Publications Award System in Sultan Qaboos University
Rewarding Researchers for Publication in International Journals
Rationale
In line with Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) Strategic Plan for Research 2009-2013,
strategy 6 (p.3) in particular to raise research profile, SQU in partnership with The Research
Council (TRC) would like to encourage and promote the publication output of faculty, staff
and students in international journals by offering financial awards. These awards will
complement the recently introduced Best Researcher awards and Best Paper awards in SQU
journals to a broader community of SQU researchers. This initiative aims to encourage
higher standards of research publications and thus promote SQU as a reputed international
research institution.
The proposed system of financial incentives to SQU researchers for publishing in highly
reputed international journals will positively influence research productivity, visibility,
impact and quality. SQU also envisages the following potential benefits:

recognition, distinction and encouragement of active researchers and research
groups

attraction/retention of world-class researchers

boosting the morale of researchers and cultivating the research culture

enhancing international research collaboration between resident researchers
and leading academic institutions in the world

elucidation and formulation of transparent research-related metrics
Page 1 of 11
International examples
Systems of financial incentives to researchers for publishing in high quality journals exist in
several countries. Some examples are:

Australia (http://www.arc.gov.au/era/era_journal_list.htm)

European Union (http://www.esf.org/research-areas/humanities/erih-europeanreference-index-for-the-humanities.html)

China (http://www.leeds.ac.uk/medicine/meu/lifelong08/John_Flowerdew.pdf)

Russia (http://www.ras.ru/news/shownews.aspx?id=328a9bb8-b7ba-427593f6-f63698c471d9&_Language=ru#content )

South Africa (http://evaluation.nrf.ac.za/Content/evaluation/peri.htm)
Evaluation of the research publications of staff and students in different University units is
based on peer-reviews, panel-committee assessments and bibliometric indices. In some
countries, direct bonuses are offered to research groups and individual researchers for
publications in reputed international journals. International experience has shown that this
initiative has resulted in significant growth in research productivity. This process has also
resulted in the rise of institutions in international academic ranking.
Basic concept
The suggested system of remuneration incentives is objective, evidence-based, transparent
and easily measurable. The award allocation is based on simple quantitative metrics, readily
available on-line. The financial award is paid for publication in international or SQU journals.
The international journals and their ranking are as listed by recognised international
databases such as SCOPUS (Elsevier) and Web of Science (Thomson-Reuters). For
Humanities Colleges in SQU, the ranking of recognized Arabic journals is based on expert
assessments by both SQU faculty and international scholars in specific fields. These lists
have been approved by the respective Boards of these colleges and are already available at
the Office of Assistant Deans of Postgraduate Studies in all colleges (Annexure 1 & 2).
An award is given for:

each paper published in SCOPUS/Web of Science indexed journal

each paper published in the selected group of recognised Arabic journals

each paper published in an SQU journal
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Eligibility criteria and remuneration
The categories and the criteria for sharing the remuneration are as follows:
1. Each SQU staff or student, who published in journals listed in the Journal Citation
Report (JCR) of Web of Science database, is awarded Publications Award (PA1),
R.O 500 for each paper, if he/she is the corresponding author.
Example:
Hashim, M., Davidson, S. and Al-Kindi, K., 2012. Title of the Paper. JCR listed
journal, 5: 123-141
Hashim (corresponding author) gets R.O. 500; he keeps 50% and the remaining 50%
is divided equally among the SQU co-authors (not from outside SQU)
2. Each SQU staff or student, who is not the corresponding author of the paper, but is
the first SQU-affiliated co-author in the sequence of the co-authors of that paper.
published in journals listed in the Journal Citation Report of Web of Science database
is given Publication Award 2 (PA2), R.O 300 for each paper.
Example:
Johnson, W., Grain,T., Hashim, M. and Al-Kindi, K., 2012. Title of the paper. JCR
listed Journal, 7: 14-32.
Hashim (not corresponding author) gets the R.O. 300; he keeps 50% and the
remaining 50% is divided equally among the SQU co-authors (not from outside SQU).
3. Each SQU staff or student, who published in journals listed in the SCOPUS database
or SQU Journals is awarded Publication Award 3 (PA3), R.O. 300 for each paper, if
he/she is the corresponding author. The distribution of remuneration is as in PA1.
4. Each SQU staff or student, who is not the corresponding author of the paper, but is
the first SQU-affiliated co-author in the sequence of the co-authors of that paper
published in journals listed in the SCOPUS database or SQU Journals is given
Publication Award 4 (PA4), R.O. 200 for each paper. The distribution of
remuneration is as in PA2.
5. Since a similar system (i.e. SCOPUS, Web of Science) does not exist for the journals
published in Arabic, a review system involving external referees and the faculty of
SQU in Humanities Colleges was established (Annexure 1). Arabic journal papers in
the top 30% of the ranked lists will be awarded R.O 500 as Publication Award 1
(PA1) or R.O. 300 as Publication Award 2 (PA2). The distribution of remuneration is
as in PA1 and PA2.
6. For publication in journals in the remaining 70% of these lists will be given R.O. 300
as Publication Award 3 (PA3) or R.O. 200 as Publication Award 4 (PA4). The
distribution of remuneration is as in PA1 and PA2.
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Note: The journal publication award is given to SQU employees and students who left the
university to other institutions provided they have published their papers with SQU affiliation
during their employment or studying at SQU.
Procedures (revised on 02 October 2013)
Applications for all categories of awards should be submitted by eligible using the online
Journal Publication Award electronic system. The applicant should attach a soft copy of the
first page of the published paper with his/her name as the corresponding author or the first
SQU co-author, clearly showing SQU affiliation. The HoD/Director of the Centre will
approve the application. The ADPSR/Director of the Research Centre will verify the
applications for the adherence of eligibility criteria. Screened and cleared applications will be
forwarded to the Deanship of Research for further processing. Assessments will be based on
the Web of Science, SCOPUS list and the approved Arabic journal lists.
There are two application rounds each year for the papers published in the previous year (for
example in the year 2014 authors can apply for awards for the papers published in 2013):

In the first round, applications should be submitted to ADPSR/Director during the
period 15th - 28th February. After scrutinizing the applications, ADPSR/Director
forwards approved applications to the Deanship of Research during the period 15th –
31st March.

In the second round, applications should be submitted to ADPSR/Director during the
period 15th - 30th September. After scrutinizing the applications, ADPSR/Director
forwards approved applications to the Deanship of Research during the period 15th –
31st October.
The number of awards for all categories (PA1 – PA4) is unlimited. SQU authors can apply
for as many awards as possible based on eligible papers published in a given calendar year.
Only the corresponding author or the first SQU-affiliated co-author (if the corresponding
author is not from SQU) will be awarded the remuneration. Each qualifying paper will
receive one award only and the author receiving the award is solely responsible for the
distribution of funds among co-authors.
All appeals and disputes relating to award applications from the researchers of all SQU units
should be sent to the office of the Dean of Research through the College ADPSR or Director
of Research Centre for appropriate action.
The list of all award recipients and the corresponding titles of their papers with abstracts will
be posted on the SQU web pages of the Deanship of Research. The annual honor lists of
award recipients will be displayed in Colleges as posters and will also be displayed during
the annual University day celebrations.
The procedures given here will be reviewed and revised periodically by a special committee
chaired by the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Postgraduate Studies and Research (DVCPSR).
Page 4 of 11
Appendix
List of Humanities Journals used for the Journal Publication Awards at SQU
1. College of Arts and Social Sciences
Arabic Department
Journal
College of Arts and
Humanities Journal
Arts and Semiotics
Journal
Journal of the College of
Arabic and Islamic
Studies
Linguistics
1
2
3
4
5
6
Semiotics Research
Annals of University of
Tunis
Les Cahiers De Tunisie
7
8
9
10
Journal of the College of
Arts
Humanities and Social
Studies
World of Thought
Publisher
Muhammad the Fifth University
Country
Morocco
Alsathmain Association
Morocco
Islamic Studies College
Dubai
Center for Technical and Scientific
Studies for the Advancement of
Arabic
Telmisan University
College of Arts and Humanities
Algiers
Center for Social and Economic
Research
Cairo University
Tunisia
Deanship of Research – Jordan
University
The National council for Culture
and Arts
Jordan
Algiers
Tunisia
Egypt
Kuwait
English Department
1
Journal
College of Arts and
Social Sciences Journal
Publisher
SQU
Country
Oman
History Department
1
2
3
Journal
Annals of the College of
Arts
Journal of the Saudi
Historical Society
Journal of the Faculty of
Publisher
Academic Publications Council
King Saud University
Country
Kuwait
University
KSA
Cairo University
Egypt
Page 5 of 11
4
5
6
Arts
College of Arts Journal
Annals of the Faculty of
Arts
Research Journal
King Saud University
Ain Shams University
KSA
Egypt
Jordan University
Jordan
Geography Department
1
2
3
4
5
Journal
Arab Geographic Society
Journal of the Faculty of
Arts
Journal of the Faculty of
Arts
---
7
8
The Gulf and Arabian
Peninsula Studies
Journal of Planning and
Development
Research Journal
Annals of Arts
9
Gulf Geographic Journal
6
Publisher
Egyptian Geographic Society
Cairo University
Country
Egypt
Egypt
Ain Sahms University
Egypt
Kuwait Geographic Association and
Department of Geography
Academic Publications Council
Kuwait
National Planning Institute
Egypt
Jordan University
Academic Publications Council
Jordan
Kuwait
University
Geographic Society in GCC
countries
Page 6 of 11
Kuwait
Department of Sociology and Social Work
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Journal
Journal of Social Studies
Journal of the Faculty of
Arts
Arab Journal for the
Humanities
Journal of Social Service
and Humanities
Annals of the College of
Arts
Cairo Journal for Social
Service
Journal of Social Affairs
Egyptian Journal of
Planning and
Development
The Arabic Future
Magazine
Jordanian Journal for
Humanities
Publisher
Academic Publications CouncilKuwait University
Cairo University
Country
Kuwait
Academic Publications CouncilKuwait University
Hilwan University
Kuwait
Academic Publications Council
High Institute for Social Service
Kuwait
University
Egypt
Sharjah University
Cairo
UAE
Egypt
Center for Arabic Unity Studies
Lebanon
Jordan University
Jordan
Egypt
Egypt
Department of Information Studies
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Journal
King Fahd National
Library Journal
Revue maghrébine de
documentation et
d'information
Arab Journal for
Archiving,
Documentation and
Information
Arab Journal for
Libraries and
Information
Arabia 3000
Studies in Information
Modern Trends in
Libraries and
Information
A’lam
Arabic Studies in
Information and
Libraries
Publisher
King Fahd National Library
Country
KSA
High Institute for Archives and
Information
Tunisia
Tamimi Institution for Research and
Information
Tunisia
Dar Al Mariekh
KSA
Arab Club for Information
Saudi Librarians Society
AlDar AlMisriya AlLubnaniya
Syria
KSA
Egypt
Arab Federation for Libraries and
Information
Dar Gharieb
KSA
Page 7 of 11
Egypt
Department of Mass Communication
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Journal
Egyptian Journal of
Mass Communication
Research
Egyptian Journal for
Public Opinion
Research
Mass Communication
Research
Tunisian Journal for
Mass Communication
Social Sciences Journal
Arab Journal for the
Humanities
The Gulf and Arabian
Peninsula Studies
College of Arts and
Social Sciences Journal
Faculty of Arts Journal
Publisher
Mass Communication Faculty-Cairo
University
Country
Egypt
Center for Public Opinion researchCairo University
Egypt
Arabic Language Faculty-Azhar
University
Journalism and News Institute, Tunis
University
Academic Publications CouncilKuwait University
Academic Publications CouncilKuwait University
Academic Publications CouncilKuwait University
SQU
Egypt
Alexandria University
Egypt
Publisher
Scientific Association of Colleges,
Institutes and Departments of
Tourism and Hotels -Suez Canal
University
Country
Egypt
Dialects and traditions Society
KSA
Egyptian Association for Tourism
and Hospitality
Egyptian Association of Tourism
Experts
Planning, Research, and Training
Sector in Ministry of Tourism
Faculty of Tourism and Hotels –
Alexandria University
Faculty of Tourism and Hotels- AlFaioum University
Egypt
Tunisia
Kuwait
Kuwait
Kuwait
Oman
Department of Tourism
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Journal
Journal of the Arab
Association of
Universities for
Tourism and
Hospitality
Culture Discourse
Journal
Egyptian Journal for
Tourism and Hospitality
Egyptian Journal of
Tourism Studies
Tourism Research
Journal
Faculty of Tourism and
Hotels Journal
Faculty of Tourism and
Hotels Journal
Page 8 of 11
Egypt
Egypt
Egypt
Egypt
Department of Theatre Arts
1
2
3
4
5
Journal
Journal of the Faculty
of Arts
Journal of Social
Sciences
Arab Journal for the
Humanities
The Gulf and Arabian
Peninsula Studies
World of Thought
Publisher
Cairo University
Country
Egypt
Academic Publications Council
Kuwait
Academic Publications CouncilKuwait University
Academic Publications CouncilKuwait University
The National Council for Culture,
Arts, and Letters
Kuwait
Publisher
Ministry of Heritage and Culture
Country
Oman
Al-Sudairi Institution
Faculty of Arts and HumanitiesDugla University
Academic Publications CouncilKuwait University
SQU
KSA
Sudan
Academic Publications CouncilKuwait University
Jordan Unviersity
Kuwait
Academic Publications CouncilKuwait University
Al-Khortoum University
Kuwait
Kuwait
Kuwait
Department of Archaeology
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Journal
Journal of Omani
Studies
Adomato
Journal of Studies in
Humanities
The Gulf and Arabian
Peninsula Studies
College of Arts and
Social Sciences Journal
Arab Journal for
Humanities
Jordanian Journal for
Social Sciences
Annals of College of
Arts
Journal of the Faculty
of Arts
Kuwait
Oman
Jordan
Sudan
Department of Music and Musicology
1
2
3
4
5
6
Journal
Music Research Journal
Arab Academy Journal
Arab Journal for
Humanities
The Gulf and Arabian
Peninsula Studies
Journal of Social
Sciences
College of Arts and
Social Sciences Journal
Publisher
Arab Society for Music
Arab Open Academy
Academic Publications CouncilKuwait University
Academic Publications CouncilKuwait University
Academic Publications CouncilKuwait University
Country
Jordan
Denmark
Kuwait
Kuwait
Kuwait
Oman
Page 9 of 11
2. College of Education
General Education Journal (All Specializations)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Journal
Educational Journal
Journal of
Educational and
Psychological
Sciences
College of
Education Journal
King Saud
University Journal
for Educational
Sciences
Jordanians Journal
of Educational
Sciences
Journal of the Arab
Association of
Education and
Psychology
Universities
Arab Journal of
Education
Psychological
Studies
Educational Art
Research
Publisher
Academic Publications Council-Kuwait
University
Bahrain University
Country
Kuwait
Emirates University
UAE
King Saud University
KSA
Oman
Yarmouk University
Jordan
Damascus
Syria
Arab Organization for Education, Culture
and Sciences
Association of Psychologists
Tunisia
Hilwan University
Egypt
Bahrain
Egypt
Islamic Studies Specialization
1
2
Journal
Journal of Faculty of Theology
Islamic Studies Journal
3
4
5
Al-Mishkah Journal
Jordanian Journal for Islamic Studies
Faculty of Sahria Journal
6
7
8
Faculty of Sahria Journal
Islamic Studies Journal
Sharjah University for Sahria and
Humanities
Journal of the Faculty of Sahria
Faculty of Sahria Journal
9
10
Publisher
Al-Azhar University
International Islamic
University
Al-Zaiytona University
Al-Albeit University
Quran and Islamic Studies
University
Damascus University
Qatar University
University of Sharjah
Country
Egypt
Malaysia
Al-Azhar University
Kuwait University
Egypt
Kuwait
Page 10 of 11
Tunisia
Jordan
Sudan
Syria
Qatar
UAE
3. College of Law
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Journal
Journal of Law and
Economics
Journal of the Faculty of Law
for Legal and Economic
Studies
Journal of Legal and
Economic Sciences
Journal of Law
Journal of Legal and
Economic Sciences
Journal of Sahria and Law
Journal of the Arab
Association of Universities
Journal of Legal and
Economic Research
Jordanian Journal for Law
and Political Sciences
Journal of Law
Publisher
Cairo University
Country
Egypt
Alexandria University
Egypt
Ain Shams University
Egypt
Academic
Publications Council –
Kuwait University
Damascus University
Kuwait
Emirates University
Cairo University
UAE
Egypt
Al-Mansoura
University
Mo’ta University
Egypt
Bahrain University
Bahrain
Page 11 of 11
Syria
Jordan