Thirty-three scholars from countries across India, Sri Lanka and Nepal

The 6th research capacity development workshop on ‘Researching Marginalities’ takes place

Workshop dates: October 13-17, 2025
Venue: Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) Campus, Pune, Maharashtra, India

In association with Association for Asian Studies (AAS)
Sponsored by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)

The sixth Research Capacity Development Workshop, Researching Marginalities, organized by Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), in association with the Association of Asian Studies (AAS) and sponsored by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), was held from 11th–15th November 2025 at SPPU. This workshop, concluding the first phase of the series, saw the participation of thirty-three scholars from countries across India, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

The workshop brought together a wide range of themes intended to broaden the participants’ understanding of research. It opened up discussions on researching marginality, exploring the role of the state, and working with analytical categories such as gender and community, while also considering how emerging tools like AI influence research practices. Building on these thematic conversations, the sessions further guided participants through key research skills—crafting meaningful research questions, approaching the field with reflexivity, developing strong literature reviews, interpreting texts as sources of insight, studying communities, and drawing on literary materials within social research. These components were introduced to encourage deeper methodological clarity and to offer participants diverse ways of thinking about their projects. The participation of scholars working on marginality offered valuable perspectives and strengthened the overall dialogue.

Recognizing the limited access to academic resources, networks, and publishing avenues in state-funded public and regional universities, the workshop prioritized scholars from these institutions to support their research development. Discussions were conducted in a closed and interactive setting, encouraging every participant to share, question, and engage critically. Informal conversations extended into lunch and tea breaks, allowing reflections and debates to continue fluidly beyond the formal sessions.

The workshop aimed to build meaningful networks among academic scholars and to introduce participants to diverse research spaces, thereby enabling them to further enhance and strengthen their research capacities.