Page 61 - Faculty Handbook 2021-22

4) The National Research Award
5) Research and Innovations Award in Water Science
6) The Upgrade Program

7) Adapting Towards Sustainable Development Program
8) EJAAD
9) Industrial Innovation Assistance Program

10) Conference and Workshop Support Program

14.4.1. Block Funding Program

As per its mission to promote quality research in Oman, MoHERI recently initiated “Block Funding
Program”, wherein at the beginning of an academic year, a fund will be allocated for each Higher
Education Institution (HEI) in the Sultanate depending on their research performance during the
previous year. BFP Includes Research Grant (RG), Graduate Research Grant (GRG) and
Undergraduate Grant (UG).

The RG is for academic staff with a PhD degree, having a maximum cap of 20,000 R.O. For GRG
Post graduate students, academic and non-academic staff with post graduate degree or
Bachelor’s degree with three years of experience, can apply for a maximum of 3,000 R.O. UG is
for undergraduate students who have completed at least 3 semesters of their bachelor’s degree
with a maximum cap of 1500 OMR.

The applications for RG, GRG or UG can be submitted in one of the following research areas:

 Energy and Industry
 Information and Communications Technologies
 Environmental and Biological Resources

 Health and Social Services
 Education and Human Resources
 Culture, Basic and Social Sciences

The call for the applications begins at the start of each academic year. After going through a strict
evaluation process as set by MoHERI, the applications are submitted from each institution for
MoHERI’s review by the 30th of June each year. The interested faculty members should follow
the call deadlines as announced by the Department of Research each year.

14.4.2. Strategic Research Grant Program
The Strategic Research Grant Program allocates medium to large research grants for medium and

long-term projects of primary national importance. This supports proposals that respond to
strategic needs, ensuring research relevance and excellence, and which may be led by a local
organization chosen by MoHERI for its experience in the research topic - with the aim of building
national research capacities in strategic areas. The aim of the strategic research programs is to
enhance national economy and welfare through increased scientific research and training,
thereby developing local research capacity, consolidating leadership in key areas and discovering
solutions to national challenges.

Dhofar University Faculty Handbook (2021-22) Page 57