Research Strategic Plan

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 1: RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AND QUALITY

GOAL 1: Enhance the quality of all our research activities by embedding a strong and vibrant institutional research culture
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES	KPI	TARGETS	TIME FRAME	RESPONSIBILITY	RESOURCES
1.1 Adopt clear principles that define research expectations of all AOU Oman teaching staff, and the quality of research outcomes expected	Research & Scholarly Activity Expectations Document	Reviewed and updated	By January 2021	Director of Research, Research Committee	Publicly available literature for Benchmarking
	Research & Scholarly Activity Expectations Document	Reviewed and updated	By September 2021	Director of Research, Research Committee	Publicly available literature for Benchmarking
1.2 Ensure research activities across the institution lead to outcomes which are of international standards and are directed by annual targets	Proportion of Peer Reviewed Publications	At least 75% of all publications	Annually	Director of Research, Programme Coordinators, Research Committee	Annual Research Budget
	Ratio of Peer Reviewed Publications/Academic Staff (FTE)	At least 1.00 in all departments annually	By August 2025
	Number of Peer Reviewed Indexed* Publications	15% increase every two years	From 2021
	Ratio of Peer Reviewed Indexed* Publications/Academic Staff (FTE)	At least 0.40 every two years	From 2021
	Total Citations (rolling totals)	20% increase annually	By September 2022
	Total Citations/Academic Staff (FTE): rolling averages	At least 4.00	By August 2022
1.3 Establish a framework in which research contribution and excellence including that of new researchers is recognised, supported, and celebrated	Communication and Recognition Approach for Faculty Research	Celebrates and communicates faculty research internally and externally	By September 2021	AOU Director, ADAA	Annual Staff Budget as appropriate
	Performance Appraisal, Promotions & Research Performance Aligned	Reviewed and amended	By April 2021	AOU Director, ADAA	Annual Staff Budget as appropriate
1.4 Support our researchers to seek competitive research grants and funds	Number of Research projects funded by external bodies	5: IT Dept 3: Education Dept 5: Business Dept 1: Law Dept	Annually by 2022	Programme Coordinators, Research Committee	Annual Research Budget
	Number of academic staff involved in funded research projects	10% increase	Annually	Programme Coordinators, Research Committee	Annual Research Budget
Ensure that staff research activities and expertise have a positive impact on student learning and experience	Number of research groups involving students	At least one per department	Annually	Programme Coordinators, Research Committee	Annual Research Budget
	Number of funded student research projects	At least one annually
	Faculty integrating AOU, Oman research outcomes in teaching	All research active staff
1.6 Establish the annual Excellent Researcher Award/s at AOU, Oman	Excellent Researcher Award. AOU, Oman	Criteria Set and Implemented	Annually	AOU Director, ADAA, Research Committee	Annual Research Budget
1.7 Monitor the quality, relevance and scope of research activities	Annual Program Plans and Staff Research Plans approved & monitored	Against set KPIs & Targets	At the beginning and end of each AY	Research Committee	NA
	Research Evaluation Report	Prepared Annually	By September annually	Director of Research	NA

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 2: COLLABORATION AND INTERDISCIPLINARITY

GOAL 2: Cultivate research collaborations with external organisations and develop interdisciplinary research communities within AOU, Oman
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES	KPI	TARGETS		RESPONSIBILITY	RESOURCES
2.1 Formalise agreements with external organisations nationally and internationally to foster collaborative research opportunities	Number of Active Collaborative Research Agreements	At least one new agreement every two years	Bi-Annually	Director of Research, Research Committee. AOU Director	Annual Research Budget
2.2 Establish cross or interdisciplinary research groups with focused themes across AoU, Oman	Number of peer reviewed Interdisciplinary papers published	At least five papers	Annually	Programme Coordinators, Research Committee	Annual Research Budget
2.3 Support staff in undertaking collaborative and interdisciplinary research activities and networking	Number of Inter disciplinary workshops	One per year per department	Annually	Programme Coordinators, Research Committee	Annual Research Budget
	Funds for Research Collaboration	Allocated from Research Budget	Annually	Programme Coordinators, Research Committee	Annual Research Budget

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 3: NATIONAL AND REGIONAL IMPACT

GOAL 3: Spearhead research which has significance and benefit for the national and regional community
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES	KPI	TARGETS		RESPONSIBILITY	RESOURCES
3.1 Foster applied research projects that have societal impact and significance nationally and regionally	Proportion of published research papers that have national or regional relevance	50 % of published outcomes	Annually	Research Committee	Annual Research Budget and External Funds
	Research Impact Form	Submitted by all researchers/research groups
3.2 Strengthen engagement with the regional/international research community by organising research seminars and conferences	Number of Research Conferences and seminars organised by AoU Oman	At least one	Annually	Research Director, Research Committee	Annual Research Budget
3.3 Communicate our research strengths, activities and outcomes to all stakeholders	Number of Research Conferences and seminars organised by AoU Oman	At least one	Annually	Research Director, Research Committee, PR Department	Annual Research Budget
	Research activities communicated through Aou Oman website, print and digital media	Every month

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 4: CAPACITY BUILDING

GOAL 4: Ensure that all teaching staff are integrated into the research culture and can deliver quality outcomes
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES	KPI	TARGETS		RESPONSIBILITY	RESOURCES
4.1 Integrate expectations of staff research outcomes into performance reviews, and promotion criteria	Proportion of research active staff	85% in all departments	By 2023-24	AOU Director, ADAA, Director of Research	Annual Staffing Budget
	Total number of publications including books, book chapters, technical reports & conference papers	10% increase	Annually
	Research Weighting in Annual Performance Reviews aligned with promotion criteria	For all academic staff	By April 2021
	Research KPIs linked to Annual Performance Reviews	KPIs and targets applied to all academic staff	By April 2021
4.2 Foster and support our researchers to deliver high quality research outcomes with relevant training and development opportunities	Research Needs Analysis	Conducted for all academic staff	Every 2 years	Director of Research, ADAA, AOU Director,	Annual Training/ PD Budget
	Number of Research Focused FD-internal	At least two	Annually
	Number of Research Focused FD- external	At least one	Annually
4.3 Provide appropriate mentoring and support for faculty new to research	Research Mentors identified	For all research inactive staff	By February 2021	Program Coordinators	NA
	Mentoring Expectations Document	Disseminated to all staff	By February 2021	Research Committee	NA
4.4 Ensure strict adherence to ethical values and principles in the conduct of all research activities.	Research Ethics Committee Approval	Clearance Form for all Research activities	As required	Director of Research, Research Ethics Committee	NA
4.5 Ensure our institutional and departmental research profile proactively guides all faculty planning and recruitment	Proportion of research active staff annually	85% in all departments	By 2023-24	AOU Director, ADAA	Annual Staffing and Research Budget
	Proportion of PhD staff	75 % in academic programs	Annually	AOU Director, ADAA	Annual Staffing and Research Budget
4.6 Ensure appropriate allocation of the annual research budget based on the strategic goals and objectives	Research Budget allocations	Aligned to research goals and targets	Annually	AOU Director, Director of Research	Annual Research Budget

Undergraduate

Graduate

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 1: RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AND QUALITY

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 2: COLLABORATION AND INTERDISCIPLINARITY

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 3: NATIONAL AND REGIONAL IMPACT

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 4: CAPACITY BUILDING

Undergraduate

Graduate

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 1: RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AND QUALITY​

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 2: COLLABORATION AND INTERDISCIPLINARITY​

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 3: NATIONAL AND REGIONAL IMPACT​

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 4: CAPACITY BUILDING ​

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 1: RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AND QUALITY

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 2: COLLABORATION AND INTERDISCIPLINARITY

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 3: NATIONAL AND REGIONAL IMPACT

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 4: CAPACITY BUILDING