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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

His Majesty Trust Fund projects announced as SQU Day marked

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MUSCAT: Sultan Qaboos University celebrated 18th SQU Day on Wednesday with several activities to commemorate the visit of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos to the University on May 2, 2000. The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of Nasr bin Hamoud al Kindi, Secretary-General of the Royal Court Affairs. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ali bin Saud al Bimani, the Vice Chancellor of SQU outlined the achievements of the staff and students at the university in various fields during the year 2017-2018. Maisa al Suwaieh, a PhD student at the College of Engineering won the first place in the SPE Student Paper Contest at the Middle East and North Africa level. In the Huawei International Competition, Amira AbdulMuati, a Master’s student from the College of Engineering won the first place in the test of students’ ability to apply the latest protocols in the fields of computer networks.


A number of faculty members received the National Research Award for the best research work presented by the Research Council. Dr Saeed al Muharrami, Department of Economics and Finance, College of Economics and Political Science won the award in Culture, Basic and Social Sciences category. Dr Mohammed Bait-Suwailam, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering won national research award in the Telecommunications and Information System Sector. DrAhmed Hassan Hamdan, Department of Psychology, College of Education won the award in the Education and Human Resources Sector. Dr Mahad Baawain, Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering, got the national research award under the Environment and Biological Resources category.


Sayyidah Dr Mona bint Fahad al Said, Assistant Vice Chancellor for International Cooperation, received the Gold Medal from Charles University, Czech Republic. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Rahma Ibrahim al Mahrooqi, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Postgraduate Studies & Research at SQU, gave an overview of the advancements in research and postgraduate education at the University during the year 2017-2018. His Majesty’s Trust Funds worth RO 450,000 are allocated to the University annually. In 2017, seven projects were supported by His Majesty’s Trust Fund worth RO 434,000. The Deputy Vice Chancellor said that since 2001, a total of 89 projects have been funded by HM Trust Fund worth RO 8,250,000. In addition, annual internal grants worth RO 500,000 also support research at the university. In 2017 only, 89 Internal Grants projects for RO 507,903 were approved. In 2018, a total of 116 internal grants projects worth RO 475,498 were approved. The Deanship of Research Fund supported 10 projects worth around RO 30,000.


The College of Agricultural & Marine Sciences at SQU received external grant from the Research Council for RO 221,600 for a project. The College of Medicine & Health Sciences received RO 167,168 worth external grants for nine projects from various organisations. Collaborative research fund comes from SQU’s partnership with UAEU, GCC Research Programme and South African Universities.


Dr Rahma announced His Majesty Trust Fund projects for the year 2018. Out of the 31 proposals received from various colleges and centres at the University, six projects have been selected for funding. The new projects are:


1. Oman cascade screening in familial hypercholesterolemia index Registry (Oryx) by Dr Khalid Al Rasadi from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences


2. Assessment of Al Batinah artificial reef projects and their enhancement of local fisheries productivity by Dr Alyssa Marshell from the College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences


3. Redesigning Teacher Education Programmes in Oman Using National Performance Indicators, International Standards, and Exemplary Models by Dr Suleiman Al Bulushi from the College of Education


4. High Efficiency Dye-Sensitised Solar Cells Based on New Semiconductor-Modified Nanocomposites: Preparation, Photophysical Characterisation, and Photovoltaic-Cell Design by Dr Osama Abou Zied from the College of Science


5. Design of a National Achievement Indicator in Reading and Mathematics in Key Stage 1 Schools in Oman: Towards Improving Student Learning Outcomes by Dr Mahmoud Emam from the College of Education


6. Developing Commercially Viable Graphene Based Technology for selected energy and environmental applications in Oman by Dr Tariq M Ghulam from the College of Science.


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