Research Mandate

Part of the AUS mandate is to encourage and support research and scholarship by faculty and students and to serve as a resource for the community. The 2005- 2010 university plan states that the institution will 1) ensure that active research and scholarship informs and improves teaching and learning; 2) contribute to the intellectual traditions as well as the economic progress of the nation and the region; and 3) enhance internal and external support for research and scholarly endeavors.

In order to facilitate the faculty and student research and scholarship, the Office of Research was established. This office maintains a comprehensive website that is used to disseminate information and allow easy access to institutional policies and procedures related to research and scholarly activities. The institution has developed The AUS Guide to Scholarly Activities: Policies and Procedures to address issues related to administrating research funds, institutional review of research involving human subjects, animals and fish. The guide is available on the Office of Research website.

The mission of the Office of Research is:

• To support and promote research, scholarship and creative activity of AUS faculty, staff and students
• To establish and maintain policies for and advance research integrity and ethical conduct of research
• To ensure university compliance with sponsored programs regulations
• To promote technology transfer

The Office of Research coordinates many programs related to research and scholarly activities, including faculty research grants, faculty research seed grants, faculty sabbatical programs, and student research prizes. Grants, sabbaticals, and student research prizes are competitively awarded through processes of selection by faculty committees. Research-related committees are chaired by faculty members and the Coordinator of Research serves as an ex officio (non-voting) member. The Institutional Review Board and the Animal Care Committee also have a medical representative and an at-large member from the AUS community. The Office of Research also facilitates faculty research through activities such as grant writing workshops. During the winter of 2008 prior to the deadline for the 2008-2009 Faculty Research Grants, the office worked with the Faculty Development Center to invite experienced independent consultants to work with faculty members to enhance their grant writing abilities. 

In addition the Office of Research facilitates the scholarly and professional development activities of individual academic units.  The office manages faculty consulting within the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. Policies governing community outreach through consulting activity have been developed and are available on the Office of Research website. Contractual agreements are made with the university and the Office of Research reviews all material to ensure compliance.

Institutional support for faculty research and scholarly activity has continued to increase. During 2006-2007, the amount allocated for AUS Faculty Research Grants was 2400 dirham per faculty member. There have also been continual refinements in the processes associated with allocating and awarding funding. For example, faculty members were previously required to spend allocated funds within a one-year period. This was deemed to be too restrictive and faculty members now have up to two years to process expenditures.