The Communication and Journalism Educators’ Network (CJEN) held a Regional Cluster Meeting on 6 September 2026 at the Research and Innovation Center (RIC), Khulna University, bringing together faculty members, researchers, early-career academics, and students interested in journalism and media research. Organized around the theme “Abstract Development and Research Mentorship,” the meeting aimed to strengthen participants’ research capacities while introducing them to CJEN’s mission, initiatives, and opportunities for professional and academic engagement. The program also focused on quantitative and qualitative research approaches, methodological rigor, data collection and analysis, and the development of research abstracts and concept notes for submission to the CJEN Annual Conference.
The program began with an inaugural session featuring welcome remarks and an introduction to the purpose of the regional cluster meeting, followed by a session introducing CJEN’s mission, initiatives, and opportunities for engagement. Participants were also briefed on ways that students, early-career researchers, faculty members, and researchers can become involved in CJEN activities. The first academic session, “Research Philosophy and Data Analysis for Qualitative Research,” was conducted by Prof. Sanjoy Kumar Chandra. The session explored the philosophical foundations of qualitative research and approaches to qualitative data analysis. Prof. Chandra also used digital tools to facilitate interaction and encourage participants to engage with the session through questions and discussion.
The second session, “Doing Quantitative Research: From Data Collection to Statistical Analysis,” was conducted by Prof. Mohammad Ziaul Haider. The session provided participants with an overview of the quantitative research process, from data collection to statistical analysis, with emphasis on practical research applications. The meeting concluded with a review and feedback session, followed by a certificate-giving ceremony.
Student and faculty participants from Khulna University, Barishal University and Northern University of Business and Technology took part actively in the meeting. The event provided an opportunity for academics and emerging researchers from the regional cluster to strengthen their understanding of research methodologies and become more familiar with CJEN’s research and professional development activities. The meeting, hosted by the Mass Communication and Journalism Discipline of Khulna University, marked another step in CJEN’s efforts to build a stronger research community among communication and journalism educators, researchers, and students across Bangladesh.
