Welcome to the Research Department, Office of the Vice Chancellor, the Royal University of Bhutan (RUB)

Research at RUB

Research, as one of the dual objectives specified by the Royal Charter of the Royal University of Bhutan, is a crucial responsibility of the RUB.

The objective stated by the Royal Charter reads,

To promote and conduct research, to contribute to the creation of knowledge in an international context and to promote the transfer of knowledge of relevance to Bhutan.

The main focus of all member institutes of RUB being teaching learning, it is imperative that the faculty and students alike participate in research. We firmly believe that without research there can be no good teachings. Thus, integrating research findings in teaching learning at tertiary level is fundamental in imparting quality education.

Some of the reasons, out of many, why research should be an integral part of university education are,

• New knowledge can be generated through the research efforts of faculty and through the involvement of students.

• Research teams can address specific problems, which face the Kingdom, and the results of those efforts can be used by government decision-makers and by the private sector as well.

• Questions posed by the public can be addressed in general terms by research efforts and the general public can benefit from the outcomes of such studies

• Staff have a responsibility not only to draw on the universal pool of knowledge when teaching their students but they must also contribute to it

• Research and scholarly activity are intellectually stimulating activities for staff, and without intellectually stimulated staff there can be no intellectually stimulated students; an important function of academic staff is to excite students and research can provide much of that excitement for staff

• In the absence of active research teaching can become book based without relationship to the practice and development of the subject being taught; research gives rise to curriculum development

• Research develops habits of critical enquiry and keeps the faculty current and active

• International collaboration with research scientists from other countries can have a Bhutan focus, and can bring teams of scientists here for special field research and conferences.

• Research can provide the common grounds for linking to other academics in the subject area on an international level

Therefore, to promote and enhance research that will contribute to the creation and transfer of knowledge not only within Bhutan but also in the international context the Research Department at the Office of the Vice Chancellor mainly takes up the role of coordinating and consolidating the research activities within the university. In doing so, this Department receives support from a committee called the Research and Innovation Committee (RIC).

Out of the seven standing committees of the Academic Board, two are for research;

1. Research and Innovation Committee (its sub-committee is Research Ethics Sub-Committee)

2. Research Degrees Committee

The RIC is operational at the moment and this committee also takes care of the functions of its sub-committee called the Research Ethics Sub-Committee. The non-operational status of the Research Degrees Committee is due to non-provision of research degrees currently at RUB.