The Deanship of Scientific Research

Strategic Plan

2006-2010

 

The Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR) at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) was originally established as part of the Deanship of Graduate Studies in the year 2000, and then became an independent Deanship in September, 2005. This is the first strategic plan for the Deanship which is developed in line with the University strategic plan. The plan highlights the vision and mission of the Deanship, followed by the goals it plans to achieve in the next five years, as well as the strategies needed to achieve these goals and their measures of success.

 

Vision

To establish conducive research environment and support that enable KFUPM take an international leadership role in innovative and quality research in cutting edge knowledge and technologies in key areas of significant socio-economic impact.

 

Mission

To provide a stimulating environment and continuous support that empowers KFUPM faculty and researchers to enhance its national, regional and international leadership in quality research and scholarly activities in science, engineering, management and other related fields of significant importance to the Kingdom and worldwide.

 

Goals

The Deanship of Scientific Research is determined to achieve its mission and work towards its long-term vision through the following goals:

 

Goal #1:     Efficiency and Effectiveness

Establish well structured, efficient and effective research management process University-wide

Goal #2:       Research Environment

Promote conducive research environment University-wide.

Goal #3:     Research Productivity and Quality

Enhance research productivity and quality

Goal #4:    Research Directions

Identify and promote areas of research priorities to the Kingdom and worldwide

Goal #5:     Reach Out

Reach out to all scientific research constituents

Goal #6:     Human Resources

Recruit and retain highly qualified research support staff

Core Values 

The following core values, guided by our Islamic principles, form the foundation upon which the Deanship of Scientific Research at KFUPM conducts its activities and work toward its goals.

 

Fairness

DSR views fairness as a fundamental principle in all its activities and policies.

 

Quality

DSR regards quality as a primary issue in all its activities and expects the same from the community of researchers that it serves.

Teamwork

DSR promotes the spirit of interdisciplinary team work in all activities it conducts or supports.

 

Leadership

DSR advocates leadership role that uphold professionalism, responsibility and motivation.

 

Discipline

DSR focuses on a disciplined behavior to all its professional work activities and expects the same from the community of researchers that it serves.

 

Innovation

DSR encourages, values and promotes innovative ideas and solutions.

 

Initiative

DSR always takes the initiative in meeting its stakeholders’ requisites and demands.

 

 

Key Stakeholders

·               University top management

·               Academic departments and their faculty

·               Graduate students

·               Research centers and their researchers

·               Industry

·               Government

·               Society at large

 

Key Factors for Success

·        Commitment of top management

·        Availability of Resources

·        Fairness

·        Cooperation of all constituents

·        Listening to voices of the stakeholders and welcoming feedback

·        Thoughtful actions for improvement

·        Comprehensive policies and flexibility of rules

·        Responsibility

·        Rewarding success

 

 

Goals, Strategies and Performance Measures

 

Goal #1:     Efficiency and Effectiveness

Establish well structured, efficient and effective research management process University-wide

 

Strategies

·              Maintain well established, flexible, and updated research guidelines and procedures

·               Automate processes associated with research review and approval processes

·               Regularly re-examine the effectiveness of the research management process

·               Assess the process impact on speed, participation, quality, budget and decision making

·              Establish systematic research self-assessment for continuous feedback.

·               Establish research management activities coordination system university-wide

 

Measures of Success

Ø      Impact of process on the quality of research

Ø      Time for research projects review and approval cycles

Ø      Proponents level of satisfaction

 

Goal #2:       Research Environment

Promote conducive research environment University-wide.

 

Strategies

·              Promote the culture of innovative, interdisciplinary, and collaborative research

·               Promote and support research groups.

·               Motivate and support Junior faculty/graduate students research

·               Reward active researchers

·               Facilitate research activities and research/conference support processes

·               Maintain continuous financial support for research and scholarly activities

·               Support the establishment and upgrade of state-of-the art research facilities

 

Measures of Success

Ø             Number of projects supported annually

Ø             Number of faculty/students involved

Ø             Number of research groups/interdisciplinary projects

Ø             Annual research budget

Ø             Level of satisfaction

 

Goal #3:     Research Productivity and Quality

Enhance research productivity with high quality outcomes

 

Strategies

·              Increase and diversify financial support for research

·              Enhance the role of graduate students in research

·              Develop and maintain research outcomes measurement criteria  

·              Develop and maintain statistics on research outcomes

·              Benchmark with best international practices

·               Ensure appropriate research evaluation and development

·               Provide incentives for quality research projects/outcomes

·               Promote quality research outlets (e.g. journals, conferences)

 

Measures of Success

Ø      Number of projects

Ø      Research budget

Ø      Researchers/graduate students involve in research

Ø      Number of ISI publications

Ø      Benchmarking (KFUPM ranking)

Ø      Faculty research citations

Ø      Patents

Ø      Scholarly invitation to KFUPM faculty

 

Goal #4:    Research Directions

Identify and promote areas of research priorities to the Kingdom and worldwide

 

Strategies:  

·              Identify research priority areas for KFUPM

·              Establish special grants for selected research areas

·              Promote and support research and studies in those areas.

·              Promote Arabic book authoring/translation of academic books

·              Promote innovative research in cutting edge knowledge and technologies

·              Promote and support research groups university-wide

·              Encourage and support team work and interdisciplinary collaborative research.

 

 

Measure of Success:

1.      Number of research projects/outcomes on priority areas for the Kingdom

2.      Number of Arabic book authoring/translation by KFUPM faculty

3.      Impact level on research productivity and quality

4.      Effectiveness of research groups.

 

 

Goal #5:     Reach Out

Reach out to all scientific research constituents

 

Strategies

·              Share resources and experiences with regional research bodies.

·              Encourage and support collaborative research

·              Encourage and support scholarly visits and conferences

·              Support summer and other international research exchange programs

·              Provide and maintain continuous support for faculty to attend international conferences and meetings

·              Establish strong links with scientific research agencies world-wide.

·               Develop databases of scholars for potential cooperation

·              Establish systematic research statistical data collection and analysis

·              Publicize research activities and outcomes inside and outside KFUPM

·              Issue periodic reports and newsletter.

 

Measures of Success

Ø            Number of conferences attendance

Ø            KFUPM presence in international scientific events

Ø            Number of collaborative projects

Ø            National and international impact

Ø            Number of collaborative projects/visits

Ø            Impact of collaboration on research productivity and quality

 

 

Goal #6:     Human Resources

Recruit and retain highly qualified research support staff

 

Strategies

·               Appoint at least one full time faculty/researcher to coordinate research projects

·               Maximize the efficiency of the Research Committees

·               Recruit specialized people to focus on certain tasks

·               Recruit enough full time research support staff expertise

·               Provide continuous training for DSR staff

·               Provide reasonable incentives to active staff members

 

Measures of Success

Ø      Ratio of faculty/researchers to full time research support staff

Ø      Number of specialized staff

Ø      Quality of services provided to the researchers community