U. of K. - Scientific Research and Cultural Relations Administration

University of Khartoum
Scientific Research and Cultural Relations Administration

Director
Dr. Farouk Idris Habbani

Address
University of Khartoum
Khartoum, P.O. Box: 321
Postal Code: 11115
Tel:	+249-11-789704
Fax:	+249-11-780295, +249-11-777783
Email:	sciad@uofk.edu

Scientific Research:

One of the main functions of the University is to promote research. The Central Research Committee was established in 1956 as one of the the standing committees of Senate. The Directorate for Scientific Research was established in 1984 with the aim of further promotion of scientific research in the University, under the Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

The functions of the Directorate for Scientific Research include support for:
-	Research projects by members of the academic staff.
-	Basic infra-structures for scientific research.
-	Organisation of scientific conferences, symposia, workshops and seminars in the University.
-	Participation of members of the academic staff in scientific conferences, symposia, workshops and seminars held abroad.
-	Publication of results of scientific research.

Cultural Relations:

The Cultural Relations Secretariat was part of the Academic Secretary’s Office since 1956. In the early nineties the Directorate for Cultural Relations was established for further promotion of cultural relations with the University, under the DeputyVice-Chancellor.

The functions of the Directorate for Cultural Relations include:
-	Preparation and followup of the implementation of scientific cooperation agreements with universities, research centres and organisations.
-	Activation of the current cooperation agreements and followup for renewal of expired ones by mutual consent.
-	Encouragement and facilitation of staff and students exchange.
-	Supervision of sabbatical leaves for members of the academic staff.

Directorate for Scientific Research and Cultural Relations

The Directorate for Scientific Research and Cultural Relations was established in 2002 as a merger of the two above directorates, with the same functios, under the Deputy Vice-Chancellor. A Council for Scientific Research and Cultural Relations was initiated, with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor as Chairman and the Director for Scientific Research and Cultural Relations as Convenor.

Scientific Research:

At the present time limited funds are made available by the University for research funding. The University has recently formed a committee to support research projects and research capacity building for postgraduate studies using funds to be made available by the Graduate College. Funding for research is expected to be made available by the newly formed Committee for Scientific Research at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, as well as from the Ministry of Science and Technology

Dissertations and theses dealing with various topics and fields are all deposited in the University Library, with the abstracts available at this website (see Digital Library). A substantial number of books have been published by the University during the last two decades. Specialized journals and periodicals have been published by some of the faculties, academic institutes and centres of the University (see University Publications in this website). For example, Adab is published by the Faculty of Arts, the Journal of Agricultural Sciences by the Faculty of Agriculture, together with other journals by the Faculty of Economics and Social Studies, the Faculty of Science, Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Engineering, the School of Management Studies, the Institute of African and Asian Studies, the Institute of Building and Roads Research. The University contributes substantially to the publication of the Sudan Notes and Records Journal, the Journal of the Sudan Engineering Association, and the Sudan Medical Journal

The University has organized a considerable number of national, regional and international conferences in a variety of topics whose proceedings have been published

A book containing researches by members of the academic staff is under preparation

Cultural Relations:

The University maintains strong relations with academic institutions in the Arab world, Africa, Asia, Europe and America. It is a member of the International Association of Universities, a founding member of the Arab and African Associations of Universities and the League of Islamic Universities. The faculties and institutions of the University are keen on cooperation with faculties and institutions elsewhere. Strong links have been established with some international organisations, e.g. with the ICTP (Trieste), TWAS, IAEA, WHO, Unesco, and other organisations.

The University has signed more than 100 cooperation agreements with various universities and organisations. However, only 17 agreements are currently running, with the following universities: Addis ababa, Aden, Naif Arab Academy, Dakar, Kyoto, New Delhi, Padova, Leiden, Bayreuth, Kristianstad and Moscow Academy for Veterinary Medicine. Agreements with international organisations that are currently running: with Unesco, DAAD (Germany) and CEDEJ (France). Agreements recently signed with local organisations: with Sudan Atomic Energy Commission and Albasar International Foundation. Agreements that have been prepared and are awaiting signature: with King Sauud University, Um Elqura University, Munich University, Pushkin Institute and WIPO.

Sabbatical Leaves:

A staff member (from Assistant Professor and above), in permanent service of the University, is allowed a sabbatical leave of duration 9 months maximum and 4 months minimum, every 5 years spent in continuous service of the University. To apply for a sabbatical leave a staff member fills a form and submits it through the Departmental Board and the Dean of the Faculty. The sabbatical leave is finally approved by the Council for Scientific Research and Cultural Relations and the Vice-Chancellor. The sabbatical leave is usually taken between the beginning of January and end of December of each year. However, the deadline for applications is usually at the middle of November of the preceding year.