Introduction:

As a University College, SUC has the obligation to undertake research and consultancy activities for the furtherance of knowledge and to contribute to the development of local community, industry and the economy.  This is also emphasized in the vision-mission statement and in the strategic plan. SUC views research as an important activity in enhancing its professional development, academic credibility and teaching learning quality. The key emphasize of research is on Information Technology and Business related areas at the national and international spheres. SUC set eighth objective in the goal: “ENHANCE AND ACTIVATE RESEACH AND STUDIES ACTIVITIES”, in the strategic plan. The objectives are to undertake researches relevant to the industry, generate funds to support research activities, publish manuscripts, establish research units, and develop research abilities among students.

A committee is formed to plan, execute and monitor the research activities in the College. This committee facilitates and encourages faculty and staff members to produce quality research outcomes.  A team of committed faculty has taken candid efforts to strengthen the research activities in the college.

The SUC annual budget earmarked separate budget provision to assist research projects starting the year 2009. Institutional policies, such as research output as a major requirement for faculty promotion, motivated faculty to undertake research project.  Financial assistance to those faculties who prepare and present papers at the national/international level

Several initiatives are taken to enhance research activities such as: objectives and action plans are developed to carry out research activities annually; seminars on various topics of academic relevance have been conducted during the year; faculty members, individually or jointly initiate research proposals; plans to coordinate seminars and workshops in the next academic year on issues of development and academic relevance are prepared; research publications are set as mandatory conditions for academic promotions. More resources are added to the library including subscription in ACM and EBSCO electronic library. SUC established Research and Seminar Committee to monitor research activities.         

SUC research focuses on the following areas: Information Technology, Information Sciences, Economic and Industrial development issues, financial services and Training. The faculty members are committed to engage in research and to come out with research output of high quality which is relevant to the community and to the nation as a whole.

SUC encourages faculty and teaching staff to undertake research in the area of their specialization/related disciplines.

Faculty members of SUC published research articles in various National and International Journals. The publications basically include: articles in journals, books, conference presentations. The quality of SUC research is manifested through the inclusion of the articles in reputed international journals. Publications will have 70% of weight for a faculty to be promoted from a rank to a higher one.

Annual report (2008/2009) research results are classified as follows. A member of the staff managed to publish 4 papers in international journals, 3 papers are submitted for publications, 2 papers were published in conferences, and there are ongoing research papers. A list that shows staff publications is shown as follows. Prof. Ahmad, for example, co-supervised three master theses. Two staffs act as external examiners of PhD dissertations. More research proposals are formulated, for example, three research projects were suggested to be done jointly between Prof. Nazar and Dr. Sajeev on “Inflation, Unemployment, Growth in Oman and the recent world financial crisis”, another was between Prof. Nazar and Mr. Thomas on “Strategic Management in the Oman Toyota Car Company” and the third on “Economic and Industrial Development in Oman” by Prof. Nazar and Mr. Sriram. From IST department a piece of research work is completed on “Information Seeking – A Pathway to Knowledge” and submitted for review by Dr.Salah Al-Khafaji, and Mr.Sriram. Two staffs were supported to attend the 9^th Oman International Annual ELT Conference held at SQU on 22^-23 April 2009. Two of them will attend the 10^th Oman International Annual ELT Conference supported by SUC. Prof. Nazar and B.Sriram are going to participate in the Symposium to be held at Applied Science College, Sur during the month of February 2010. 

SUC encourages staff to apply for internal and external research fund. The fund can be used for different kinds of support such as tools, hardware, software, and publication, and attending scientific and research activities

SUC is committed to protect and respect the relevant laws, procedures and precedence in respect of protection of intellectual property.  SUC carries out its research initiatives and other academic activities in accordance with the relevant international law on intellectual property right.