Qualitative Research Training in a Bhutanese Context: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

After discussing the scope and rationale of the paper, I provide a chronological sketch of the opening portions of the ERASMUS-funded HAPPY training conducted during December 2021, which featured international and local experts guiding and facilitating the proceedings. This description helps to identify themes, and provides a clearer sense of how qualitative research methods were taught and learned. Next, drawing upon interviews, the paper considers the opportunities and challenges of qualitative research at HEIs in Bhutan. Interviews and other data suggest that participants found this training to be a challenging process, and felt a notable sense of accomplishment upon completing ToT3 in March 2022 (ToT3 being the phase which involved trainees doing research projects). Looking to areas that might be addressed in the future, I discuss my observation that usage convenience sampling by trainees during the ToT3 research was higher than I might have expected. Rather than automatically assuming this to be a 'weakness', however, I do my best to explore this topic from different angles. I also briefly touch upon the question of self-censorship in Bhutanese research. While I would describe my paper as 'suggestive' rather than 'conclusive', I hope that the ideas suggested here can be taken up further by future researchers and/or stimulate further debate.