In pursuance of its objectives, the Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University (PSAU) whose motto roughly translates to “a University that the nation is proud of” established the Ranking and Academic Standards Unit (RASU) which is overseen by a high-powered permanent committee. Through this unit and committee, the University aspires to increase its ranking and reputation locally, regionally, and globally. This includes improvement in activities related to academic programmes, surveys, quality of education, entrepreneurship, employability, research, and innovation. 

          Research outcomes contribute immensely in many of the top global rankings such as Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), Times Higher Education (THE), Shanghai (ARWU), US News, etc. that the University has decided to prioritise. Among  others, proceedings of the top conferences are indexed in notable repositories such as Springer’s Scopus and Thomas Reuters’ Web of Science, form where majority of the ranking research indicators are sourced. Furthermore, these fora provide avenues for exchange collaborations, etc. To encourage these activities, the University announces a new indexed Conference Proceedings Incentive Programme (ICPIP) aimed at incentivising and encouraging faculty and staff to publish in proceedings of the conferences in their areas. Benefits expected from increased participation in conferences include:

1. Increase the number of  the university’s publication indexed in Scopes and Web of Science databases.

2. Increase the University's presence at international scientific conferences which helps to improve its academic reputation.

3. Provide researchers with platforms to enhance their  presentation and communication skills.

4. Provide researchers with early evaluation regarding their work  which leads to an increase in its quality.

5. Enhance research network of PSAU staff via engagement and collaboration with top researchers in their areas.

6. Learn best practices in the field of scientific research and exposure to modern methods, and tools in their research domains.

7. A large pool of respondents that partake in ranking academic reputation surveys are delegates to these conferences. Through attendance of these events, PSAU faculty and staff interact with these important stakeholders in the annual ranking processes.

Objectives

The objectives of the ICPIP programme are to:

1.    Improve the quality of scientific research from the university.

2.    Encourage and support distinguished researchers at the university.

3.    Increase the number of scientific  publications from the university that are indexed on the Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) repositories.

4.    Increase the University’s presence at scientific conferences and through this enhance its academic reputation.

5.    Support researchers in improving their communication skills through participation in international scientific conferences.

6.    Raise awareness within university community regarding the importance of top-quality scientific research.

The programme will be governed by five articles as enumerated below.

First Article: General Conditions:

In order to benefit from the ICPIP programme, the applicant and/or research contribution must satisfy the following conditions.

1.    The applicant must be employed with the University at the time of application.

2.    The applicant must have listed the Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University as primary affiliation, i.e. it is not enough to state it as current address.

3.    The publication is not acknowledged as part of any (internal or external) funded project.

4.    The applicant must apply via completion of prescribed forms obtainable from the Ranking and Academic Standards Unit or online via the office of the Vice Rector for Development and Quality.

Second Article: Regulations for granting conference proceeding reward

1.    The contribution is published in a proceedings book that is indexed in either (or both of) the Scopus or Web of Science databases

2.    The incentive is awarded per publication, therefore, where more than two authors are affiliated to PSAU, the award will be granted to the first or corresponding author or whomsoever is agreed among them.

3.    There shall be no cap on the number of publications that the incentive can granted for annually.

4.    In principle, acceptance of a paper and payment of registration fees are required for award of the ICPIP incentive. 

5.    In cases where more than one paper is published in the same proceedings, part or all the payment may be deferred until after the proceedings are published (in Scopus or WoS as the case may be).

6.    The ICPIP programme is effective from 1/1/2020, so only publications after this date qualify for the incentive.

Third Article: The value of the reward

The incentive carries a cash award of five thousand Saudi Riyals (5000 SAR) for each article published in proceedings book that is indexed in either (or both of) the Scopus or Web of Science databases.

Fourth Article: The Conference Proceedings Reward Committee

1.    The evaluation and assessment of articles for the ICPIP incentive will be overseen by the office the Vice Rector for Development and Quality via a Committee in the Ranking and Academic Standards Unit.

2.    The Committee shall be headed by the vice Rector for Development and Quality.

3.    In addition to overseeing the running of the ICPIP incentive programme, the Committee shall also recommend conferences that qualify for inclusion in the programme subject to approval by the University Standing Committee on Ranking and Academic Standards (RASU).

Entry link http://https://forms.gle/Po9wYasivgDEqiaV7