Collaborators:

• Collaboration should be treated in a reciprocal manner.
• A visit duration could be up to a month according to the project requirement and budget availability.
• The grant shall pay the collaborator either an economy return air ticket or accommodation and an allowance of 25 Omani Rials.
• It is expected that the collaborator will cover 50% of his/her visit expenses.

Consultants:

• Only consultants requested in the research proposal will be approved.
• A pre-approval from the DVC-PSR to invite the consultant is requested.
• Visiting consultant(s) may be invited to participate in a research project, depending upon the project’s requirements, to deal with issues such as scientific discussions, advice, implementation of research, and technology transfer.
• A visit duration max. 2 weeks. (only applied for HM Trust Fund Grants)
• Payment: R.O 750 (lump sum) covering the whole visit.
• He/She is expected to give a seminar or participate in a workshop while he/she is at SQU.
• A report should be submitted after the visit to the Research Department.
• If two visits or two consultants are requested, the approval of the second visit/consultant will be based on submitting a satisfactory report for the first visit/consultant.

Research Assistants:

• The PI will decide on the best candidate for a research assistant post.
• A Research Employment Contract (F12 A) should be submitted in advance to the Research Department (RD) either for full-time, part-time or on request.
• If the RA is an employee outside SQU, a no objection letter is needed from his employer.

Part-time RA:

• Less than BSc holder at a rate of R.O. 2/hr.
• BSc holder & above at a rate of R.O. 3/hr.

Full-time RA:

• Salary R.O. 550/month (BSc holder).
• Salary R.O. 650/month (MSc holder).
• Any modification in the overall budget should not affect the salary of the RA.
• A contract is required for RA employment; renewed annually based on the need and the funds available. A copy of his passport and certificate should be enclosed with the contract.
• PI is responsible for the termination of the contract with the RA.
• Non-Omani RA could be appointed in some specializations when Omanis candidate could not be found through advertisement.
• In such cases, he/she will be entitled to get a ticket from and to his/her country if he’s abroad, a visa and a salary according to the scales mentioned above.
• PI is responsible for the supervision of all contract terms.

SQU Non-Academic Staff:

• Justifiable bonus to a lump sum of R.O 500 maximum per project upon the completion of his/ her task is allowed.
• A person will not be paid from more than two projects per year.
• Work should be related to duties carried out outside the normal working hours.

Note:

• Priority is given to Omanis and we advise PIs to search for Omani candidates. 

Procurement:

• Purchase of items for more than R.O 200 should go through the Electronic Procurement System. Such requests should provide the project title, account number and charging code.
• Purchase of items for less than R.O 200 using the petty cash are available with the College Administrator (using the Petty Cash Form F8).
• There will be no reimbursement without a pre-approval from DVC-PSR for any purchase over the petty cash limit in the college.
• Any procurement requests should be entered in the Electronic Procurement System done before 15th of December of each year. Only applied for IG, JG and EG.

Capital equipment:

• Any equipment used during the execution of the project (either purchased or existing equipment) shall be returned to the College Superintendent.
• The PI hold responsibility in keeping the purchased or existing equipment) in good condition.

Note: (Only applied for IG, JG and EG)

• Digital cameras, laptops and desktops, printers & cartridges and stationeries, are not allowed to be bought from the grant since its essential facilities should be provided from the college/center budget.
• Books & Journals are not allowed to be bought from the grant, unless it is not available within SQU libraries.

Budget:

• By the end of each May, the remaining budget will not be transferred unless a request has been forwarded to AD-PSR in October with strong justifications. Only applied for HM
• By the end of each year, the remaining budget will not be transferred unless a request has been forwarded to AD-PSR in October with strong justifications.
• A satisfactory progress report is needed in order to release every year budget.

Note:

• Any reallocation requests should be entered in the financial system (Vision).
• Reallocation from Item (Research Assistant -10) is not allowed. (Vision).
• Reallocation to Item (Local Travel- 12) is not allowed.
• Reallocation to Item (Overseas travel- 07) is not allowed. 

Local Travel:

• A request should be forwarded to DVC-PSR at least 3 weeks before the trip.
• A researcher should not commence any local trips without a Qarar.
• There will be no reimbursement without a qarar being issued.

Scientific Visits:

• Official scientific visit should be requested through the DVC-PSR at least 3 weeks before the visit.
• A ticket and a per diem will be provided depending on the funds available.
• A research leave cannot be combined with a scientific visit.
• Visit duration max. 2 weeks.
• A report should be submitted after the visit to the DVC-PSR.

Note:

• Fail to submit the report will affect any subsequent visits. 

Oral Progress Presentation: (only applied for HM):

A progress presentation is required on March of each year of the project duration. The presentation shall include the following areas:

• Introduction
• Objectives & relations to Oman
• Methodology
• Results including:

• No. of PhD and/or MSc students
• No. of research assistants
• Capacity building
• Collaboration, locally, internationally
• Any obstacles facing the project
• Future plans
• Revised budget
• Materials that can be used for university day [results, pictures...]