DLIS, CUTN Announces Ten-Day Research Methodology Course for Social Science Scholars

Dear All, 

We are happy to announce that the Department of Library and Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN), Thiruvarur, will organise an Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)-sponsored Ten-Day Research Methodology Course from 7 to 16 December 2026. The programme aims to strengthen the research skills and methodological understanding of PhD and Postdoctoral Fellowship (PDF) scholars in the social sciences, particularly those beginning their academic research. 

The course will provide participants with an opportunity to develop essential research competencies, understand different methodological approaches, and become familiar with tools for research design, data analysis, and the presentation of research findings. It will also introduce interdisciplinary perspectives from fields such as anthropology, sociology, history, language studies, and applied sciences, encouraging collaborative and multidisciplinary research. 

The programme will cover a wide range of topics, including theoretical and conceptual frameworks, literature reviews, referencing and citation practices, research proposal development, digital humanities, ethnography, thesis writing, computer applications in social science research, scholarly publishing, research ethics, good research practices, and plagiarism-detection software. The course is designed to provide an engaging and participatory learning experience for research scholars. 

A total of 30 seats are available for eligible scholars pursuing a PhD or PDF in any branch of the social sciences at UGC-recognised universities, deemed universities, colleges, Institutes of National Importance, and ICSSR research institutes. The seats are distributed among participants from the host institution (10), institutions within Tamil Nadu (10), and institutions outside Tamil Nadu (10). 

There is no registration fee for participation. Accommodation will be provided to outstation participants in the University Guest House on a sharing basis, and travel expenses for the shortest route will be reimbursed at the applicable sleeper-class train fare upon submission of original tickets. Food will be provided free of charge to all participants. 

The course will be conducted at the Conference Hall of the Chozha Central Library, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur. Prof. S. Thanuskodi, Professor and Head of the Department of Library and Information Science, CUTN, will serve as the Course Director. 

Interested and eligible research scholars must submit the prescribed application form, duly forwarded by the Head of the Department, Principal, or Director of their institution, by 16 November 2026. Applications should be emailed to hodlis@cutn.ac.in. The notification of acceptance is scheduled for 18 November 2026, and selected candidates must confirm their participation by 20 November 2026.

Download the Brochure: Click here

The initiative is expected to provide research scholars with valuable methodological knowledge and practical skills to support their academic research, improve the quality of their research outputs, and encourage interdisciplinary collaboration in the social sciences.

Dr. K. G. Sudhier Presented Research Paper at ETD 2026 International Symposium

Dear All,

We are delighted to share you that Dr. K. G. Sudhier, Assistant Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur participated in the 29th International Symposium on Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD 2026), held at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi from 23rd to 25th October 2026. The symposium focused on the theme “ETD in the Age of AI.”

Dr. Sudhier presented a research paper titled “Digital Repositories for ETDs: A Case Study using Zotero Group Libraries for Developing Academic Repositories,” co-authored with Goutham N., Research Scholar. The session was chaired by Prof. Sewa Singh from Amritsar.

In addition to presenting his research, Dr. Sudhier served as the Session Coordinator for a technical session titled “Global ETD Ecosystem: Consortia, Networks, Platforms & Institutional Practices.”

His participation in the international symposium reflects the Department's engagement with contemporary developments in electronic theses and dissertations, digital repositories, and the application of emerging technologies in academic information management.

Special Lecture on Open Access Week 2026@DLIS, CUTN

Dear All,

We are pleased to inform you that the Department of Library and Information Science (DLIS), Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN), Thiruvarur organised an invited talk titled “Beyond the Financial Veil: The Domino Costs of Open Access” on Thursday, 22 October 2026, at 3:00 PM via Google Meet. The programme was organised as part of the celebrations of International Open Access Week 2026, observed from 19 to 25 October 2026. 

The programme commenced with a welcome address by Prof. S. Thanuskodi, Head of the Department, who highlighted the importance of Open Access and the significance of International Open Access Week. He warmly welcomed the invited speaker, faculty members, research scholars, students, and other participants joining the programme online. 

The invited talk was delivered by Dr. Reggie Raju, Director of Research and Learning Services, University of Cape Town Libraries, South Africa. His presentation examined the challenges associated with existing Open Access systems, structural inequalities in scholarly communication, and possible approaches to making research publishing more inclusive and equitable. Tracing the evolution of scholarly communication from the establishment of learned societies to the subsequent commercialisation of academic publishing, Dr. Raju discussed how the Open Access movement emerged in response to the commodification of scholarly knowledge and inequalities within the publishing sector. He raised important questions about who owns, governs, produces, and preserves scholarly knowledge, emphasising the need to reconsider the existing structures of academic publishing. 

Dr. Raju observed that Open Access has the potential to expand the reach of scholarly communication and make research available to a wider community. However, he pointed out that existing systems do not always address local research needs and that the Global South continues to face challenges in achieving equitable representation. He also discussed concerns about biases in peer review and stressed the importance of empowering researchers to publish and disseminate their work while recognising diverse knowledge traditions. Various Open Access movements and declarations promoting greater equity in scholarly communication were also discussed. A significant part of the presentation focused on the Indian scholarly publishing landscape and the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) initiative. Dr. Raju highlighted the need to balance access to international scholarly literature with sustained investment in Indian journals and indigenous publishing platforms. Referring to the level of utilisation of subscribed resources, he noted that only around 20% of the subscribed content was being used, as discussed in his presentation. He argued that strengthening Indian journals could improve the visibility and reach of Indian research. He further emphasised that initiatives such as ONOS should address the structural challenges of scholarly communication in India rather than focusing primarily on access to international publications. 

The presentation also explored the broader meaning of the cost of knowledge, extending beyond direct financial expenditure to include structural inequalities, publishing biases, barriers to participation, and the challenges faced by researchers within existing scholarly communication systems. Dr. Raju stressed that the success of Open Access should be assessed not only by the availability of publications but also by the equity and inclusiveness of the systems through which knowledge is produced, published, disseminated, and preserved. Following the presentation, an interactive question-and-answer session was held. Participants raised questions concerning research assessment in Indian universities, the costs of scholarly communication, the promotion of indigenous scholarly publishing, and the inclusiveness of Diamond Open Access. The discussion provided an opportunity to clarify key issues and exchange perspectives on building a more equitable and sustainable scholarly publishing ecosystem. 

Overall, the invited talk provided valuable insights into the financial, structural, and ethical dimensions of Open Access. It highlighted the importance of addressing inequalities in scholarly publishing, strengthening indigenous publishing initiatives, reconsidering research evaluation practices, and promoting equitable participation in knowledge creation and dissemination. The programme reinforced the view that the true success of Open Access lies not merely in making scholarly publications available, but also in ensuring fairness, inclusiveness, and equity in the global scholarly communication system. 

The lecture program was coordinated by Dr. Anila Sulochana, Assistant Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, and attended by more than 34 participants from India and abroad. The session concluded with a formal vote of thanks proposed by Prof. Akhandanand Shukla. Ms. Anjali C. A., Junior Research Fellow, served as the rapporteur for the program.

Prof. S. Thanuskodi Recognised Among the World’s Top 2% Scientists in 2026

Dear All,

The Department of Library and Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN), is pleased to share that Prof. S. Thanuskodi, Head of the Department of Library and Information Science, has been listed among the Top 2% of Scientists Worldwide for 2026, according to the listing based on data from Elsevier and Stanford University.

As per the ranking details provided by TopSciNet, Prof. Thanuskodi has a global rank of 668,540 in the main field of Social Sciences and a global rank of 534 in the subfield of Information and Library Sciences. His reported H-index is 6, and his Hm-index is 4. 

This recognition highlights his scholarly contributions to the field of Library and Information Science. His research interests include bibliometrics, webometrics, digital libraries, information technology, and classification theory. His academic work contributes to the development of research and scholarship in Library and Information Science. 

The recognition is a proud moment for the Department and the University. The faculty members, research scholars, students, and staff of the Department extend their congratulations to Prof. Thanuskodi and wish him continued success in his academic and research endeavours.

Successful Completion of Open Ph.D. Viva-Voce of Mr. Palthe Ramu Naik, Ph.D. Scholar

Dear All, 

We are pleased to inform you that Mr. Palthe Ramu Naik, Ph.D. Scholar (R191902) of the Department of Library & Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN), Thiruvarur, successfully defended his Open Ph.D. Viva-Voce Examination held in the Smart Classroom on 9th October 2026, at 11:30 AM. His doctoral research is titled “Health Information Seeking Behaviour of Tribal People in Rayalaseema Region, Andhra Pradesh: A Study.” 

He presented his research work in detail and satisfactorily answered the questions and queries raised by the External Examiner and other participants during the Open Ph.D. Viva-Voce Examination. Dr. Udayan Bhattacharrya, Professor, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, served as the External Examiner for the examination. Dr. V. K. Dhanyasree, Assistant Professor and Research Supervisor, served as the Convener of the Open Ph.D. Viva-Voce Examination. The Open Ph.D. Viva-Voce Examination was attended by the RAC members, faculty members, research scholars, postgraduate students, and other members of the academic community. 

The Department of Library & Information Science congratulates Mr. Palthe Ramu Naik on the successful completion of his Open Ph.D. Viva-Voce Examination and wishes him continued success in his academic and professional endeavours.