Sultan Qaboos University is the main research institution in the Sultanate of Oman, as it is the first public university in the country. Its research vision is to be a leading institution and obtain international recognition in research, while its research mission is to promote a culture for research, increase research output, advance knowledge and find solutions to strategic issues in the Sultanate of Oman. The main objectives are to create an effective culture for research and capacity building, address the strategic needs of the Sultanate of Oman, undertake multi-disciplinary research projects and create solid partnerships between the University and the private sector, which would contribute to the realization of Oman Vision 2040. In line with the wise vision, the Department of Research Administration has been established to manage internally and externally funded research, including strategic research, national research, consultancy services and joint research with international research institutions. The department also works closely with the University's Research Board to develop policies and procedures for research management at the university and enhance and diversify research capabilities. On this website, you will find details of the tasks and duties of the department, as well as the procedures governing the research management at the University.

Nasser Said Al Sheibani

Director, Research Administration Department

H.M. Trust Fund Grant Research Section

The section is concerned with the administrative procedures of submitting and evaluating His Majesty Trust Fund Grant (HMTF) research proposals, following up the implementation of approved research and supervising the administrative processes related to such research. The HMTFG is allocated for funding strategic interdisciplinary research projects that address topics of strategic importance to the Sultanate of Oman in line with the Oman Vision 2040. The implementation of such projects extends over three to four years, and may be followed by a period for research and development, depending on the results of the previous stage, prior to the stage of commercializing and applying the results to utilize them in socio-economic development.

External and Joint Grants Research Section

The section is concerned with the administrative procedures of submitting and evaluating externally funded research proposals, as well as joint proposals between research institutions, including research grant programs offered by private and international institutions. It monitors the implementation of such research projects and supervises relevant administrative processes.

Internal Grants Research Section

The section is in charge of conducting the administrative procedures of submitting and evaluating research proposals funded by the internal University budget, including internal research grants, the Deanship of Research grants that allocated for small research projects, and also undergraduate students’ research grants. The section follows up the implementation of these approved research projects and supervises relevant administrative processes. Programs covered by this section are:

• Internal grants program (IG)
• The Deanship of Research grants program(RF)
• Undergraduate student research program (UF)

Consultancies Section

The section supervises the administrative processes related to research consultancies and follows up their performance, receives progress and final reports and seeks to increase and diversify sources of funding for research consultancies. This research contract contractual applied research aims to find solutions to social or economic problems, develop products or innovate new methods or techniques. The university encourages contract research between researchers and researchers to sign contracts with local and international institutions to implement contract  the applied research projects.

National Grants Research Section

This section is concerned with grants provided by government institutions, including grants from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. It supervises administrative processes related to nationally funded  research projects and follows up their performance, receives progress and final reports and acts as a focal point between researchers and national funding agencies. Programs covered by this section are:

• Research grant program (PhD holders)
• Student Research Program (undergraduate level)
• Graduate Research Program (Bachelor's and Master's holders)
• Strategic Research Program.

Chairs and Research Groups Section

The section is responsible for approving research chairs and following up their implementation, supervising the related administrative processes, monitoring the performance of approved research chairs, receiving progress and final reports and seeking funding for research chairs as well as increasing and diversifying their funding sources. The section is also in charge of registering research groups at the university and evaluating their performance.