Scientific research is the successful method to develop knowledge, to ensure welfare and influence for human beings, and to keep-up with the current and future challenges. Therefore, pioneer universities do their best to provide an attracting environment to support researchers and to give the scientific research sophistication and excellence. In order to indicate the role of SAU in supporting scientific research, Deanship of scientific research has measured the scientific production of the university and prepared a report about it that aims to the following:
1- Evaluating SAU’s research performance from its establishment until now.
2- Clarifying strength and weakness points of the university regarding scientific research, besides identifying obstacles that face scientific production in it.
3- Making future plans and recommendations that leads to elevate the scientific research.
The working methodology of the report relies on statistical data of the number of the published researches in “Web of Science- ISI” and “SCOPUS”, which was as follows:
First: Total sum of SAU’s scientific publication:
The scientific publication in SAU has clearly evolved since its establishment 2009 until 2013, because of the increasing number of scientific publications in “Web of Science- ISI”. Whereas, in 2009 SAU has published two researches and in 2012 has published 71 researches, while in 2013 the number of researches reached 113, which is 60% more than the previous year. If SAU maintains on this level, it is expected that the number of published researches will exceed 200 pages in 2014.
However, if we looked at the university’s scientific publication in “SCOPUS”, which is a wider database regarding its fields, we would find that in 2009 nine researches were published and in 2013 SAU has published 171 research. Moreover, the increasing number of publications in 2013 is 57% more than 2012, which means if the university keep-up on this level the publications may exceed 250 by the end of 2014.
Second: the scientific publication according to the university’s colleges:
1- According to “Web of Science- ISI”, results were as follows:
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Pharmacy College published 33 papers; the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry took the first place in the college by submitting 18 papers.
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College of Sciences and Humanities in AL Kharj published 28 papers; the Department of Physics took the first place in the college by submitting 14 papers, followed by Department of Mathematics by submitting six papers.
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Engineering College in AL Kharj published 18 papers; the Department of Mechanical Engineering took the first place in the college by submitting seven papers.
2- According to “SCOPUS”, results were as follows:
By College:
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College of Sciences and Humanities published 51 in AL Kharj.
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Pharmacy College published 37 papers.
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Engineering College in AL Kharj published 26 papers.
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College of Applied Medical Sciences published 17 papers.
By Department:
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Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry submitted 22 papers.
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Department of Physics Chemistry submitted 17 papers.
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Department of Mechanical Engineering and Department of Mathematics submitted 16 papers for each.
As a conclusion, the report indicates that SAU seeks to elevate its research quantity and quality. It also aims to occupy a front place among the Saudi Universities and to make the scientific research a noble goal that deserves a lot of support and motivation.