With its theme “Bridging Knowledge and Experience through Qualitative Research”, the 4th UUM International Qualitative Research Conference 2020 (QRC 2020) has successfully gathered over 100 qualitative researchers locally and internationally.
Speaking at the opening of QRC 2020, Prof Dr Ayoib Che Ahmad, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation) said that the success of QRC 2020 shows that COVID-19 pandemic should not be a hindrance for academics to meet and exchange knowledge. With the new norms, it even provides an avenue to embark in qualitative research as it allows the researchers to investigate the meanings people attribute to their behaviors, actions and interactions with others.
“Academicians should take this opportunity to virtually foster cross-cultural, cross-institutional collaboration in research without marginalizing peers from any institutions or any countries”, he said.
The 3-day conference kick-off with an exciting information sharing workshop facilitated by our very own qualitative expert, Associate Professor Dr. Sarimah Shaik Abdullah and Dr. Ani Munirah Mohamad from School of Education and Modern Language and School of Law, respectively.
The highlight of the conference was marked with the presence of qualitative research guru, the Emeritus Professor David Silverman, from Goldsmith College, London. Prof. Silverman had shared his vast experience in qualitative research with over 100 enthusiastic participants. Among others, he discussed about the constructionist lens which he personally found fruitful in generating interesting research topics.
Associate Professor Dr. Rozainee Khairudin from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia who is also the President of Malaysian Psychological Association, on the other hand shared her insight on qualitative research in psychological studies. Indeed, the presence of both qualitative experts have to great extent heightened the qualitative interests amongst participants.
Meanwhile, the Conference Director, Dr. Hazeline Ayoup said that the Conference had also served as a platform for diverse-disciplined researchers from the fields of psychology, accounting, business, journalism, management, IT, education, medicine etc. to share their research work and collaborate in future research projects. ‘Indeed, QRC 2020 had successfully increased networking opportunity not only from different institutions and countries but also different area of studies’, she said.