search and Academic Promotion Regulations

Chapter One: Definitions and General Objectives

Article (1): Title and Commencement

These regulations shall be called the “Regulations for Research and Academic Promotion at the University,” and shall come into effect from the date of their approval by the Board of Trustees/Council of Deans.

Article (2): Definitions

The following words and phrases have the meanings assigned to them below:

• University: The university issuing the regulations.

• Council: The Deans’ Council or the Higher Academic Promotions Committee.

• Committee: The Promotions and Scientific Research Committee of the college/department.

• Scientific Output: Research papers, studies, authored or translated books, and patents.

• Accredited Journals: Peer-reviewed scientific journals indexed in reputable international databases (such as Scopus and Web of Science).

Chapter Two: Instructions and Conditions for Scientific Research

Article (3): Objectives of Scientific Research

Through this system, the university aims to:

1. Encouraging faculty members to innovate and publish outstanding scientific research.

2. Linking scientific research to the requirements of sustainable development and solving societal and industrial problems.

3. Raising the university’s global academic ranking.

Article (4): Funding and Supporting Research

1. The university allocates a minimum of 5% of its annual budget to support scientific research projects for faculty and students.

2. To receive financial support, a comprehensive research proposal must be submitted and reviewed by the department and college committees for approval.

3. Researchers are required to acknowledge the university’s financial support in the published research (acknowledgment).

Chapter Three: Conditions and Regulations for Academic Promotion

Article (5): General Conditions for Applying for Promotion

The following conditions must be met by a faculty member applying for promotion:

1. The candidate must have completed the minimum legally required period in their current rank (usually five full years).

2. They must demonstrate success in teaching and excellence in academic conduct and service to the university and local community.

3. They must have produced valuable scholarly work that has been published or accepted for publication while holding their current rank. Any scholarly work submitted for a previous promotion or derived from their doctoral dissertation will not be considered.

Article (6): Specifications of acceptable scientific output

1. Research must be published in peer-reviewed and indexed scientific journals (the university determines the required index, such as Q1, Q2, Q3).

2. Authored or translated books are accepted for promotion purposes, provided they have been peer-reviewed by a scientific body accredited by the university, with a maximum of one book per application.

3. Patents officially registered at the international level are treated as published research after evaluation by the Deanship of Scientific Research.

    

Article (7): Points Calculation and Ranking (Authorship)

1. Applicants must be the primary author or corresponding author for at least half of the submitted research.

2. Points for collaborative research are distributed as follows:

• Solo researcher: Receives full marks (100%).

• Co-author (first): Receives 70% of the research weight.

• Co-author (second or last): Receives 50% of the research weight, or as determined by the internal committees.

Chapter Four: Academic Rank Requirements

Article (8): Promotion to the Rank of Associate Professor

The following conditions must be met for promotion from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor:

1. At least five (5) years of experience as an assistant professor.

2. Submission of at least five (5) published or accepted research papers in peer-reviewed journals.

3. The applicant must be the principal investigator on at least three (3) of these papers.

Article (9): Promotion to the Rank of (Professor)

The following conditions must be met for promotion from Associate Professor to Professor:

1. At least five (5) years of experience as an associate professor.

2. Submission of at least eight (8) published or accepted research papers in journals with a high impact factor.

3. The applicant must be the principal investigator on at least four (4) of these papers.

Chapter Five: External Evaluation and Arbitration Procedures

Article (10): Stages of the Promotion File Process

1. A faculty member submits a formal application to the department chair, along with their academic and teaching portfolio.

2. The department forms a confidential committee to review the portfolio and ensure it meets the formal requirements. The application is then forwarded to the college committee, and subsequently to the Deanship of Scientific Research and the Deans’ Council.

3. The Deans’ Council selects (in strict confidentiality) three external reviewers of the rank of professor from prestigious universities (preferably international) to evaluate the scholarly output.

4. Promotion is granted if at least two of the three reviewers approve the applicant’s promotion and the validity of their research.

Article (11): General Provisions

The council has the right to withdraw the promotion file or cancel the decision if it is proven that there is scientific plagiarism in any of the submitted research, and the member shall be referred to an investigation and disciplinary committee.