Scientific Research in Arab Countries

Alexandria, November 14, 2006

Osman Shinaishin, Ph.D.Office of International Science and Engineering

National Science Foundationoshinais@nsf.gov

The Research Establishment

Where are we?Where we want to be?How to get there?How to evaluate success?

PRACTICAL ELEMENTS

Human Resources form the HUB for all activities:

1. Management of R&D teams/programs

2. Execution of R&D programs/projects

3. Harvesting of R&D results

Status of Research Organizations

Quantity: % of gdp, scientists/population…Quality: refereed publications, citings…Relevance: economic development, jobs…

Where We Want to Be

Quantity: Funding, scope, numbers of scientistsQuality: A dynamical goalRelevance: Justifiable, Productive, feedbackSustainability: public understanding, support

HOW TO GET THERE

Policies: international, national, local, Implementation: positive attitude, follow-upPromoting excellence in research units

World-Class Research Establishments

Academics.. Governmental.. industrialCannot exist in a vacuumFoundations are most crucial results measured in excellence, need sacrificeNot money-making establishments

IMPLEMENTATION

Schools: All levels

Research Policies: Center, Local

International Scope: Arab. Islamic. Global

Quantity is important; Quality is more important

PATIENCE

BILKENT University, Ankara

Private. Preparations began in 1967.

In 1986 Bilkent admitted 386 students undergraduate and graduate.

Currently > 10,000 students in 9 faculties, 2 professional schools, 2 two-year vocational schools, an School of English plus six graduate institutes, with foreign students from 72 countries.

Bilkent U.

1.6 million high-school graduates take a national examination to enter the 53 state and 25 private universities in Turkey.

In the 2005 examination, 32 of the top 100 scorers chose Bilkent.

BILKENT U.

Full scholarships to over 2,500 students.

Student representatives are voting members of the committees of various schools and of the University Senate.

Student evaluation of courses and instructors, new in Turkey, was instituted.

BILKENT U.Student exchange agreements with the

U. of California system, Georgia Tech., U. of Maryland, Washington U., U. of Michigan in the USA

Also with 13 universities in: Canada; the Netherlands; Germany; Italy; Denmark; England; France; New Zealand.

BILKENT U.

The academic staff is from 43 different countries. According to ISI Citation Indexes, Bilkent continues to be first in Turkey in number of published papers per faculty member and ranks high internationally.

KOC University, Istanbul

To close the gap and in preparation for the future, we must educate our young people in the best way possible. VEHBI KOÇ- Founder of Koç Univ. October 23, 1984

Private Endowment: 250 Billion dollarsSmall enrollment – 3,200 studentsResearch grants from US companiesIRES plus other grants from NSF

Cent. Metal. R&D Inst., Helwan

Services to industry via research and technical support.Over 30 years of collaboration with industry, giving the institute a profile of needs’ pull rather than technology push.longstanding collaboration with national and overseas R&D institutions guarantees a sound scientific basis.Special cooperation with agencies such as JICA (Japan), TNO (Netherlands) and SIDA (Sweden). Helped transfer many technologies to industries in Egypt and in other African and Middle-East countries.

Marmara Res. Center, Istanbul

Use S&T to contribute to the increase of the Global Competitive Power of Turkey. Be among the leading S&T Centers of the world in applied researches.Maintain universal science ethics and responsibilities. Be open to developments and changes in technology and management. Share information produced with public funds to the public. Respect the environment. Respect and contribute to development of human values.

MRC

Improvement by monitoring performance Utilize the accumulation of knowledge Working environment open to creativity and changes. Shield personnel from the influence of outside daily pressures Review systematically the results achieved, aim and targets and its strategies Gage satisfaction of customers and employee Confidentiality, objectivity and independence, Use of natural resources at the optimum level support recycling activities

Collaborations

Collaboration Among Arab Countries: Pooling of Resources- Similarity of needs in: drought, climate, geology, oceanography, social sciences-Efficiency when collaborating with other regionsCollaborating With Other M.E. Countries-Proximity-Mix of western and Arab cultures-Efficiency in collaborative EffortsCollaborating with EU and US: Requires serious planning (Korea & India models)-Must be mutually beneficial (Collaboration vs Aid)  

EU Strategic Roadmap for European Research Infrastructure

A common development of major research facilities such as large-scale laser systems, bio-banks and new, more powerful telescopes.  Infrastructures are a critical element of building research excellence. Not only can they support the work of European scientists, but world-class facilities attract the best scientific minds from around the world."

European Institute of Technology

In October 2006,The EC proposed a European Institute of Technology (EIT), to facilitate and work with network-like joint ventures between academic, research and business partners.

If approved, EIT could begin in 2008, with an estimated 2008-2013 budget of up to 2.4 billion euros, financed by public and private sources.

UNIVERSITY CONSORTIA

The Center for Research Libraries (CRL) is a consortium of North American universities and independent research libraries.

UNIVERSITY CONSORTIA

UCAR is a non-profit consortium of over 100 university members and affiliates to enhance the capabilities of the universities. UCAR carries out its mission through management of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and the UCAR Office of Programs (UOP).

TRAINING

R&D Management: Expertise in psychology, science, goals

Scientific training: k-12; college; graduate; postgraduate; on-job.

Business training: business cycle; cost of R&D vs stagnation; feedback cycle

TECHNICIAN TRAINING

The NSF's Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program provides grants to improve and expand educational programs that prepare skilled technicians to work in the high-tech fields that drive the U.S. economy. The program focuses on both the undergraduate and the secondary school levels. The ATE program focuses on community colleges and expects them to have a leadership role in all projects. Nearly all projects involve partnerships that bring together community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, secondary schools, business industry and government.