Abu Dhabi: Higher education experts have called for the establishment of a national research institute — co-funded by universities and national agencies.
The need for a special research body was underlined during a major conference at the Emirates Centre for Scientific Studies and Research (ECSSR) yesterday. The UAE is ranked 74th out of 134 countries in carrying out scientific research studies.
Speaking at the conference — titled ‘Integrating the efforts of social research institutions to support the decision making process in UAE' — Dr Michael Allen, Assistant Provost for Faculty Affairs and Research at Zayed University, stressed the need to establish the specialised institute to help encourage and support researchers.
"There should be a national research institute to help researchers publish their studies to get out of the faculty cocoon and mindset which is encapsulated in CVs," Allen said.
"We need the CVs to be translated into reality and to practical benefits for the country. Social research should have effects on research priorities for the sake of the community and decision-makers."
Atiq Abdul Aziz Al Mansouri, Assistant Dean for Research and Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science at the UAE University, said the UAE's achievements in scientific research and studies lag far behind those of other countries in the region.
Not a priority
Al Mansouri also highlighted the fact that research is often not prioritised on university budgets.
"The private universities' budget in the UAE for scientific research is zero, though internationally, 12-15 per cent of the university budgets should be channelled towards scientific research. There should be a sufficient number of national researchers who are qualified to conduct studies that are useful for the community for various purposes."
