NTRODUCTION
The Arab Open University was established with the unique objective of developing knowledge and skills in the Arab world by eliminating the barriers of time and space for its students. Its unique Open Learning model is the first of its kind in the Arab world. Research forms a core part of achieving its vision to advance science and the knowledge society. AOU Oman is fully committed to achieving the University's vision by embedding a strong and vibrant research culture within the institution.
The new Research Strategy (2022-2027) is driven from the fifth strategic plan of AOU Oman (2022-2027) and is an updated version of the research strategy (2020-2025) that succeeded the Research Strategy (2015-2019) which was aimed at initiating and developing a research culture within AOU Oman. Considerable progress in terms of output and collaborative research have been achieved under the previous strategies. The updated Research Strategy (2022-2027) is intended to provide focused targets that will take the quality of research endeavours to the next level. With this strategy, AOU Oman, signals its determination to engage in research activities that have the potential to benefit the wider society and is of international quality.
A.
RESEARCH VISION
To achieve outstanding scientific research in various areas of knowledge through a conducive climate of supporting researchers at Arab Open University to broadly advance science and the knowledge society.
B.
RESEARCH MISSION
To develop the potential and skills of academic staff to improve the standards and quality of performance by participation and contribution in impactful research activities sponsored and organized by well-known regional and international universities, research centres and specialized scholarly associations.
C.
RESEARCH VALUES
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Excellence and Quality: We strive for increasing both the quantity and quality of peer-reviewed and internationally recognized research outcomes.
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Relevance & Impact: Our research activities will be relevant to the community to focus on societal aspirations and needs, in line with regional and global issues and trends, that serves sustainable development goals.
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Collaboration and Partnership: We work collaboratively to strengthen research partnerships between faculty members in Branch countries as well as with international researchers from outside the university across disciplines to synergistically benefit from others' perspectives.
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Supporting innovation and entrepreneurship: We strive to foster and promote innovation and entrepreneurship at the university in ways that contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals.
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Ethics & Integrity: We act with integrity, uphold the highest ethical and academic standards in conducting our research.
D.
RESEARCH THEMES/DOMAINS
The main thrust of AOU Oman's research endeavours will be on applied research that seeks to provide new and innovative solutions to problems. We strive to identify research themes and areas that have the potential for societal impact and brings together expertise from across existing research strengths.
Accordingly, our research themes have been identified based on our academic interests as well as increasing societal relevance and importance and in line with national priorities in Oman (2040 vision) and global trends.
Our core Research Themes are:
- Digital Transformation, applications of Blockchain, SMEs and Entrepreneurship, Sustainability Development Goals, and Financial & Economic Development.
- Applications of artificial intelligence and the fourth industrial revolution in educational technology, Instructional Technology for students with special needs, and Contemporary Teaching techniques.
- Governance in educational institutions, rehabilitation, and training of educational leaders, and strategic leadership practices and challenges.
- Artificial Intelligence (Machine Learning, Deep Learning and Data Mining), Cybersecurity, Big Data Analytics, Software Engineering, Bioinformatics, and Information Visualization
- Electronic litigation in achieving prompt justice, legislative development at national level, and possible legislative frameworks to benefit from the fourth industrial revolution and foreign investments.
E.
RESEARCH PRIORITIES AND GOALS 2022-2027
- Support scientific research and encourage innovation and pioneering by developing a scientific research system at Arab Open University Oman that enhances the quantity and quality of our research output.
- Emphasis on social ambitions and needs, in accordance with regional and global trends, and that which serves sustainable development goals.
- Promote research relationships between faculty members in branch countries and international researchers outside the institution.
- Commitment towards increasing allocated funds for scientific research at AOU Oman.
- Encourage faculty members to secure funding for their research from industry, local, regional, and international scientific research funding organisations.
- Support and develop the university's innovation and pioneering system.
F.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
Underpinning our main strategic goal which is: “support scientific research and encourage innovation and pioneering", there are the following objectives:
1.1 Develop scientific research, both quantitatively and qualitatively, according to local priorities, global trends, and sustainable development goals.
1.2 Building qualitative internal and external research partnerships.
1.3 Raising scientific research allocations from internal and external revenues.
1.4 Supporting and developing innovation and pioneering in a way that contributes to achieving sustainable development goals.
RESEARCH STRATEGIC PLAN 2022-2027
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