Empowering Methodologies: Empowering Methodologies in Management Research Conference

We are half way through the project and as planned we hosted a Conference on Empowering Methodologies, 29-30 of May at the Michael Young Building, Open University. I attended both days and enjoyed the experience. We received a healthy number of attendees and a diverse set of scholars who presented a variety of perspectives on qualitative research. Those perspectives proposed innovative ways to develop qualitative research methodologies involving more democratic and empowering views. We also had the opportunity to meet with our Indian colleagues who visited the UK for two weeks. They attended the Conference and a two-day Workshop hosted on the 3-4 of June.

Starting the Conference on Day 1, Emma, gave an introductory presentation titled "What are Empowering Methodologies?". Professor Emily Keightley (Loughborough University) continued with ‘Creative Methods in Studying Memory and Change’, followed by Dr Emanuela Girei (University of Sheffield) presenting ‘Decolonising Management Knowledge and Research Practice’ and Professor Torkild Thanem (Stockholm University) presenting ‘Embodied Research Methods in the Social Sciences’. A panel discussion on ‘Opportunities and Challenges in Empowering Methodologies in Management Research’ closed the first day; this was chaired by Steve Brown with Professor Sunita Singh Sengupta, Professor Gillian Symon (Royal Holloway, University of London) and Dr Sophie Mills (University of Nottingham).

Professor Torkild Thanem from Stockholm University

Panel Discussion: Professor Sunita Singh Sengupta, Dr Sophie Mills, Professor Gillian Symon and Professor Steve Brown

After the Panel Discussion everyone gathered for drinks and a nice dinner at an on-campus restaurant. I could see everyone enjoying themselves following up conversations that began at the conference. Personally I had a great time talking to our Indian Colleagues (Professor Sunita, Avilasa, Guang, Nikhil, Rohit, Sumeet and Jaideep) about their impressions of the Conference, the University Campus and the UK in general.

Indian Delegates

Continuing with the Conference, Dr Nirmal Puwar (Goldsmiths, University of London) started day two with ‘Live Methods and the Sociological Imagination’ followed by Dr Lauren McCarthy (Royal Holloway, University of London) on ‘Visual Participatory Research: From Development to Management Studies’.

Dr Lauren McCarthy, Royal Holloway, University of London

Dr Nirmal Puwar, Goldsmiths, University of London

The final session was a World Café on "Doing Empowering Research" lead by Dr Tim Butcher and which involved our six students from University of Delhi presenting their Case Studies and their experiences at carrying out Empowering Methodologies. The students got useful feedback and more ideas to continue their work for the project. For me, this was the highlight of the whole event. The attendees were so interested, energetic and enthusiastic about meeting our Indian colleagues, so much that they asked the organisers to continue with the World Cafe a few minutes more after we had ran out of time!