2002/03 - Kuwait University · Office of the Vice President for Research RA’s Annual Report, 2002/03 C O N T E N T S Executive Summary ... RA evolved another proposal

تــة الكويـــجامعة لألبحاثـر الجامعـــديــتب نائب مـمك

قرير السنويقرير السنويتتالال

رة ا د اثـــــــــاألبح إW e b : h t t p : / / w w w . k u r e s e a r c h . k u n i v . e d u . k w

2002/03

Office of the Vice President for Research RA’s Annual Report, 2002/03

C O N T E N T S

Executive Summary ........................................................................................................1

I New Programs Initiated ..........................................................................................2

1. International Advisory Board (IAB) .......................................................................................................... 2

2. Research Marketing & Development (RMD ............................................................................................. 3

3. Graduate Research Awards (GRA).......................................................................................................... 3

4. Undergraduate Research Awards (URA) ................................................................................................. 4

5. Research Initiation Grant (RIG) – Incentive ............................................................................................. 4

6. Research Support Services Survey (RSSS) ............................................................................................ 4

7. RA’s Think Tank (RATT).......................................................................................................................... 5

8. Online Presentation ................................................................................................................................. 5

9. Help Desk................................................................................................................................................ 6

II Ongoing Commitments .........................................................................................6

10. Faculty Site Visits .................................................................................................................................... 6

11. Sponsored Research............................................................................................................................... 7

a. Funding Decisions .............................................................................................................................. 7

b. Funding Commitments........................................................................................................................ 7

c. Research Productivity .......................................................................................................................... 8

d. Research Activity ............................................................................................................................... 10

e. Research Quality ............................................................................................................................... 10

12. Specialized Studies ............................................................................................................................... 10

13. Priority Research................................................................................................................................... 11

14. Research performance Awards.............................................................................................................. 11

15. Distinguished/Young Best Researchers Awards .................................................................................... 12

16. Scientific Forums................................................................................................................................... 12

17. Publications Program............................................................................................................................. 12

18. Web Presence....................................................................................................................................... 13

19. Research Support Services ................................................................................................................... 13

20. KURA .................................................................................................................................................... 14

21. Manpower.............................................................................................................................................. 14

22. Missions ................................................................................................................................................ 14

Conclusion .............................................................................................................................15

APPENDIX I 23 Years of Ongoing Research at KU........................................................................................................... 16

APPENDIX II 23 Years of Research Publications by Faculty & Year .................................................................................. 17



Research Administration Research Administration Research Administration Research Administration –––– Annual Report 2002/03 Annual Report 2002/03 Annual Report 2002/03 Annual Report 2002/03 August 2003 Prof. Abdel Majeed Safer Vice President for Research Office of the Vice President for Research Research Administration Kuwait University, KUWAIT Email: [email protected] Web Address: http://www.kuresearch.kuniv.edu.kw Production Technical Information Office Research Administration © Kuwait University, 2003 Kuwait University holds exclusive rights to this publication, no part of which may be reproduced without the prior permission and consent of the Vice President of Research, Kuwait University, P.O.B 5969, 13060, Safat, Kuwait.


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Office of the Vice President for Research

Research Administration

Annual Report

22000022//0033

Executive Summary The institutional research sector recorded unprecedented developments during the year 2002/03, with the conceptualization of a whole range of new programs and strategies for the regionalization and globalization of institutional scientific accomplishments, and developing new equations of scientific understandings with local, GCC and regional partners in addressing major concerns and priorities. Consequently, a whole new range of programs were evolved, and groundwork laid for new channels of interaction and communication to develop inter-institutional and cross-country alliances for wider visibility and international presence of Kuwait University’s research programs, policies and achievements. Indeed, this was a vision of global dimension that set the mood and momentum for Research Administration’s transition towards an era of innovations and challenges, while refining and re-strengthening the grant support mechanism towards greater professionalism, ease, flexibility and efficiency. In addition, critical policy reformations, backed by KU Faculty Visits, created a congenial environment for enhancing faculty research participation, and boosted faculty’s research input by way of grant awards and published papers, recording an unprecedented growth in sponsored research during the year. The net impact of these measures resulted in significant increase in funded activity and published output from completed projects. In addition, the awards and rewards programs impacted on faculty’s overall research performance in terms of merit, quality and international compatibility of research findings, enhancing performance and bringing greater recognition, while Distinguished/Young Best Researchers awards during the year, provided additional honors to researchers for their meritorious achievements. The RA also focused on global transmission of major scientific results, discoveries and research accomplishments through vigorous pursuit of its


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Publications Program, generating major institutional publications in visual, print and electronic formats for wider dissemination, information exchange and publicity. This background provides the legitimate basis for glossing over the Research Administration’s major achievements on two major fronts, during the year 2002/03, – New Programs Initiated and Ongoing Commitments continued, with explicit progress recorded on both these fronts. I New Programs Initiated Essentially, the Research Administration new programs during 2002/03, constituted the institutional long-term scientific agenda, encompassing a vision of global dimensions, and setting new developmental directions for the institutional research advancement. This move and mission was transpired by the dire need to open requisite doors for capitalizing on institutional scientific potential and research strengths, building communication, networking alliances, establishing partnerships, expanding institutional research horizons and achieving global presence. The sheer magnitude of these goals required defining of explicit new programs, and belting up for concerted efforts that would enhance institutional research connectivity, improve quality, ensure visibility, and lead to excellence. In addition, focus was also on addressing crucial national, social and regional priorities of strategic significance, to put institutional research growth on fast track, so that Kuwait University could emerge as a global scientific player and partner in addressing critical issues. The objective realities of this sweeping agenda involved the Research Administration in conceptualizing a vision of global dimension with a broad spectrum and outreach perspective leading to the initiation of several new programs during the year that are expected to create significant new milestones in the institutional scientific advancement in the coming years, and profiling a dynamic view of the faculty research, as crystallized in the following major initiatives: 1. International Advisory Board (IAB) – This venture is primarily aimed at

strengthening and internationalizing the institutional research efforts, by constituting an elite body of international experts and scientists, who could energize and strengthen the institutional research process, through their scientific wisdom, expertise and experience. A new proposal, conceptualizing the establishment of an International Advisory Board (IAB), at the Vice President’s Office, was thus generated, and discussed at

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a high-level meeting, resulting in the program’s approval in principle, during the year, and clearing the way for appointing a Consultant, in the interim, as a transitional move towards the program’s eventual implementation, and expansion. Presently, the program has been approved, the mechanism for the constitution of IAB has been defined, and search for appointing a highly experienced Consultant to take up the IAB responsibility, has been initiated.

2. Research Marketing & Development (RMD) – The conceptual basis for

this program evolved out of the dire need for investing the institutional scientific outputs, emanating from successfully completed research projects, for wider scientific, social and national benefits. A proposal, aimed at marketing strategic findings and research results of critical scientific value, was thus prepared during the year, to lay the requisite basis and mechanism for investing of outstanding research accomplishments having commercial propensity. So far, Kuwait University does not have an established mechanism to draw benefit from its scientific accomplishments, despite 23 years of funded research activity, which has so far led to the awarding of over 7,407 projects to faculties, generating 7,244 published papers, several of them culminating in major discoveries and scientific breakthroughs. This vast unutilized scientific wealth, provided the legitimate basis for the enunciation of yet another proposal concerning Research Marketing and Development (RMD), to explore the marketability of significant research results generated from funded research. The proposal also aimed at addressing such vital issues as intellectual property rights, patent registration, research ethics and legalities, all significant in preserving the research merit, rights, authenticity and originality, and was submitted for requisite review and clearances for its eventual adoption and implementation. It is expected that RMD would open new path for institutional research enterprise in the sphere of scientific applications, investments, public benefits and proprietary rights.

3. Graduate Research Awards (GRA) – With the funding of Master’s and

Ph.D. students research initiatives last year, RA evolved another proposal of Graduate Research Awards (GRA), that aimed at rewarding outstanding research accomplishments of Master’s and PhD scholars. It was expected that this program would enable to identify and encourage a new breed of creative thinkers among the postgraduate students community, who could


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be inducted early in the sphere of scientific research, so as to build and nurture the national scientists of tomorrow. The proposal was finalized and submitted for review for requisite approvals, clearances and implementation.

4. Undergraduate Research Awards (URA) – This new initiative focused

on the Undergraduate student community, and aimed at early recognition and rewarding of the scientific accomplishments of students involved in small projects, as part of their academic requirements. A requisite Undergraduate Research Awards (URA) proposal was thus prepared to recognize outstanding creative potentialities of the students, and to reward them for their meritorious research efforts. The proposal was finalized, and was under review for requisite clearances that would pave the path for its implementation, hopefully during 2003/04.

5. Research Initiation Grant (RIG) – Incentive – In a major initiative, the

sphere of funded research was further expanded with the inclusion of a new grant category, the Research Initiation Grant (RIG), to induct new faculty members into the institutional research mainstream. Essentially meant as an incentive for newcomers joining various faculties and departments at the Assistant Professor level, RIG aimed at familiarizing them with RA’s policy, programs and research support system, and to participate in institutional funded research activity. A standard RIG Grant Application, together with guidelines and conditions for grant support, were prepared, so that new faculty researchers could submit research proposals of fixed duration and funding level, that would result in a final report at the culmination of the grant support. This program is presently under review, and is slated for implementation during the fiscal year 2003/04.

6. Research Support Services Survey (RSSS) – The Research

Administration also initiated an empirical survey to determine the extent and quality of existing research support services and facilities provided to researchers for project implementation work, through a faculty-wide Research Support Services Survey (RSSS), during the year. A standard questionnaire was devised for the purpose, to solicit researchers responses to a whole range of queries. The questionnaire was mailed to all faculties, during the year, and faculty responses were aggregated for requisite analytical assessments. It is expected that the results of this survey would

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provide the basis for appropriate decisions and steps taken by the RA to modify, upgrade and improve existing services, and initiate new measures, as required, to facilitate researchers and the institutional research support process, so that high quality services could be extended to faculties for pursuing scientific and creative ventures of critical significance.

7. RA’s Think Tank (RATT) – RA also constituted a specialized committee

as RA’s Think Tank (RATT) to induce an element of critical thinking in RA’s management strategies, for advancing institutional research efforts by envisioning new grants through brain-storming sessions. The purpose was to visualize ideas, discuss, debate and conceptualize new programs and respond to emerging hot and happening issues of local, regional and global interest, through symposia, presentations or Round Tables. Such scientific sessions were intended to bring together specialists and experts from around the world to create an environment, where scientific debate and discussions could stimulate new research ideas and proposals on critical issues that continue to pose challenge and remain a scientific enigma. Presently, RA’s Think Tank has been constituted, and process initiated for organizing key Round Table Sessions for scientific presentations, participation, public awareness, and interaction in a manner that a basis could be established for energizing research through the initiation of new proposals on issues of global significance.

8. Online Presentation – Perhaps the most striking new venture, undertaken

by RA during the year, concerned the management’s move to bring RA’s policies, programs and accomplishments to the forefront of public attention through an integrated Online Presentation. This move was transpired by the need to disseminate vital research information, and sensitize intellectuals, academicians, researchers, decision-makers, and viewers on institutional scientific policies, activities and facilities. Prepared in bilingual English and Arabic format, the presentation was generated on mini CDs, to promote awareness on institutional scientific programs and developments. In addition, a global image of scientific research, encompassing major disciplinary streams, and reflecting a futuristic vision of research, was also generated as an image that was captured on mementos, mouse pads and mini CDs. These were packaged together and widely distributed as RA’s major media and promotional ventures to disseminate strong institutional research vision, message and mission for the challenging times ahead. A set of specially designed


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stamps was also prepared and adopted as official insignia for research communication. The mini CDs were widely distributed, and unveil a sensitive portrayal of RA’s activities, accomplishments, and the mission ahead.

9. Help Desk – A new Help Desk facility was also instituted during the year,

to render prompt services to researchers, visitors and multi-users, as regards research matters, attending queries, research enquiries and information needs. This service was meant to facilitate research operations and address users needs, streamlining research follow-up activity, and enhancing research functionality. The objectives, requirements and mechanism of the Help Desk Service were defined, an information brochure prepared and the service is ready for launch and implementation during the academic year 2003/04.

II Ongoing Commitments While these new initiatives opened dynamic fronts in institutional research activity, visibly expanding the realm of RA’s existing responsibilities in a decisive realignment of priorities, in a way that new programs could be pursued alongside the wide-ranging and sweeping responsibility of RA’s long lasting and ongoing commitments. These together created an integrated system of RA’s new and old programs, as a dynamic continuum, and provided a legitimate context for measuring the outstanding accomplishment of the year 2002/03, in terms of exceptional growth, with newly conceptualized programs generating additional areas of responsibility, beyond the RA’s pre-established agenda, yet ensuring a parallel growth in the sphere of ongoing programs, recording new levels of growth in institutional research activity and performance in the context of Sponsored and Published activity, as follows: 10. Faculty Site Visits – This was a mission of exploration, learning and

fact-finding, which RA undertook and accomplished during the year. The purpose was to enhance RA’s contact and communication with the faculties, listen to researchers views, address research bottlenecks and encourage faculties greater participation in research. The views and suggestions, expressed by the faculties during such visits were consolidated in a report, that documented the major issues raised by faculties, and counter-measures taken by the Research Administration. The report was distributed to the faculties, and included several new

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ideas that are currently under review, for requisite incorporation in RA’s procedures and programs, as well as for developing new strategies for research expansion, improvement and development.

11. Sponsored Research – Faculties participation and performance in

sponsored research activity remained the critical measure of research growth, in terms of number of grants awarded, projects completed and publications generated from funded activity during the year 2002/03. Immense vitality was recorded in this sphere during the year, with the faculties cumulative participation leading to as many as 648 projects under various stages of progress, completion and processing Of the total faculty awards, the biggest grant recipients were the humanities colleges with cumulative 32.8% of the total grants awarded during the year, followed by Medicine (24.7%), Science (22.7%) and Engineering (19.8%) (Table 1). Some of the most significant elements of growth recorded in sponsored activity during the year are summarized below:

a. Funding Decisions: Standard processing, review and refereeing

procedures were applied to all projects received, and funding decisions were taken in an intense annual-round of Implementation and Funding Committee meetings. In all, 42 meetings were held during the year, of which six were Funding and 36 implementation meetings, leading to the clearance of a total of 111 new projects, for the award of research grants.

b. Funding Commitments – A total of 519 new and ongoing projects

required funding commitments during the year. Of these, a voluminous 94.8% of the grants were sponsored by Kuwait University, and an additional 5.2% were awarded by external institutions, which included 3.9% of the grants funded by Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), 1.2% by Environmental Public Authority (EPA), and 0.1% by WAKF. The participation of these external institutions in Kuwait University’s Sponsored Program was a commendable effort, and provided reassuring signals of the participation of external institutions in RA’s scientific research, thus widening the spectrum of external alliances and partnerships that RA shared with external institutions in expediting collaborative efforts.


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Table 1

Total Ongoing, Completed & Underprocess Projects by Faculty

2002/2003

Ongoing projects Faculties

Approved/ Ongoing Completed Total

Under process Total

Research Activity

Allied Health 7 - 7 1 8

Arts 16 4 20 5 25

Business Admin. 37 5 42 7 49

Dentistry 11 5 16 3 19

Education 17 3 20 3 23

Engineering 73 30 103 21 124

Law 5 - 5 - 5

Medicine 65 27 92 29 121

Pharmacy 11 2 13 6 19

Science 92 26 118 35 153

Sharia 25 10 35 12 47

Social Sciences 43 5 48 7 55

TOTAL 402 117 519 129 648

* Source: KURA

c. Research Productivity – was visible in the completion of 117 projects

during the year, which amounted to 23% of the awarded projects. Research output in the form of published papers also established a new

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Allie

d He

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Arts

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Adm

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Dent

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Educ

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Engi

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Law

Med

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Phar

mac

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Scie

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Shar

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cien

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record, with the generation of a total of 561 research publications during the year. Of these, 51.3% of the published papers were in Health Sciences fields, followed by 21.7% in Sciences, 14.7% in Arts & Humanities, and 12.3% in Engineering (Table 2). Of the total published papers, a large number of publications appeared in world-renowned and refereed journals of international repute as evidence of their quality and accreditation, on grounds of the scientific merit of research and the value of results achieved.

Table 2

Research Publications by Faculty & Year*

1994/95 – 2002/2003

* Source Research Abstracts

Faculties Year

Medicine Science Engineering Arts/Humanities Total

1994/95 66 83 49 91 289

1995/96 131 102 57 72 362

1996/97 143 113 62 81 399

1997/98 124 135 87 85 431

1998/99 131 148 95 97 471

1999/2000 105 170 114 119 508

2000/01 144 163 104 107 518

2001/02 151 167 112 118 548

2002/03* 288 122 69 82 561

TOTAL 1283 1203 749 852 4087

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180

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Medicine Science Engineering Arts/Humanities

1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/2000 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03*


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d. Research Activity – Total faculty research activity in progress during the year, amounted to 648 projects, of which 519 were ongoing and 129 under-process projects. These collectively provided revealing insights into realms of faculty research, with RA sustaining a whole range of projects in various stages of progress, reflecting a clear upward momentum in institutional research, in the year ahead, as predicted on the basis of anticipated approvals and clearance of new and under-process projects, enhancing institutional research activity, as a long-term commitment. In this regard, Tables 3 and 4 provide a consolidated view of 23 years of institutional research development by way of grant awards and published research, unfolding dramatic trends in faculty research growth.

e. Research Quality – Procedural concerns necessitated the

incorporations of new elements of assessment, reporting and procedural regulations governing the award of grants during the year. A flexible researcher-friendly approach was adopted by RA to facilitate research implementation, and online facilities and electronic refereeing procedures were expedited to grant quick approvals in the research clearance mechanism. These measures were aimed at encouraging high quality, merit based ventures of significance that could yield outputs of immense scientific value for the State, Society and the Region, and for which the faculties were continuously being encouraged to pursue original concerns of strategic scientific, social and regional significance.

12. Specialized Studies – The need for specialized studies was transpired by

injecting an element of relevancy in faculty research, and involved refocusing of attention in addressing major community, social and national concerns through specialized research studies and projects, that could lead to scientifically determined solutions for appropriate corrective measures and recommendations. Select specialized studies were thus initiated by RA for this purpose, on such critical concerns as divorce, a study which was completed, and the issue of drug problems, a critical venture which was initiated. RA also initiated the first National Study on the Fish Kill phenomenon, the first phase of which was successfully completed during the year, leading to the initiation of the second, more advanced phase, which was proposed with a more comprehensive focus.

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13. Priority Research — A faculty-wide survey, conducted by RA led to the identification of major areas of priority research, enlisted in a comprehensive report, and discussed at the Funding Committee. This led to the selection of five prime areas of significance for faculty research, which included the areas of Infectious Diseases, Environmental Pollution, Housing, Agricultural Production & Educational Research. Consequently, faculties were invited to submit proposals in the areas of recognized priorities. With these initial beginnings, the sphere of priorities research was further expanded during the year 2002/03, with the inclusion of several new areas added on to priorities listing, and concerned the spheres of Cardiovascular Diseases, Coastal Zone Pollution, e-learning and its Role in Teaching, Drug Addiction Problem and its Therapy, etc. Consequently, additional doors opened during the year for faculties to pursue research in the areas of designated priorities, for addressing issues of strategic national, scientific and regional significance. RA anticipates that such priority ventures, would induce greater relevancy in faculty research in scientifically determining the causes and complexities of those issues that pose a major social, economic and national challenge, and in the process lay the critical basis for advancing need-based research at KU.

In addition, the expanding realm of priority research has already involved RA in responding to similar initiatives taken by the GCCs in the sphere of research priorities, who circulated a comprehensive listing of GCC priorities, which were sent to all faculties by the RA. Consequently, faculty-wise priority issues of GCC and regional concern were singled out as a step towards the initiation of collaborative endeavors, with the GCC. A Joint Research Support Application Form was also generated by the RA for this purpose, to facilitate research coordination and collaboration at the GCC level, and the process is ongoing.

14. Research Performance Awards – The annual cycle of Research

Performance Awards for outstanding faculty research accomplishments, continued during the year with the identification and review of new nominees, and successful announcing of year 2002/03 winners. The process was also initiated for the new round of annual awards, inviting faculties to submit new nominees for the next year’s awards, with excellence in research performance being the decisive winning criteria.


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So far, three recipients have won the RA’s Performance Awards, two in Sciences and one in Humanities.

15. Distinguished and Young Best Researchers Awards – Annual awardees

in the Distinguished and Young Best Researchers Awards series were also announced during the year, on the basis of their recognition for meritorious research in the humanities and sciences streams. In all, there were seven winners during the year 2002/03, four in the Distinguished Researcher, and three in the Young Best Researcher categories. Both the awards programs are integral to institutional endeavors in promoting the culture of distinction, discovery and excellence in scientific research at Kuwait University.

16. Scientific Forums – Advance preparations for the holding of the next

round of scientific seminars series continued during the year, with the tentative scheduling of the Scientific Session around Oct./Nov., 2003. Conceptualized as a combined multi-faculty Forum, this seminar series would bring together participants from diverse faculties and disciplinary streams on a common scientific platform, to present their research results, and stimulate cross-disciplinary interaction and exchange. Already, the Forums mission has resulted in over 95 presentations, along with crucial keynote address, to promote research on themes of profound scientific significance, and share vital information and latest scientific and technological updates. The Forums mission primarily aims at providing opportunity to faculty researchers to present their findings in open scientific seminars to promote awareness, encourage discussions and enhance scientific interaction and cross-disciplinary interests.

17. Publications Program – An immensely dynamic sphere, RA continued to

generate the much needed research and information publications as a long-term strategy, for spreading awareness on RA’s policy, programs, procedures and accomplishments. Consequently, a whole series of research and information publications were prepared and released during the year, both in print, electronic as well as web formats, and were released for wider access through the RA’s homepage on the internet website. The value and virtue of this mission is imperative in facilitating wide dispersal of RA’s research-related news through an impressive array of publications, such as Sponsored Research, Abstracts, Research Manual, Grant Application, Statistical Profile, Information Guide, Guide to Subject

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Areas, Strategic Plan, Forums, Performance and Researchers Awards, Online Presentation, alongside a whole package of RA’s reports, booklets, guides, bulletins, brochures, etc., for disseminating vital information, and promoting and publicizing Kuwait University’s scientific accomplishments, presenting latest information on Kuwait University scientific policy, programs and developmental trends.

18. Web Presence – RA transformed its web presence by creating a new

smart front page to its homepage, thus providing a vital window to institutional scientific programs for global access. RA’s website is thus a perpetual source of attraction to web browsers, with this year’s record of 7,145 visitors to RA’s homepage, signifying increased global interest in Kuwait University’s research sector. International interest in RA’s programs and activities was amply visible with majority of the browsers surfing the website from America, Europe, Middle East, Asia, Australia, Africa, Pacific Islands and the Caribbean, etc. The most actively browsed web pages were Electronic Publications, Research Support Application, Refereeing and general information on RA’s programs and policies. In addition, RA continued to maintain interactive channels with faculties through email and web connectivity for rapid transmission of research-related information through its customized emailing venture, a service that continued to work smoothly throughout the year.

19. Research Support Services – Since research performance and

participation to a large extent depends on the quality of services and facilities available to the diverse faculty research community, RA ventured into major improvements in existing facilities, incorporating a flexible approach in grant processing by simplifying procedures and regulations to expedite project implementation work. Hence, available facilities were made more user-friendly and easily accessible. In addition, research refereeing procedures were also unified, with the advantage of e-refereeing incorporated in project-processing to expedite grant review and clearance process. At this juncture, RA is eagerly awaiting the outcome of its faculty-wide Research Support Services Survey, that would unveil critical areas that require major improvements in the grants system to facilitate funding support, for pursuing research interests through a conducive environment that encourages research participation through high quality services, and top institutional facilities and resources.


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20. KURA – This database system is the virtual backbone of RA’s activity,

and a fundamental reservoir of research information resource base, on all aspects of research activity. The database maintained accurate and latest information on all projects awarded, ongoing, completed and under-process, by faculties and funding source throughout the year. The facility was available online for rapid access to project-related information, such as budgeting, mission, manpower, expenditure, research reporting, publications and approvals, with daily updates. Presently, this resource is undergoing further improvements and is constantly being updated for providing latest information on projects, and to expedite rapid and accurate flow of information across RA offices, facilitating monitoring of research activity, and decision-making.

21. Manpower – The provision of manpower recruitment on projects led to

the hiring of 125 project-related staff during the year, to facilitate project implementation work. In all, there were 64 Scientific Assistants, 32 Technicians, 28 Secondments and 1 student, employed on projects that were granted to faculties of Dentistry, Medicine, Pharmacy, Engineering and Science, providing evidence of the generous facilities available to faculty researchers to pursue critical research interests in basic and applied sciences. To further enhance this facility, RA reviewed its manpower procedures during the year, making them simpler and researcher-friendly.

22. Missions – In addition, the advantage of Missions facility on projects led

to the accomplishment of 42 scientific missions by researchers during the year. Of these, 14 missions were undertaken by Science Faculty researchers, closely followed by Engineering (12), Medicine (6), Dentistry (3), and 2 each by the Faculties of Arts, Business Administration and Social Sciences. For all practical purposes, the missions are largely meant for conference presentations, and led to researchers visiting such countries as USA, Australia, UK, Romania, Malaysia, China, South Africa, Spain, France, Singapore, Mexico, Egypt, Canada, Italy and Sweden. Such scientific exposures are encouraged as part of the supportive institutional policy, to facilitate researchers in broadening their scientific horizons through new knowledge, interaction and exposure, which is crucial for developing new ideas and conceptualizing new research possibilities that may lead to innovation and discovery.

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Conclusion Ultimately, the wisdom and knowledge gained through such scientific encounters is expected to permeate to institutional academic and research foundations, enriching and energizing Kuwait University’s higher education realms, imparting the institution a vision of global dimensions, on the strength of its research programs and quality of outputs. It is towards these ultimate expectations, that the critical unfolding of new programs, the attention to ongoing commitments, the sensitivity to improved services, the emphasis on source publications and visibility, the focus on national, social and priority concerns, and the move towards regional alliances, assume significance, being the vital precursors and institutional imperatives towards achieving international recognition, and realizing a continuous and unending mission of research excellence and advancement. At this juncture, RA is already moving ahead with the unveiling of its whole range of newly conceptualized programs that would add a significant new dimension to RA’s strategies for the future, especially in the context of national, regional and global concerns in the years ahead, while simulating the norm of shared expertise in addressing emerging challenges and scientific complexities through collaborative inputs. As we move ahead, faculties interests and expertise would continue to remain the focus of RA’s major interest to build on institutional strengths, and capitalize on strategic and outstanding accomplishments that could bring international recognition and laurels to KU scientific endeavors, in the foreseeable future. Ultimately, it is this challenging mission that would spearhead RA’s interests and activities, while setting the momentum for exploring and implementing envisioned goals and strategies for institutional scientific advancement through the years ahead….!


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APPENDIX I

Table 3 23 Years of Ongoing Research at KU

1980/81 – 2002/03

* Combined pre-and-post-invasion statistics for 1990 and 1991. ** Relates to nine months activity – October 1991 through June 1992 Source: KURA

Year Science Engineering Medicine Arts/Humanities Total 1980/81 42 7 34 4 87 1981/82 76 20 62 4 162 1982/83 65 12 60 2 139 1983/84 50 29 62 2 143 1984/85 50 43 113 5 211 1985/86 75 67 135 3 280 1986/87 75 78 172 41 366 1987/88 94 101 150 66 411 1988/89 104 99 138 96 437 1989/90 106 96 118 105 425 1990/91* 91 97 105 81 374 1991/92** 30 39 23 56 148 1992/93 54 51 56 85 246 1993/94 76 62 54 78 270 1994/95 94 66 46 101 307 1995/96 126 82 58 112 378 1996/97 140 97 95 126 458 1997/98 118 105 85 189 497 1998/99 95 97 77 196 465

1999/2000 100 76 97 168 441 2000/01 127 90 151 170 538 2001/02 140 116 148 220 624 2002/03 118 103 128 170 519 TOTAL 2046 1633 2167 2080 7926

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Science Engineering Medicine Arts/Humanities

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APPENDIX II

Table 4 23 Years of Research Publications by Faculty & Year

1980/81 – 2002/03

Faculties Year Medicine Science Engineering Arts/Humanities Total

1980/81 18 40 6 29 93 1981/82 32 49 19 25 125 1982/83 51 90 23 69 233 1983/84 71 81 26 42 220 1984/85 104 114 38 53 309 1985/86 143 96 58 97 394 1986/87 148 168 87 150 553 1987/88 148 131 84 242 605 1988/89 152 65 39 99 355 1989/91 127 90 67 47 331 1991/92 43 22 1 12 78 1992/93 74 76 20 21 191 1993/94 63 42 49 77 231 1994/95 66 83 49 91 289 1995/96 131 102 57 72 362 1996/97 143 113 62 81 399 1997/98 124 135 87 85 431 1998/99 131 148 95 97 471

1999/2000 105 170 114 119 508 2000/01 144 163 104 107 518 2001/02 151 167 112 118 548 2002/03 288 122 69 82 561

Total 2457 2267 1266 1815

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Documents

2002/03 - Kuwait University · Office of the Vice President for Research RA’s Annual Report, 2002/03 C O N T E N T S Executive Summary ... RA evolved another proposal