Faculty Development Center Workshops
Managing Your Research Pipeline and Responding to Reviewers' Comments
The RIT K, Faculty development Center workshop “Managing your Research Pipeline and Responding to Reviewers' Comments” , conducted by Gent Carrabregu, PhD., on November 19, presented a discussion of some good practices concerning these two tasks faced by all academic researchers.
How to juggle multiple research projects? How to use conference presentations as a tool in effective management of the research pipeline? How to balance the quantity and the quality of research projects? How to effectively respond to reviewers' comments, especially if they seem to contradict each other? These and other related questions were at the center of the presentation and were followed by fruitful discussions and shared experiences by the RIT K faculty community.
Navigating Conflict
On September 27, the faculty development session “Navigating Conflict” for RIT K faculty, was organized in an online mode, in collaboration with the RIT Ombuds Office colleagues Joe Johnston and Ashley Meyer, who conducted the session.
The topic and the abstract of the session: Conflict is inevitable. No matter how much we try to prepare, individuals have different styles in which they choose to deal with conflict. Come join us to learn about your personal style and how to work with others that may have similar or different styles.
Faculty and staff development workshops
As part of the STEFORA project, three faculty and staff development workshops are completed during the academic year 2023-2024, coordinated by the RIT K Faculty Development Center. These workshops served as follow-up activities, where our faculty who participated in the Advanced Training activities with EU partner institutions in Sweden and Ireland, shared their insights with faculty, and administrative staff in our institution.
The three workshops focused on:
- STEM Inclusiveness and Diversity – Addressed the challenges encountered by Kosovar women in STEM fields, explored inclusive pedagogy techniques and related case studies, as well as the best practices adopted by EU countries.
- STEM and Digital Skills – Highlighted the importance of enhancing digital skills and incorporating universal design principles into both classroom practices and digital content shared by academic institutions.
- Digital Citizenship, STEM Engagement and Sustainability - Focused on digital citizenship and its intersection with women inclusion in STEM. The workshop centered around digital competencies, responsible online behavior and digital footprint.
The RIT K Faculty Development Center remains dedicated to hosting workshops with the goal of boosting skill sets of our Institutional community, ensuring a continuous enhancement of professional growth and development.
Faculty development workshop: “Critical Thinking Applications: A tour to AI and ChatGPT
RIT Kosovo FDC on its recent faculty development session (February 23, 2024) explored the topic “Critical Thinking Applications: A tour to AI and ChatGPT”. The session was conducted by Dr. Jennifer Schneider, the Eugene Fram Chair in Applied Critical Thinking, Office of the Provost of RIT Rochester campus. It was a great success as it gathered faculty from all RIT campuses. The discussion of the session evolved around exploring various assignment structures aimed at enhancing students critical thinking skills, even in the courses where the pursuit of a single common answer can be common.
Participants had the opportunity to discuss how they can integrate critical thinking practices in their course assignments. Also, during the session, it was explored a range of options that can be used with or without AI tools, sparking insightful conversations and ideas.
The workshop emphasized the importance of questions and discussions in fostering critical thinking. It was inspiring to see educators eager to explore new approaches and tools to enhance their teaching. RITK faculty were equipped with the certificate of the completion of the workshop, issued by Dr. Jennifer Schneider, from the Eugene Fram Chair in Applied Critical Thinking, Office of the Provost of RIT Rochester campus.
Faculty development session Paper Publishing Strategies Workshop
The Faculty Development Center at RIT Kosovo recently hosted the 'Paper Publishing Strategies Workshop' as part of its ongoing activities, taking place on January 26, 2024. The session centered around the crucial theme of finding the right publication venue for academic papers, offering practical insights into locating the most suitable journal. Discussions included considerations such as indexing, rating, as well as administrative and institutional steps to be undertaken before submitting a paper. Professor Mimoza Polloshka, the coordinator of the faculty development program, commenced the session with a brief introduction of the day's speakers, providing attendees with a concise overview of their professional backgrounds through a short biography presentation.
In a dynamic and insightful session, Professor Blerta Prevalla led the academic community through a comprehensive exploration of critical facets in research, publishing strategies, and ethical considerations. The engaging presentation covered the multifaceted benefits of research, emphasizing advantages for researchers, institutions, and students alike.
Professor Prevalla underscored the transformative impact of continuous knowledge expansion on professional development. By staying informed about the latest developments in their respective fields, academics foster intellectual curiosity and a commitment to lifelong learning. The session emphasized the inherent professional growth opportunities, including avenues for career advancement through publications, conference presentations, and grant funding.
As contributors to disciplinary advancement, academics play a vital role in shaping theories, methodologies, and best practices within their fields. The commitment to knowledge enhancement seamlessly extends to teaching practices, enriching classroom instruction with cutting-edge insights, empirical evidence, and real-world applications.
The session delved into practical aspects of publication, guiding researchers through key considerations in selecting publication types. Professor Prevalla encouraged a thorough assessment of the publisher's reputation, collaboration dynamics, authorship issues, copyright implications, and associated costs. The importance of optimizing titles and abstracts, choosing the right institutional affiliation, deciding where to publish, engaging stakeholders, and fostering collaborations were highlighted to enhance the visibility and impact of research.
Emphasizing the ethical dimensions of research, Professor Prevalla highlighted the paramount importance of maintaining the integrity and credibility of academic publications. Ethical considerations were explored, showcasing examples that underscored the significance of transparency and responsible dissemination of research findings.
In a transformative academic session, Professors Blerta Prevalla and Debabrata Samanta guided participants through a comprehensive journey encompassing ethical research practices and practical strategies for publishing in high-impact Scopus indexed journals.
The session's pivotal conclusion resonated with a resounding call for the academic community to prioritize ethical practices. Professor Prevalla underscored the significance of research making a positive contribution to the academic landscape while adhering to the highest standards of integrity. Her insightful exploration left participants equipped with a profound understanding of the ethical dimensions in research.
The spotlight then shifted to Professor Debabrata Samanta, who delved into the intricacies of publishing in Scopus indexed journals. Providing valuable insights, he shared methods for searching appropriate journals based on subjects. Engaging the audience, Professor Samanta utilized mentimeter to include them in a poll for research questions, fostering an interactive and collaborative environment.
Professor Samanta continued the session with a practical example, demonstrating how to identify suitable platforms for research work submission, especially when collaborating with external partners. Additionally, he imparted knowledge on creating Orcid and Publons profiles, empowering participants with practical tools to enhance their visibility in the academic sphere.
The combined efforts of Professors Prevalla and Samanta in this comprehensive session left participants not only with a heightened understanding of ethical research practices but also armed with practical strategies to navigate the evolving landscape of research and publication. Their dedication to empowering the academic community resonated throughout the session, ensuring that attendees departed with a strengthened foundation for their scholarly endeavors.
Fulbright Presentation Session at RIT Kosovo ( September 19, 2023)
The United States-Kosovo Educational Exchange Board (USKEB) Program Coordinator Ms. Nora Nimani-Musa was hosted by RIT Kosovo on 19th September to hold an information session on Fulbright Program opportunities. She informed the RIT Kosovo academic staff on two programs: The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program and Fulbright Faculty Development Program.
The session covered details on eligibility, selection process, timeline, funding and other program benefits that these programs offer. Ms. Nimani-Musa explained in details the selection process offering instructions on how to apply. The deadlines for applications are as follows: The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program 2024/025 application close on 2nd October 2023 The Fulbright Faculty Development Program 2024/2025 application close on 31st October 2023. For more information visit:
https://xk.usembassy.gov/.../fulbright-scholar-program
and
https://xk.usembassy.gov/fulbright-faculty-development
Previous workshops can be found here