
44 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019 result, publication of existing initiated Journals within the Colleges annually is a big challenge.
Publication include journal, journal papers to various publishing houses, papers published in conference and seminar proceedings and reports, books and book chapters, annual reports, newsletter and promotional materials.
4.4.1. Publication of Journal Some of the established Journals with dedicated editorial members have continued to publish either biannually or annually as per Journal editorial policies. During the reporting year, the University published five Journals from four Colleges / DRER as seen in Table 12. BJNRD in CNR published an online biannual journal similar to biannual BJRD from iGNHaS. PCE has also successfully published two issues of RABSEL and JEAR. Many other journals that were initiated by RUB Colleges (CLCS, JNEC, GCBS, SCE, and Sherubtse College) could not be published during the reporting year. As stated above, limitations of manuscripts, time constraints of editorial members to review and process, preference of authors to publish in international journals, credibility of existing journals impact factor, non-recognition of publication contribution in the career advancement are some assumptions that limit annual publication of journals with no dedicated staff for publishing.
However, there is an increased trend of writing a manuscript within the University staff for journals since many manuscripts are often rejected due to non-fulfillment of Journal editorial guidelines. The writing culture of many academics only indicate that it does contribute to quality teaching and learning in the classrooms.
45 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
Table 12. Journal Publications of the Royal University of Bhutan during 2018-2019
S.No Name of Journal Issue No. Centre 1 Rabsel Volume IX, CERD Issue I & II 2 Journal of Education Action Volume I, CERD Research (JEAR) Issue II 3 A Technical Journal Vision, Vol 4 Issue 1 CRSED Innovation, Change (Zorig Melong) 4 Bhutan Journal of Natural Online CRDS Resources and Development 2018 and 2019 5 Bhutan Journal of Research and Vol 7 No 2 iGNHaS Development
4.4.2. Papers Published in Journals As stated in the earlier section, many academics across the colleges have published their articles in many publishing houses both within the above Journals of the University Colleges and international journals. Figure 9 shows number of papers published by each college that are also consistently engaged in writing journal papers. Publication of paper by the University is often considered as the performance indicator in the international context of university ranking and accreditation. However, RUB is too young at this stage since writing of journal paper is a challenge to many academics. Amongst the 65 papers published, there are some individuals who wrote more than one paper. This indicates that RUB has few academics who are scholarly interested in writing and publications. It will be an inspiration to many academics when such effort of peers is recognized by the system in due course of time.
46 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
Figure 9. Number of Papers Published by Each College in Various Journals
The details of journal articles published by various academics in different publishing houses by the RUB colleges is detailed in Table 13.
47 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019
Table 13. List of Journal articles published in various Journals within and Outside Bhutan
S. No Paper Tile Authors Publisher Year College 1 Avoidance Factors in Seeking Choidup, K & Dendup, Journal of 2020 CNR Counselling Help by High T Community School Students in Bhutan. Development Research (Humanities and Social Sciences) 2 People’s Perception on Wangmo, S and KhonKaen 2019 CNR Ecosystem Services in Boonthai, C Agriculture Journal Organic Agroecosystem at Gasa, Bhutan. 3 Economic sustainability? Pratt, S Sunitikul, W International 2018 CNR Examining the Linkages and and Dorji, U Journal of Tourism Leakages between Research 20 Agriculture and hotels in Bhutan 4 Performance of Organic Wangmo, S and KhonKaen 2018 CNR Agriculture based on Boonthai, C Agriculture Journal Emergent Properties of Agriculture System in Gasa, Bhutan
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5 Contribution of Organic Wangmo, S and International 2018 CNR Agriculture to Gross National Boonthai, C Journal of Happiness (GNH): Bhutan Environmental and Rural Development. 6 Livestock Depredation by Jamtsho, Y. and Katel, Research, Policy 2018 CNR Snow Leopard and Tibetan O. and Practice Wolf: Implications for Herders’ Livelihoods in Wangchuck Centennial National Park, Bhutan, Pastoralism 7 Agricultural Transformation in Dendup, T Asian Journal of 2018 CNR Bhutan: From Peasants to Agricultural Entrepreneurial Farmers Extension, Economics & Sociology 8 Relationship between Dendup, T Dorj, P, Journal of 2018 CNR Entrepreneurial Factors and Gyeltshen, T, & Economics, Small Agro-enterprises’ Penjor, L Management and Success: Evidence from Trade Bhutan 9 Review on the Role of Dendup, T, Prasad, B, Journal of 2018 CNR Agriculture Cooperatives in Acharja, I L, & Economics, Optimizing Gross National Zangpo,S Management and Happiness Trade
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10 Determinants of Risk- Gensits, B and International 2019 CNR Dependent Agricultural Field Chhetri, R Journal of Behaviors in Bhutan Agricultural Economics 11 Rapid Assessment of Two Karma Sherub and BirdingAsia 2019 CNR Sympatric Hornbill Species Sangay Tshering Populations and their Nesting Behavior in Zhemgang district, Bhutan 12 Bat Diversity, Dominance and Sangay Tshering, D.B Threatened Taxa 2020 CNR Richness in the South Gurung, Karma Western region of Bhutan with Sherub, Sumit Dookia, three new records for the Kuenzang Dorji, and country Pema Choephyel 13 Abundance and Distribution of Pema Yongdrup, BJNRD 2019 CNR Asiatic Golden Cat and Karma Sherub, Ugyen Clouded Leopard in Tshering, Lekey Jomotshangkha Wildlife Chaida, and Chaten Sanctuary, Bhutan 14 Comparative Analysis of Dahal, D, & Dorji, U Bhutan Journal of 2019 CNR Water Discharge Research & Measurement Methods and Development, Seasonal Trend Analysis of
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Taebayrongchu Sub- watershed, Punakha
15 Macro-invertebrate Diversity Lhundup, K & Dorji, U Bhutan Journal of 2018 CNR and its relationship with Natural Resources Environmental Variables in & Development Adha Lake between Monsoon and Post-Monsoon seasons 16 Invasive Species in Ecological Dorji, U 2014 CNR Habitats of National Parks in Bhutan, A Review Paper 17 The Population Structure, Sangay Dorjee and Nebio-An 2018 CNR Habitat Preference & Sushila Rai International Conservation Threats of Journal of Ringshu Bamboo Environment and (Neomicrocalamus Biodiversity. andropogonifolius) at Remung under Samdrupjongkhar 18 Comparative Study of Nidup Zangmo and Nebio-An 2019 CNR Butterfly Diversity in different Sushila Rai International types of habitat in Journal of Phuentsholing, Chhukha, Environment and Bhutan Biodiversity.
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19 Study of Ichthyofaunal Sonam Wangmo and Nebio-An 2019 CNR Diversity along Jomori River, Sushila Rai International Jomotsangkha Wildlife Journal of Sanctuary, Samdrup Environment and Jongkhar, Bhutan Biodiversity 20 “Automatic Calculation of Gariano, S L, Sarkar, Springer. 2018 CST Rainfall Thresholds for R, Dikshit, A, Dorji, K, Landslide Occurrence in Teresa, M, Brunetti, M Chukha Dzongkhag, Bhutan”, T, Peruccacci, Bulletin of Engineering Massimo, M Geology and the Environment, 21 Automatic Calculation of Stefano Luigi Gariano Springer-Verlag 2018 CST Rainfall Thresholds for & Raju Sarkar & GmbH Germany, (Oct) Landslide Occurrence in Abhirup Dikshit & part of Springer Chukha Dzongkhag, Bhutan Kelzang Dorji & Maria Nature 2018 Teresa Brunetti & Silvia Peruccacci& Massimo Melillo 22 Forecasting Landslide in Ongoing CST Chhukha from Index Properties of Soil-Research to Policy Making.
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23 A Blend of Carbon and Pema Khandu, Deepti Research Journal 2018 CST Polyethylene Terephthalate Sharma, Chimi of Recent (June) (PET) as Fine Aggregate Wangmo, Benoy Sciences, Vol. 7(6), Sharma, Debu Puri. Page 1-6, June (2018). 24 Standby Automatic LED light Maita Raj Ghalley, Research Journal June CST on Power Failure Pema Singye, Pema of Recent (2018) Zangmo, Kezang Sciences, Vol. 7(6), Choden, Rinzin Dorji Page 12-15, June (2018) 25 Design of Complementary Ghalley Maita Raj , Research Journal July CST Metal Oxide Semiconductor Zam Phub, Samal of Recent (2018) Inverter Purna B Sciences, Vol. 7(7), Page 31-34, July (2018) 26 Evaluation of Power MOSFET Pratap Rai, Tshering Research Journal August CST IRF150 using OrCAD capture Zangmo, Purna B of Recent (2018) Samal Sciences, Vol. 7(8), Page 11-19, August (2018) 27 Architectural Documentation Dhrubaraj Sharma American Journal CST and Virtual Reconstruction of of Civil Engineering Samtenchoeling Monastery and Architecture. Ruins at Chumme, Bumthang 2018, 6(3), 101-
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Bhutan 104. DOI: 10.12691/ajcea-6- 3-2
28 Compact Microstrip-based Purna Samal, Ping International October CST Textile Antenna for 802.15.6 Jack Soh, Zahriladha Journal of 17 2018 WBAN-UWB with Full Ground Zakaria, Antennas and Plane Propagation, October 17 2018 29 Renewable Mobile Charger Cheten Tshering, Research Journal August CST using Piezoelectric Dawa Tshering of Recent (2018) Transducer Sciences, Vol. 7(8), Page 20-23, August (2018) 30 Entrepreneurial Intent Chhophel, T, Rabgay, Bhutan Journal of 2019 GCBS. amongst Business Studies: A T, & Dawala Business and Perspective in Bhutan Management, 31 Self Help Groups - Imperative Sharma, P P Bhutan Journal of 2019 GCBS. for financial Inclusion in India. Business and Management, 32 Servant Leadership: A Mathews, J, & Lhamo, Bhutan Journal of 2019 GCBS. Componential Analysis T Business and Management,
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33 Class Absenteeism and Exam Dorji, R & Dorji, N Bhutan Journal of 2019 GCBS. performance of GCBS Business and students Management, 34 Indian and Bhutanese Khan, S A, & Syed, A Bhutan Journal of 2019 GCBS. governments support A Business and plaftform towards e-marketing Management, in SBEs: an exploratory study 35 Ethnobotanical Study of Bimal C Sherubtse South Eastern Foothills of Bhutan 36 Ethnobotanical Study of Bimal C Sherubtse South Eastern Foothills of Bhutan 37 Ethnomedicinal Practices in Bimal C Asian Plant Sherubtse Kilikhar, Mongar Research Journal 38 Analysis of SPAD Values and BJA Sherubtse Chlorophyll Content of Organic Vegetables under Protected System 39 Assessing the level of Aiswarya, A, Wason, Indian research 2019 Sherubtse Effectiveness of Training M, Padaria, R N, Rao, journal of extension programmes for Enhancing D, Gills, R, education Core Competencies of
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Extension Personnel: An Priyadarshini, P, & analytical study in Kerala. Gurung, B
40 Yield gap and constraints in Gireesh, S, Kumbhare, Indian research 2019 Sherubtse production of major pulses in N V, Nain, M S, journal of extension Madhya Pradesh and Kumar, P & Gurung, B education Maharashtra 41 Comparing Oil Color and Mawlong, I, Sujith, M S Agronomy journal 2018 Sherubtse Oxidative Stability among K, Kandpal, B K., Mustard Genotypes under Premi, O P, Joshi, A, & Nitrogen Fertilization. Gurung, B 42 Study on Assessment of rural Muralikrishnan, L, Indian journal of 2019 Sherubtse Household's Consumption Paul, S, Bishnoi, S, extension pattern in Different Arid Sangeetha, V, Singh, education Regions of India P, Satyapriya, Lenin, V, Barua, S, & Gurung, B 43 Forecasting of Crop Yield Panwar, S, Kumar, A, Indian journal of 2019 Sherubtse using Weather Parameters– Singh, K N, Paul, R, & agricultural Two Step Nonlinear Gurung, B sciences Regression Model Approach
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44 An Improved Space-time Rathod, S, Gurung, B., Journal of the 2018 Sherubtse Autoregressive Moving Singh, K N, & Ray, M Indian society of Average (STARMA) model for agricultural Modelling and Forecasting of statistics Spatio-temporal Time-series data 45 Stochastic Volatility in mean Shekhawat, R S, Indian journal of 2018 Sherubtse model for capturing the Singh, K N, Kumar, A, agricultural Conditional Variance in Sarkar, K P, Doni, R, & sciences Volatile Time Series Data Gurung, B 46 Price Discovery and Co- Shekhawat, R S, International 2018 Sherubtse integration Analysis between Singh, K N, Lama, A, Journal of current Spot and Futures Prices of & Gurung, B microbiology and Refined Soy Oil in India applied sciences, 47 Perception of Yoga and Sharma, P P, & Khan, International 2018 GCBS. Meditation among Students’ S A (2018) Journal of Advance Learning at GCBS: An Action and Innovative Research Research 48 Nexus Between Corporate Nur-Al-Ahad, Md, 2019 GCBS. Governance and Firm Syeda, N, Vagavi, P Performance in Malaysia: Supervised Machine Learning Approach. Financial Markets, Institutions and Risks
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49 IoT and its Smart Applications Singha, T (2018) International 2018 GCBS. Journal of Information Science and ComputingNew Delhi Publishers 50 Risk Management in Banking Rathore, A Research 2018 GCBS. Sector of Bhutan Chronicler, UGC recognised Journal No.41311, 6(10), 87-100 51 A Policy Analysis on Bhutan’s Phuntsho Wangdi PCE Participation in the Programme. For International Student Assessment (PISA 52 Teachers’ Perceptions of Rinchen Tshewang, PCE Contextual factors affecting Chandara & Yeh the Learning Environment in Bhutanese eighth grade Mathematics Classes 53 Upper Primary School Ugyen Choden, Ugyen PCE Student Attitude Towards Namdel & Kezang Health and Physical Sherab Education Programme in Bhutan
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54 Efficacy of the Four-Year B. Kezang Sherab, PCE Ed Primary Programme at Sangay Bidha, Tandin Paro College of Education Khorlo, Ugyen Wangchuk & Chimi Rinzin 55 Investing Spelling Errors of Tshering Tshomo, PCE classes 7 and 8 students in Ugyen Choden, Bhutan who Study English as Thinley, and Kezang A Second Language Sherab 56 The Modelling on the Sangay Chezo, Nima PCE Correctness of the Letter Zangmo Sherpa, Formation and Consistency in Yangchen Lhamo and Writing for Promoting Legible Ugyen Choden Handwriting: An Action Research with Class IV Students 57 Impact of Motivation on Ugyen phuntsho PCE Student’s Academic Achievement and Learning Outcomes in Mathematics - An Action Research 58 A Board Game to Enhance Tshering Lham & PCE Understanding of Cell Cycle Namkang Sriwattanarothai
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for Grade Ten Bhutanese Students 59 Life Skills Education as a Phub Dorji & Yangzom PCE Positive Disciplining Intervention for Students with Disciplinary Issues in the School 60 Effects of Policy Developers’ Gembo Tshering PCE beliefs on School Education environment 61 Educational Practices for Karma Dorji, Lobzang PCE Children with Special Dorji & Cheten Educational Needs: A Cross- Tshering Sectional Study 62 Assessment of Students’ Kagan Cooperative PCE Attitude on 21st Century Pema Jurmey Transformative Pedagogy- 63 PCE ག་མ་ོབ་དཔོན་་ས་ ོ་གསར་ ན་ན་་མཚོ དང བསམ་ ལས་ ོབ་མ་གམ་པ་ན་ ོང་ཁ་ གཏན་མཐར་ན། ོབ་ོན་འབད་་འ་་ ཚོར་ང་།།
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64 Perceptions and Experiences Ugyen Tshomo, PCE of Unplanned Pregnancies Sonam Dorji W, Dorji among University Students: A Wangchuk, & Karma Case Study at Paro College Tshering of Education 65 Pedagogical Management in Lhendup Dorji & Quarterly Journal of GCIT Different Issues of Priyotosh Khan Management Governance, Technology and Development, A Innovation Journal of Indian Association of Management Development, 2018.
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4.4.3. Paper Published in Conference and Seminar Reports As reported in Figure 8, many papers were presented to the national and international conferences and seminars that were organized either in Bhutan or outside the country. While many conferences and seminars do not publish proceedings or reports, there are also a good number that publishes peer reviewed papers.
The benefits of publishing in conference and seminar reports reaches wider readers of scholarly community. There were as many 24 papers submitted or presented to the national and international conferences and seminars both within and outside the country during the reporting year as shown in Table 14.
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Table 14. Paper Presented to National and International Conference and Seminars
SL No Title of the paper Presenter/Authors College 1 Brief Account on Freshwater Biodiversity of Bhutan Dorji, U CNR 2 A Pilot Study on Carbon Footprint in Kanglung with Dorji, U CNR particular reference to areas in and around Sherubtse College campus 3 The Role of Internet of Things (IoT) in Waste JNEC Management in Bhutan: A Technology Intervention (THROW MABAY) 4 Smart Farm Management System: An IoT Intervention JNEC in Sustainable Farming in Bhutan 5 Study on Implementation of Sustainable Land-filling JNEC Approaches in Bhutan: A Case Study on Municipal Controlled Landfill in Samdrup Jongkhar 6 Energy Performance Evaluation of New Academic Kinley wangdi, Jigme Singye, JNEC Building Karma Namgay, Ugyen Tshering, Samten Lhendup, Parashuram 7 Efficient Illumination Design Karma Yangzom, Pema JNEC Choden, Sonam Choki, Sonam Yangden, Hemlal Bhattarai
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8 Alarm Fencing and Light Sensor Footpath Ratu, Dorji Singye, Tashi JNEC Tenzin, Pema Tshering, Kinley, Kinley Zam, Jagat Bdr. 9 Design and Installation of Street light around new Karma Singye, Choki Dorji, JNEC student hostel (Using LED) Dorji Wangchuk, Jambe Chopel, Birkha Bdr., Ugyen Wangchuk, Jambay Choeda, Bishnu Bdr., Chenga Dorji 10 Consequences associated with parental divorce and Wangchuk, C GCBS their effects on children's academic performances and achievements at a boarding school in Punakha: A Case Study 11 Green Public Procurement through Lens of Practicality Khan, S.A. & Gurung, M GCBS and Policies: A Study on Royal University of Bhutan. In Delhi School for Professional Studies and Research (Eds) 12 Germination Response of 32 common stylidium Karma Yangzom Sherubtse species from southwest Australia to GAA, Smoke and Heat Shock, 13 Impact of Rural-Urban Migration on Food Security Tashi Dorji Sherubtse 14 Hydro-chemical characterization of Nyera Ama Chuu, Tshewang Dendup Sherubtse Eastern Himalaya
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15 Understanding Gender in Buddhist literature Tashi Chophel, Tshering Sherubtse Penjore 16 Study of Gungja Nye (Gnas) at Trashiyantse, Sonam Wangdi, yezer, Tashi Sherubtse Jamtsho, Dorji Phuntsho 17 Role of Literature in Transforming Human Sensibilities CS Pant Sherubtse 18 Stochastic Modelling of Spatial Point Pattern data on Sherubtse Encroachment on state land in Samdrup Jongkhar 19 GNH and ICT Education – The Connection Brent Baas & Tshering, GCIT GCIT 20 Impact of ICT through CBS in the Banking System in Priyotosh Khan & Lhendup GCIT Bhutan for development of GNH. Dorji 21 When IoT Meets GNH: Opportunities and Challenges Mulualem Teku GCIT 22 Sustainable Solutions through m-governance for GNH P. Pavan & Deepika Gowlikar GCIT 23 Securing ICT In The Kingdom of Bhutan Rakesh Singh Kunwar & GCIT Sumanta Bhattacharya 24 The role of ICT in the Insurance Industry – A Sumanta Bhattacharya, GCIT Contributory Component for GNH Rakesh Singh Kunwar & Sonam Choki
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4.4.4. Books and Book Chapters Publication Publication of Books and Book Chapter is an important academic activity that contributes to knowledge building. Books are either published by a single author or by a team of authors. In the Book Chapter, either a single author contributes, or a group of authors contribute a chapter of specific topic or theme of the book. There has been significant publication of Books or Book Chapter by five colleges (CLCS, CNR, Sherubtse College, GCBS and CST) that were published within Bhutan and outside publishing firms. In total, sixteen Books or Book Chapters were published as shown in Table 15.
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Table 15. Books and Book Chapter Published by Authors from RUB Colleges
S. Name of the Books/ Chapters Authors Website Link College No. 1 Bhutanese Language & Literature Tenzin Dorji CLCS (འག་་
ད་ག་དང་ག་གང་) 2 Aquatic Biodiversity of Bhutan (2017). An Dorji, U. & Gurung, D. B. CNR Introduction to the Biodiversity of Bhutan: in the context of climate change and economic development
3 Impact of Environment and Climate Chogyel Wangmo and CNR Change on Biodiversity Sushila Rai 4 An Introduction to the Biodiversity of D.B. Gurung & O.N. CNR Bhutan in the context of Climate Change Katel (Eds.) and Economic Development 5 Distribution and Habitats of Gurung, D B; Gyeltshen, CNR Paphiopedilum Pfitzer (Orchidaceae) N; Tobgay, K; Dalström, known to occur in Bhutan S; Wangdi, J; Ghalley, B B; Chaida, L; Phuntsho; Gyeltshen, N; Dawa, K; Wangchuk, T; Pradhan,
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R; Hoijer, T; and Gyeltshen, C
6 Morphological and Molecular Study of the Thoni, R J and Gurung, CNR torrent Catfishes (Sisoridae: D B Glyptosterninae) of Bhutan including the description of five new species 7 Data Envelopment Analysis: Ravindra Bishal Gurung and Book: Recent Sherubtse Singh Shekhawat, Achal Lama Advances in Statistical Modeling and Forecasting for Agricultural Data Analysis” I and II, ICAR-IASRI. www.iasri.res.in. 8 Vector Autoregressive Achal Lama, Bishal Book: Recent Sherubtse Gurung and R S Advances in Shekhawat Statistical Modeling and Forecasting for Agricultural Data Analysis” I and II, ICAR-IASRI. www.iasri.res.in.
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9 Panel Data Regression Ravindra Singh 2Book: Recent Sherubtse Shekhawat, Bishal Advances in Gurung and Achal Lama Statistical Modeling and Forecasting for Agricultural Data Analysis” I and II, ICAR-IASRI. www.iasri.res.in. 10 Thermal Storage Technopologies for ISBN978-981- CST Space Cooling and Heating 10-7326-7 11 Accountancy Text for Class XI Kinley Wangchuk, 2018, ISBN 978- GCBS REC 99936-0-454-9 12 Status, Challenges and Prospects of E- (E. Haridev Singh, ISBN 978- GCBS Commerce in Bhutan: A Case of Madan Gurung, Dawa 99980-853-1-2 Bhutanese Tourism Industry Drakpa, Yeshi Tshering, June 2019) 13 Thukten Tshering Sherubtse དངས་་བན་པ་ད་: ས་མཛོད། འག་་ད་ Bhutanese Language and ག་དང་ག་གང།་ Literature
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14 Sonam Zangpo Sherubtse ོང་ཁ་འལ་་དང་ད་་ལ་དད་པ་ོ་ག་པ་: ས་ Bhutanese མཛོད། འག་་ད་ག་དང་ག་གང། Language and Literature 15 Environmental Change in the Himalayan Pankaj Thapa https://www.spri Sherubtse Region nger.com/gp/bo ok/9783030033
613 16 Collaborative Design Education Using 3D Kazuhiro Muramatsu https://www.igi- CST Printing in "Interdisciplinary and and Sonam Wangmo, global.com/viewt International Perspectives on 3D Printing International IGI Global, itlesample.aspx in Education" 1 November 2018 ?id=217055&pti d=202348&t=Co llaborative%20D esign%20Educa tion%20Using% 203D%20Printin
g
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4.4.5. Promotional Materials Publications Amongst the medium for branding and marketing of respective colleges, majority have used college websites by upgrading regularly. Publication of programme prospectus is yet another popular medium used by colleges. Some colleges have also initiated to print business card to promote the colleges while some have created facebook page for the college. There are also occasional publications like Newsletter and pamplets to promote the college information. Promotional video production is also initiated by few colleges. However, there is no consistency of promotional materials publication annually across the colleges. 4.5. Establishment of External Relations 4.5.1. Institutional Collaborations Through MOU The Royal University of Bhutan established five international relations through signing of formal Memorandum of Understandings. They are with Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand; Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia; Naropa University, US; Kyoto University, Japan; and University of New England, Armidale, Australia.
The MoUs with the aforementioned universities is signed for the following areas of collaboration as illustrated in Table 16.
Table 16. Focus of MoU Signed Between RUB and International Universities in 2018-2019
University Focus of collaboration
Asian Institute of Send Masters and Phd scholars from CST, Technology, Kharbandi for Disaster Management and Thailand Resilience Studies at AIT. Also partner to Erasmus project on IT Ethics
Edith Cowan New Colombo Plan programme through University, Short term study abroad programmes started Australia at RUB
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Naropa University, Since 2015, students come to avail semester USA (specific to abroad programme and take RUB courses at Study Abroad PCE, Paro; CNR, Lobesa; and CLCS, Taktse programme
Kyoto University, Exchange programmes conducted and Japan ongoing related to rural development studies and GNH
University of New Education collaboration and New Colombo England, Australia Plan mobility. Study destination of faculty from Education colleges of RUB like PCE, Paro and SCE, Samtse
A review of operational international collaborations during the year found 31 active external Universities engaged in various academic activities with RUB as shown in Figure 10. While many of the educational collaborations were with reputed institutions in India like the IITs, RUB had also close cooperation with Japan, Thailand, Bangladesh and Nepal in Asia.
Among the European nations, RUB’s linkages were mainly through Erasmus+ projects. RUB also collaborated with Universities in Australia, US and Canada.
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Figure 10. List of Active International Universities Collaborating with RUB
4.5.2. Institutional Linkages Through Other Means While many of the formal collaborations through signing of MoUs were operational, there were also significant number (50 nos.) of international collaborations specific to the joint project implementations and academic exchanges (Table 17). These institutional linkages were mainly established by mutual agreement between the RUB and collaborating institutions for applying for joint projects to the funding agencies.
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Table 17. Collaboration with International Institutions Through Other Means Besides MoU
Sl# Institution Name/Country Project Name/Purpose College 1 Hirosaki University, Japan Hirosaki Bhutan Apple Project - Capacity building and CNR introduction of innovative technologies to improve apple production, productivity and processing 2 University of Lyon 2, France Sustainable Development Smart Agriculture Capacity CNR (SUNSPACE) 3 University of the West of Sustainable Development Smart Agriculture Capacity CNR Scotland, UK (SUNSPACE) 4 Corvinus University of Sustainable Development Smart Agriculture Capacity CNR Budapest, Hungary (SUNSPACE) 5 Kantipur Engineering College, Sustainable Development Smart Agriculture Capacity CNR Nepal (SUNSPACE) 6 Acme Engineering College, Sustainable Development Smart Agriculture Capacity CNR Nepal (SUNSPACE) 7 Khon Kaen University, Sustainable Development Smart Agriculture Capacity CNR Thailand (SUNSPACE) 8 Chang Mai University, Thailand Sustainable Development Smart Agriculture Capacity CNR (SUNSPACE)
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9 International Association of Academic Collaboration CST Seismology and Physics of the earth’s interior (IASPEI) 10 Kyushu Institute of Technology, Academic Collaboration CST Japan 11 Symbiosis Institute of Business Academic Collaboration GCBS Management, India 12 Shri Ram College of Conference Collaboration GCBS Commerce, India 13 ISMAI, Portugal Happiness and Wellbeing PCE 14 VUB, Belgium Happiness and Wellbeing PCE 15 UOB, UK Happiness and Wellbeing PCE 16 UTS, Australia CAR, DEFAT PCE 17 University of Fukui Academic and Research Exchange and Faciliation Sherubtse
18 Assam Don Bosco University, Academic Collaboration SCE India 19 University of Melbourne, Academic Collaboration SCE Australia 20 Teton Science Schools, USA Place based education SCE
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21 University College Leuven- Academic collaboration on student and staff SCE Limburg, Belgium exchange 22 Malmo University, Sweden LP project (faculty student exchange) SCE 23 TISS Mumbai, India Academic Collaboration SCE 24 Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Academic Collaboration SCE Netherlands 25 University of KwaZulu Natal, Academic Collaboration SCE South Africa (UKZN) 26 University of Technology Academic Collaboration SCE Sydney (UTS), Australia 27 Shokutoku University, Japan Academic Collaboration SCE 28 University of Technologi Mara, Academic Collaboration SCE Sarawak, Malaysia 29 Aix-Marseille University, Academic Collaboration SCE France 30 School of Accounting and Collaborative feasibility with GCBS DRER Financial Services, Seneca College, Canada 31 RECTOR of RO IASIOS, RUB Vice Chancellor signed on Inter-Institutional DRER Gheorghe Asachi Technical agreement in August 2018 University, Lasi, Romania
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32 Student Leadership Agreement Renewable of SLA with Sherubtse College DRER between Renaissance College, UNB, Canada 33 HUC network with 62 HKH and For higher education on sustainable mountain DRER 15 associate members development 34 NTNU, Norwegian Research For joint research project in dam safety, sediment DRER Centre for Hydropower handling, turbine and generator life time, and Technology and Innovation, remaining useful life, failure probability. Norway
35 IIT Kharagpur for cultural and GNH education DRER 36 IIT Roorkee for joint research on Francise Turbine sediment issue DRER with NTNU 37 Kathmandu University, Nepal for joint research on Francise Turbine sediment issue DRER with NTNU 38 Princeton Academy, Mumbai for research management training DRER 39 EURAC Research, Bolzano, for global mountain safeguards DRER Bolzano, Italy 40 United Nation University, for global mountain safeguards DRER Germany for global mountain safeguards
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41 Gadja Mada University, For academic and Erasmus+ project partnership DRER Yogjakarta, Indonesia 42 University of Philippines, For collaboration DRER Diliman Manila, Philippines 43 Asian Institute of Management, Academic Collaboration DRER Manila 44 Sydney University, Australia Bhutan capacity on climate change research and DRER mentoring project 45 Macquarie University, Sydney, Mentoring Bhutanese PhD degree holder academics DRER Australia for climate change studies research project 46 Peking University, School of Exchange programme of staff and students through DRER International Studies, Beijing seminar and performing arts 47 Chulalongkorn University, University Study Abroad Fair participation from RUB DRER Bangkok, Thailand along with other Universities of the world 48 United Kingdom Research and Workshop participation in Food Security, Agriculture DRER Innovation (UKRI), Global and Nutrition Challenge Research Fund (GCRF), 49 William and Mary College, USA short term study abroad programme DRER 50 ICIMOD-HUC Sustainable Development of Mountain Education DRER
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Around six RUB Colleges have also entered a formal collaboration between institutions in Bhutan either by signing MoU or through other means of agreement (Table 18). This has strengthened their institutional linkages with relevant government sectors by aligning the specific needs of the institutions in Bhutan. Many of the activities pursued within the year were to generate knowledge through systemic studies while some activities for pursued for capacity building through trainings. Some of the activities included promotion of events while some required formal relations to serve as field place for teaching practices.
As outlined in this section, many activities in the colleges are also carried out in absence of formal agreements like the MoUs as these are short projects with limited time frame and executed within a shorter time frame than those carried out in the MoUs through a number of years. The colleges on an invitation to collaborate with an external institution on a mutually beneficial project like the Erasmus have carried out such projects.
Table 18. Institutional Linkages Established Between RUB and Agencies in Bhutan
Sl# Institution Name in Project College Bhutan Name/Purpose 1 National Environment E Flow project Phase CST Secretariat II (UDII) 2 Tarayana Foundation Annual Green CST Technology Challenge 3 Ministry of Agriculture, Development of CST NPPC Electric Fence Energizer 4 Phuntsholing Thromde Geotechnical Studies CST of ALCS project site 5 Druk Holding Feasibility Study of CST Investment (DHI) Concrete Road Pavement 6 Construction Industry-Academia GCBS Development Collaboration Corporation Limited
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7 Bhutan Centre for Publication & GCBS Media and Democracy Seminars (BCMD), Thimphu 8 Rural Enterprise Research, Training, & GCBS Development Student Internship Corporation Limited (REDCL), Thimphu 9 Samdrup Jongkhar For technical expertise JNEC Initiative services 10 Department of For collaborative work JNEC Renewable Energy, in the area of Lighting, Ministry of Economic Renewable Energy Affairs, Thimphu and Energy Efficiency 11 Ministry of Education, Teaching Practice PCE Bhutan 12 National Centre for enhanced partnerships Sherubtse Hydrology and for the promotion of Metrology research in understanding of weather, climate and water resources 13 Ministry of Education, Teaching Practice SCE Bhutan 14 UNICEF, Bhutan BASW programme SCE development 15 National Commission project on cohabitation SCE for Women and and marriage practices Children (NCWC) in Bhutan 16 Royal Education Development of SCE Council (REC) geography curriculum framework for schools 17 Youth Development Place base education SCE Fund (YDF) 18 Bhutan Centre for Contemplative SCE Media and Democracy counselling (BCMD), Thimphu psychology 19 Department of SATREP DRER Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Thimphu
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20 Department of for hydropower DER Hydropower and Power technology Systems, Ministry of Economic Affairs 21 Druk Green Power for HydroLab DRER Corporation collaboration with RUB 22 Druk Holding for research project DRER Investment support. 13 projects already submitted for consideration in February 2019 23 UNICEF for certificate in social DRER policy programme to Parliament, Government Ministries and Civil Society Organizations 24 Tourism Council of For academic tourism DRER Bhutan opportunities
5. Diversification of Revenue Streams Besides income generated from sponsored research from various funding agencies, RUB Colleges are also expected to diversify their income through new initiatives for their sustainability of college operations and development. While the colleges may have pursued several initiatives by investing their revenues to various financial institutions, monitoring of financial utilization and investment is beyond the purview of the DRER. Therefore, the DRER does not mandate the Office of DRILs in all colleges to maintain the record of financial diversification plan of the college except the research grants received in supporting the research and development.
At DRER, the External Relations Division facilitates international students study programme to various RUB College campuses. While the international students full-time study travel document to Bhutan including health and student insurance is facilitated by the External Relations Division of the DRER, the scholarship of the foreign students is directly administered by the concerned colleges.
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However, there are reasonable heads of international students from Naropa University (NU) in US who are enrolled to one semester undergraduate programme in two to three RUB Colleges consistently over the past five years starting from January 2015. As per the agreement reached between RUB and NU after signing the MoU, all costs related to tuition, living allowances, orientation programme and international travels are built up. The direct expenses to accommodation, meals and international travels are paid to the international students, and each NU student has to take a minimum of two modules offered from various programmes at RUB Colleges and their tuition fee is released to the respective colleges from the DRER.
Likewise, RUB has also instituted short-term study opportunities to the international students ranging from a duration from one to six weeks. Often, international Universities have scheduled short-term study programme of around three weeks only to match their internship requirements. A nominal fee is charged per student under such an arrangement. In most cases, international students do not pay any fees to the Colleges since they are within the exchange programme between the RUB College and the concerned international universities.
Nevertheless, the DRER was in a position to generate revenue from the international students for semester and short-term study programmes, including grant support from UNICEF in Bhutan to organize Social Policy Certificate training as shown in Table 19.
Table 19. Revenue Diversification Sources Administered by DRER
S. Revenue Sources Amount (USD/ No. AUD) 1 Short-term study programme of UCLL USD 3, 000.00 undergraduate students, Belgium 2 Semester Abroad Study programme of USD 43, 872.00 Naropa University, US 3 Short-term study programme of Mary USD 21, 066.00 and William College, US 4 Short-term study programme of UNE AUD 9, 500.00 undergraduate students, Australia 5 Social Policy Certificate Training by USD 20,000.00 UNICEF Bhutan
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6. Ensuring Quality Services In order to ensure that research and external relations services are rendered efficiently and effectively, the DRER has two broad actions with series of success indicators against each action. They are mostly administrative and community services with proper policies, guidelines and rules in place. 6.1. Ensure Quality of Administrative Services Under the administrative services, they are mostly related to conduct of scheduled University level meetings and Department specific monitored activities. 6.1.1. RDC Meetings Although RDC meeting was not convened during the first year of 12FYP reporting period, preparations to convene the meeting was done by convening a series of meetings and workshops. For instance, the Department already convened a day long workshop in October 2018 involving all colleges that have scheduled to introduce PhD degree in their College strategic document. The outcome of the workshop has led to the need to review the Research Degree Framework document on admission criterion; PhD candidate supervision criterion; PhD degree curriculum map; academic resource pooling opportunities; and budgetary support for research based postgraduate programme in the University.
The Department has also maintained constant communication with CNR to ensure that the existing MSc research based postgraduate programme submit the annual monitoring report for consideration of the RDC meeting. Further, CNR has been advised to propose for review of the MSc NRM curriculum, if required, and submit for consideration to the RDC meeting.
One of the major constraints faced by the Department is the lack of expertise of coordination of HDR programme with a dedicated staff. Further, within the University, there was also only one HDR programme in operation that was better managed by the concerned college with dedicated, qualified and experience staff in HDR. This was evident from the physical occasional participation of DRER staff during the 83 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019 confirmation seminars and completion seminars of the HDR students in the college.
The DRER also organized a series of consultative meetings involving international Universities like the University Technology and University of Sydney both in Australia and in Bhutan to explore possible areas of study that are relevant for PhD degree in Climate Change Studies. A day-long meeting with academics in April 2019 recognized Transdisciplinary Research Method in Climate Studies and proposed potential list of research projects under various themes. This led to developing a concept note on “Higher Education and Climate Studies at the RUB” which was presented in May 2019 to a multi-stakeholder meeting. This concept note was also used later to promote climate studies research in Bhutan to various international development partners through the UNDP.
All these events were organized in preparation of the HDR programme to be submitted to the RDC Meeting. However, in the process of ground preparations, no formal RDC Meeting could be convened since the earlier Memberships to RDC had expired and new memberships were not constituted formally. 6.1.2. RIC Meetings The DRER is Secretariat to the standing committee of Academic Board- Research and Innovation Committee (RIC). The Secretariat was able to convene three rounds of RIC meeting. Some of the major decisions taken for endorsement by the AB Meeting during each RIC Meeting were convened as scheduled in August and November 2018 and April 2019 and reflected in Table 20.
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Table 20. RIC Meeting Schedule during 2018-2019 financial year
S.No. RIC Meeting Date/ Month/ Endorsement Year
1 24th RIC 08 August Endorsed Meeting 2018 establishment of Centre of Sustainable Mountain Agriculture in CNR Lobesa
2 25th RIC 16 November Endorsed 1st edition Meeting 2018 of 2016-2017 financial report of “State of Research and Institutional Linkages of the Royal University of Bhutan”
3 26th RIC 17 April 2019 Endorsed RUB staff Meeting nomination to various HUC-ICIMOD Thematic Group as recommended by ACDRIL
The RIC Meeting serves as an important forum to promote research, innovation and institutional linkages of the RUB with its related industries. New RIC members were appointed while acknowledging the contribution of the earlier members. 6.1.3. ACDRIL Meeting The Annual Conference for Dean of Research and Industrial Linkages (ACDRIL) was established to share best practices of research and development activities that are carried out by each college. This forum is also to build capacity of research staff in facilitating research and international collaboration activities in consistence with the existing government rules and regulations. The 5th ACDRIL was convened at
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Gyalpozhing College of Information Technology (GCIT) w.e.f. 26 to 28 December 2018. Fifteen participants representing DRIL and Assistant Research Officers from all colleges attended the three-day conference organized by the DRER.
Various research agenda from university-wide sponsored research to college sponsored research fund; protocol for project collaborations as per government directives; regulations on conduct of conferences, workshops and seminars involving international participants; various research capacity building activities; policies and guideline development for research monitoring at College level; and nomination of University staff to represent various thematic group of Himalayan University Consortium (HUC) initiated taskforce members were discussed and recommended to relevant committees.
The ACDRIL forum has further strengthened clarification of many regulations enforcing research implementation since the culture of doing research is young in a predominant teaching learning environment. This forum serves to change the mindset of University staff in engaging to grant writing and conduct of study besides teaching. 6.1.4. Development of SOP and TAT The development of standard operating procedures (SOP) and turn- around-time (TAT) for research and development services is considered as one success indicator. The DRER continuously endeavor to improve the services by reviewing the existing guidelines and accommodating new initiatives to serve better in enhancing research and institutional collaborations with external institutions.
The DRER also takes formal forums such as ACDRIL to sensitize government directives on formal communication protocols with external institutions. One of the major events that has picked up within the RUB Colleges is to conduct international level conferences and seminars. However, conduct of such events invariably demands political clearances from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Royal Government of Bhutan with standard request form justifying the rationale to organize such events in Bhutan.
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Likewise, any formal relations initiative either by the international proponents or the RUB Colleges through signing of MoU demands long bureaucratic processes of endorsement by different levels. In the process, it is important that TAT for MoU has to be sensitized time and again for compliance since such regulations of government are not reached to the RUB Colleges directly from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Similarly, the DRER continues to improve operation of university-wide research grant by reviewing SOP for AURG guidelines. For instance, starting from financial year 2018-2019, additional provision to sponsor study proposals dedicated to “Teaching Learning and Assessment” was accommodated in the AURG guideline. The AURG guideline also considered to rephrase “national” and international” journal as “non- referred” and “referred” journals based on peer review processes of the journal.
One major initiative was to develop SOP for the reporting format of research centre performance by recording all activities implemented by the RCs and the DRIL offices. These SOP and TAT are for all activities related to research and international relation services of the colleges. 6.1.5. Utilization of University-wide Sponsored Research During the financial year 2018-2019, 53 AURG applicants were received for the university-wide sponsored research grant. They were evaluated by an independent team with experience in doing research and awarded to 26 applicants disbursing Nu. 1.995 million under three categories as shown in Table 21 from the total annual budget provision of 2.000 million.
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Table 21. Number of AURG Application Received and Awarded to Different Category of Researchers
S.No. Research Categories Nos. of Nos. of Grant Application Awarded Received 1 Beginning Researchers 32 15 2 Mid-Career Researcher 13 8 3 Advanced Career 8 3 Researcher Total 53 26
6.1.6. Publication of Annual Report In addition to the annual progress report submitted to the Department of Planning and Resources (DPR) for annual publication of RUB Annual Report, the DRER also publishes comprehensive annual report of research and external relations activities of the University after compiling report from all colleges. While this initiative is only for the last three years, each annual publication has improved the content, structure and validity of data. For instance, the 1st year annual report 12FYP is aligned to the strategic plan of RUB. However, there are challenges in record management and compilation at the college and DRER level. Therefore, there is a need of continued capacity building of staff involved directly in the information management of research and external linkages. 6.1.7. Operation of Research Endowment Fund The DRER is Secretariat to the National Research Fund (NRF) as approved by the Lhengye Zhungtshog. However, the operation of institution could not materialize in absence of the seed fund. As the 2nd Parliamentary Government tenure was ending, the Ministry of Finance finally released the seed amount of Nu. 10.000 million in late June 2018. Therefore, the interim Secretariat of NRF first instituted the Governing Board to manage the trust fund in the financial year 2018-2019. The Secretariat then drafted the operational guideline in consistence with the Operational Guideline of Endowment Fund of the Royal Government of Bhutan.
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The major achievement of Governing Board for NRF was an approval of operational guidelines and an investment plan of trust fund to financial institution and research sponsored project. Therefore, in the last quarter of 2018-2019, an application call for the financial year 2019- 2020 was floated after investing Nu. 9.000 million to financial institution and Nu. 1.000 million for research sponsored fund allocation. 6.2. Community Services 6.2.1. Technical committee and memberships to external agencies One of the professional services provided by the University is by participating as members to several technical committees constituted by the external institutions. However, as stated earlier, it is difficult to keep record of membership by the Office of DRIL in the college level since appointments to the external committees are not coordinated by the DRILs. Similarly, the DRER does not maintain university-wide staff involvement to external agencies both within Bhutan and to outside agencies. There are however some activities the DRER staff are directly involved and continue to offer services as technical committee members.
During the reporting year, the DRER staff represented to five technical expert groups both within and outside Bhutan. The Himalayan University Consortium (HUC) in ICIMOD is one external institution where RUB is a member to the consortium established to promote inter- university collaboration within Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region. The member of HUC are from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, China, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. In order to promote inter- university collaboration among the HKH region, HUC has initiated to form as many as fifteen Thematic Groups to support the specific mountain focused actions. The 5th ACDRIL in GCIT nominated suitable academics as focal staff of RUB based on college representation, gender inclusion, subject expertise and relevant academic qualification. The DRER Director continued to promote HUC as the ICIMOD Mountain Chair to various international conferences. HUC also has associate membership from international universities and institutions. In view of RUB’s association to HUC, there has been an increased
89 State of Research and Institutional Linkages 2018-2019 visibility of RUB within the HKH region. Meanwhile, communication for short-term professional development programmes have also started to trickle to RUB in the form of grant writing and collaborative projects.
While the DRER Director served as the Taskforce Member of HUC Curriculum Development for Sustainable Mountain Education and organized Inception Workshop in CNR in June 2019 by inviting all members from eight countries, the DRER staff also serves the Climate Change Coordination Committee of Bhutan and Research Ethics Board of Health, od the Ministry of Health. 6.2.2. Review of Policy documents, reports and guidelines In addition to the services provided to numerous policy drafts, report reviews and guideline formulations of the RUB, the DRER as the focal point of the external relations has also been requested to review several government documents. Some of the reports reviewed were i) Forest Reference Emission levels report by Department of Forest and Park Services; ii) Bhutan’s Climate Position draft report of NEC; iii) Building capacity for education and research in enhancing resilience to climate change impact in Bhutan Himalaya and iv) health related research proposals
7. Way forward With the increasing need to facilitate research services efficiently and effectively, the DRER will continue to prioritize research capacity building of academics and staff in delivering quality tertiary education to its University graduates. This will be done through various strategies like conduct of research trainings, seminars, conferences, workshops, grant writings and grant applications, and research publications.
The DRER will continue to facilitate international linkages with reputed universities and research institutions within the existing government policies and regulations.
While the DRER will coordinate in launching the postgraduate degree programme by research, initiation and launch of the postgraduate degree(s) will all depend on the readiness and initiatives of the respective colleges during the next financial year.
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The DRER will continue to review the existing operational guidelines, improve and incorporate turn-around-time for services related to the department in its mandate of services to the colleges and outside the university.
The DRER wishes to establish reliable database of research and external relations services over the years so that decisions are based on the validated information.
91 “Reaching New Heights” STATE OF RESEARCH AND INSTITUTIONAL LINKAGES
Royal University of Bhutan
2018-2019
Royal University of Bhutan, Office of the Vice Chancellor, Lower Motithang, Thimphu, Bhutan, P.O. Box. 708 Tel: +975 2 336454 Fax: +975 2 336453 www.rub.edu.bt
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