Screenshot of the Research Wednesday series streamed today on Instagram
Doha: As part of the Research Wednesdays series of seminars organized by the Research and Graduate Studies department of Qatar University (QU), Dr Abdelali Agouni, Manager of Post-Award Research Support for Grants and Contracts Department at QU, was the guest of the seventh episode titled “Research Grants Prospects and Challenges”. The episode was streamed today at the university’s Instagram account.
QU today is a hub for research and academic excellence as the university currently has over 1,300 researchers and provides with two types of grants, internal which are fully and directly funded by QU and provided to staff and students. The second type is funded externally by one of the partners like QF, QNRF, QP, QFCO, Total and many others and programmes.
Research priorities are based on national needs and QU’s four pillars including Energy and Environment, Social Science and Humanities, Health and Biomedical Sciences and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Priority is always given to collaborative research projects, international projects, in each of the above areas and subareas of researches.
Dr Agouni pointed out that researchers apply for funds with their research plan outline, aims and timeframe, and is assessed by specialized teams. There are regular assessments and follow up to the research progress and the researchers need to provide reports following the implementation of each stage of the approved research plan. In case of delays, he said, or negligence and lack of commitment, the university could suspend the fund or even cancel it, but this happens very rarely.
Other types of periodical reports needed from the researchers include scientific research reports and research outcomes.
“The university also supports researchers by providing administrative support, if they need some equipment, issuance of visas and other such works,” he added.
“Along with the four major areas of research, QU also conducts topical researches like the one related to the siege imposed on Qatar for more than three years and the most recent one was COVID-19 related, Dr Agouni explained during the Instagram live session.
“Through these researches, QU aims to enhance its academic performance, establish the culture of research among students and through them in the society. Research helps in looking at nation’s needs and priorities and address a wide range of issues on different fields of knowledge,” he added.
