Six Ways the R&D Office Supports Your Research
The Research and Development Office at Arab Open University — Kuwait is committed to fostering a vibrant research culture by providing comprehensive support to academic staff at every stage of their scholarly journey. The following six pathways reflect the breadth of services available to all faculty members.
1. Scientific Research Grant (دعم مشروع بحثي)
The R&D Office provides financial support of up to USD 1,000 to faculty members seeking to undertake original research projects. Applications are evaluated by an independent peer reviewer and subsequently reviewed by the R&D Committee, which convenes on a monthly basis. Approved projects receive financial disbursement following HR processing, and applicants are required to submit a closure form upon publication of the resulting research paper.
2. Scientific Research Publication Award — Grant-Supported (مكافأة نشر بحث علمي)
Faculty members who have previously received a Scientific Research Grant and have successfully published their work in a Scopus-indexed journal are eligible to apply for a Publication Award. The award amounts to up to USD 1,500 for publications in Q1 and Q2 journals, and up to USD 1,000 for Q3 and Q4 journals. The published paper must include an acknowledgment referencing AOU–Kuwait and the grant decision number.
3. Scientific Research Publication Award — Independent (مكافأة نشر بحث علمي لم يتم دعمها من الجامعة)
Recognising that not all research is grant-funded, the R&D Office extends a Publication Award to faculty members who have published in Scopus-indexed journals (Q1–Q4) without prior institutional grant support. Papers must have been published within the twelve months preceding the date of application, and all submissions must reflect AOU–Kuwait as the official institutional affiliation.
4. Conference Participation Support
The R&D Office supports faculty members in disseminating their research at academic conferences, both regionally and internationally. Approved applicants receive a two-way economy class travel ticket, conference registration fees, and a travel allowance of USD 800 for regional conferences and USD 1,200 for international conferences. Applications must be submitted at least one month in advance for regional events and two months in advance for international ones.
5. Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) Grants
For faculty members seeking external national funding, the R&D Office facilitates the process of applying to the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS). A mandatory official institutional approval letter (letter of Intent) from the AOU Rector must be obtained through the R&D Office before submitting any proposal to KFAS. This service ensures that all applications are formally endorsed by the university and aligned with KFAS's strategic priorities for 2025–2030.
6. Research Support Services
Beyond financial support, the R&D Office offers direct operational assistance to researchers during the active phases of their work. This includes facilitating data collection by coordinating survey distribution and scheduling interviews with students and staff, as well as providing pre-testing support for survey and interview instruments to enhance their validity and reliability. Additionally, the Office offers financial support of up to USD 1,000 towards publication fees in Q1 and Q2 Scopus-indexed open access journals, subject to institutional approval.
