ANNUAL REPORT 2012 RESEARCH UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT Editorial Committee: The Vice Chancellor The Registrar The Finance Officer The Publication Officer The Public Relations Officer Sri. R. S. Panicker, Member, Syndicate Sri. T. V. Ibrahim, Member, Syndicate Sri. Abraham P. Mathew, Member, Syndicate Dr. K. V. Lazar, Member, Syndicate Sri. K. A. Siraj, Member, Syndicate Dr. Usha, Dept. of Education Dr. Muhammedali N., Dept. of Mass Communication & Journalism Dr. Anil Vallathol, Dept. of Malayalam Dr. Umer Thasneem, Dept. of English Dr. P. Raveendran, Dept. of Chemistry Prof. N. Ramani, Dept of Zoology Prof. K. K. Eliyas, Dept. of Bio-Technology Prof. K. P. Mani, Dept. of Economics Asst. Supdt. i/c of Supdt., Calicut University Press Deputy Registrar, Pl. D (Convenor) CUP/9467/13/300 Foreword The world we live revolves around the vital component: Knowledge. Knowledge is paramount to the existence of human beings, society and nation. Production, and dissemination of knowledge have become the crucial activity in any developed society, and it is been carried out in Universities. We have become a knowledge based society. The aspirations, perspectives, obsession, social values and what else is left untouched by it. No society can grow without caring for the creation of knowledge, as it has become the critical element for growth, progressive development and sustainability. May it be in Science, Humanities, Languages, regardless of the faculty and discipline, the eternal drive for truth and search for knowledge is very crucial . The current report, hence, focuses on the efforts of Calicut University in promoting research both qualitatively and quantitatively. The design of a comprehensive research policy, framing the appropriate strategies, for growth and implementing the decisions taken in this regard has become the land marks in the history of University. The questions of access and quality are being addressed by the global community with regard to education. The research policy of Calicut University has duly emphasized on these two towering goals, and policy decisions have been designed and implemented during the year, for acheiving the targets near and future. We have earnestly made an attempt to provide a clear retrospect of the achievements during the last year and we hope that this will add to your perspective on the activities of knowledge generation in this institution. Prof. (Dr.) George Varghese Director of Research Annual Report 2012 Research University of Calicut 4 Annual Report 2012 Research C O N T E N T S Introduction ...................................................................................................... 7 Directorate of Research ...................................................................................... 7 Research Council ............................................................................................... 7 Research Strategy ............................................................................................. 7 Revised Guidelines for Research .......................................................................... 9 New Project Regulation...................................................................................... 10 Increased Enrolment for Ph.D Programme ............................................................ 11 Research Projects .............................................................................................. 11 New Scheme for Retired Staff ............................................................................. 11 Clearing Backlogs .............................................................................................. 11 Research Centres .............................................................................................. 12 Research Guides ............................................................................................ ... 13 New Initiatives................................................................................................ ... 13 Summary of Research Activities in the Departments .......................................... ... 14 Faculty of Language & Literature ..................................................................... ... 14 Faculty of Humanities ..................................................................................... ... 16 Faculty of Journalism ..................................................................................... .... 19 Faculty of Fine Arts ........................................................................................ ... 19 Faculty of Education ....................................................................................... ... 20 Faculty of Commerce & Management Studies ................................................... ... 21 Faculty of Science .......................................................................................... ... 21 Rules & Regulations for Research Leading to Ph. D ........................................... .... 26 Rules & Regulations for Sponsored Projects & Consultancy Projects .................... ... 37 Growth of Research at a Glance ...................................................................... ... 44 Research Activities of the Departments - In Detail.................................................. 45 University of Calicut 5 Annual Report 2012 Research University of Calicut 6 Annual Report 2012 Research INTRODUCTION The world, has been witnessing the rapid advancement of the Knowledge Societies, driven by the engine, the Knowledge Economy, and propelled by the pervasive forces of technology. The academia, especially in the higher education sector, plays a pivotal role in fueling the growth as a prime source of knowledge creation. Developing the knowledge base, through higher education, research and innovation, may accelerate the growth of all knowledge societies. The University of Calicut has adopted a strategic plan to enhance its research capabilities and potentials, prioritizing the development goals of the nation. It encourages and support research throughout the University at a level that will allow all staff a reasonable opportunity to establish a research career, and to make continued access to research time/infrastructure. This has served to increase the pool of potential researchers and broaden research career opportunities. The year 2012, witnessed a quiet but steady growth in all the areas of research, when compared to the previous year. DIRECTORATE OF RESEARCH The Directorate of Research was constituted in March 2012 for providing an effective direction to the research activities of the Calicut University, through its Teaching Departments, Recognized Research Centres as well as Affiliated Colleges. The DOR has to promote, administer, supervise and guide researchers, apart from ensuring proper implementation of research projects and mobilization of research funds to the university. Dr George Varghese, Professor and Head of the Department of Physics, has been given the full responsibility of the directorate and he assumed office on 1 April 2013. RESEARCH COUNCIL The Hon Vice Chancellor reconstituted the research council in 2012 with the following members and Director of Research as member secretary. The council controls and formulates plans and strategies of all research activities in the University with the approval of the Syndicate Members of Research Council 1. Dr. Abdul Salam, Vice Chancellor (Chairman) 2. Dr. M.V. Joseph, Registrar 3. Dr. George Varghese, Director, DOR 4. Dr. C.D. Ravikumar, DCDC 5. Dr. K.K. Aravindakshan 6. Dr. M. Sabu 7. Dr. C. Naseema 8. Dr. Muhamedali. N 9. Dr. P. Raveendran 10. Dr. A.M. Vinodkumar 11. Dr. K.V. Lazar 12. Dr. K. Manikandan 13. Dr. M.V. Joseph 14. Dr. Balu. T 15. Dr. Sibichan Thomas 16. Dr. T. Mohamedali 17. Dr. N. Radhakrishnan Quality Assurance Committee (QAC), a sub-committee of Research Council, exclusively to look after the issues of Quality in Research Output, has also started functioning. RESEARCH STRATEGY This year the University has adopted a clear but sustainable research strategy envisaging remarkable growth in the coming five year period. The five-pronged strategic goals are listed below. A. Foster and grow an active research culture Recognize and support the university’s areas of research strength Identify the University’s strongest research areas University of Calicut 7 Annual Report 2012 Research Give our successful research areas and centres by “stars”, a motivation to shine and to reach out excellence Maximize the opportunities for good researchers to do research Focus and support research in a few niche areas Promote team research through Excellence Park, Specialized Laboratories, Research Units/Observatories/Centres/Institutes, and Research Groups, besides individual projects Develop plans to improve research quality and impact Set criteria for assessing research quality and conduct research assessments Increase citations by raising the quality of research Reward excellence and achievement in research Develop outreach activities aimed at enhancing the research and innovation culture Encourage organization of national and international research events Develop and consolidate pathways to ventilate research findings B. Create synergies, strengthen inter-disciplinary and collaborative research through increasing the number of functional and strategic internal and external links Identify emerging strategic, inter-disciplinary priority areas Identify and focus on potential income-generating research and consultancies Formulate