The First “Sunday Research Sessions” of the English Language Department of Khatam University

According to the public relations and website of Khatam University, the first “Sunday Research Sessions” of Khatam University's English language department was held on Sunday, December 11th, 2023, in the building number 3 of Khatam University (Yas Pardis building), with the presence of faculty members and a group of students and graduates of this department.

In this meeting, after the opening meeting and explaining the frameworks and objectives of these meetings, professors and students of the English language department discussed and exchanged opinions about research issues in the field of English Teaching, English Literature, and English Translation.

In addition, the director of the English Language department invited students and graduates who are interested in participating in research and who need guidance in this field to attend these sessions every Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00 until the end of the current semester.

Some of the questions and answers which were raised in the opening meeting of the first “Sunday Research Sessions” of Khatam University's English language department are as follows:

Who can participate in these sessions?

All students and graduates of the English language department in all three subfields are welcome to participate in the above-mentioned sessions. The presence of students from other universities as guests requires permission from their faculty’s director.

What is the purpose and nature of these sessions?

These meetings are held as friendly gatherings with the aim of strengthening research abilities and professional skills of students in this field. Some of the areas that students can benefit from in these sessions are as follows:

• Finding and cultivating research ideas, especially for carrying out theses and dissertations
• Asking scientific questions and solving problems
• Familiarity with conducting research and thesis processes, including data collection, analysis, and reporting
• Proposal writing
• Getting to know scientific publications, their credibility, and the process of publishing articles
• Searching for articles and using scientific databases
• Getting help in the technical issues of proposal and thesis writing, including the utilization of Microsoft Word
• Correcting references and citations according to the standard APA or MLA format
• Preparing standard presentation files for defense sessions or participating in conferences
• Preparing and organizing research data for quantitative or qualitative analysis
• Participation in scientific conferences
• Getting advice for continuing studying at higher levels and participating in doctoral interview sessions
• Getting career advice to enter the job market and participating in job interviews and tests.

Are these sessions held consecutively, and are participants required to attend the meetings every week?

No. Participation in these meetings is free and students can attend the sessions on Sundays at any time that suits them between 10:00 and 14:00 when they are free. If a group of students wants to form a joint research group, they can personally coordinate with their group members to attend.

Do students have to prepare special materials for these sessions and perform specific tasks?

No. These meetings are held with the aim of guiding students' research activities, and it is natural for students to participate in these meetings without having a specific idea in advance as these sessions are held with the aim of finding the right path for every person. Therefore, students may attend these sessions only as observers, and it is not necessary to prepare the material in advance, unless they have assigned specific tasks for themselves or their research groups.

What ways of participation can students have in these meetings?

• Sharing experiences and helping other students in their specific areas of research (such as searching for articles, preparing files, writing references, career issues, applying to universities abroad, etc.)

• Participation in the activities of the English Language group and executive cooperation in holding workshops, conferences, and other extracurricular activities of the group

• Participating in directing these meetings and brainstorming the road map for Sunday Research Sessions

Can these sessions be useful for first-year students or students who have no research ideas in mind and have not yet started their thesis work?

Yes. As mentioned earlier, the first goal of these sessions is to guide research ideas and help students who are at the beginning of the journey.

 Are these sessions a substitute for counseling sessions with thesis advisors?

No. Regarding the full-time professors of the group, students can blend their thesis counseling sessions with the Sunday research sessions or have their regular sessions with their advisors during the other days of the week. Regarding other professors, it is necessary to say that the purpose of holding these meetings is not to interfere with the research process of students and supervisors; Therefore, students can raise their questions only about the more general issues of thesis writing, and they will be referred to their thesis advisors regarding more specific issues.

What facilities are available to students in these meetings?

Students can use the various spaces provided on the fifth floor of the Yas building of Khatam University for formal and informal meetings with their friends. For this purpose, the use of two computers and the Internet, the use of meeting rooms and PowerPoint presentation facilities, connecting to university servers to access scientific databases and download articles, virtual access to group theses and physical access to older group theses, using libraries, benefitting from the expertism of the professors of the group, and the use of water reservoirs have been considered.

Is the nature of these gatherings like being in the library and studying individually?

No. The purpose of holding these meetings is to discuss and exchange scientific opinions with others with an open mind.

Will these meetings continue in the coming semesters?

Yes. These meetings may be interrupted during the exam season, but depending on the participation, reception, and feedback of the participants, they will continue in the next semester with an updated approach.

Apart from the full-time professors of the group, will other professors who are active in different research fields attend these meetings?

Currently, these meetings are held with the presence of faculty members of the English Language department of Khatam University; However, it is possible that in the future, other professors will be invited to attend these meetings as per the request of the students and the research needs.