On February 14th, 2023, the Staff Development Unit of the IT department joined forces with the research and consultancy committee to host an informative talk. The talk, titled "Research Awareness Program for submission of Funded Research Projects," aimed to enlighten the IT department staff on submitting research proposals for funding. Dr. Jehan Murugadhas, the day's guest speaker, delivered a motivational speech encouraging staff members to present their research proposals to The Research Council of Oman.

The IT department at UTAS-Nizwa has a long-standing commitment to fostering knowledge-sharing among its staff members. To this end, the department has organized various technical and research-oriented events, including seminars, workshops, webinars, and training sessions. In addition, the department has provided valuable learning opportunities for the teaching and learning community through these initiatives. Mrs. Suad Abdullah Al-Riyami, who leads the Network section, has been instrumental in supporting and facilitating these activities.

The session commenced with a warm welcome from Dr. Mary Amirtha Sagayee, who introduced the keynote speaker, Dr. Jehan, to the attendees. Dr. Jehan began by providing an overview of research, outlining the various types of research and their significance in human life. He then delved into identifying research areas and drafting research proposals.

Dr. Jehan's presentation included a sample research proposal and an explanation of the submission procedures for The Research Council (TRC). Notably, the talk also touched on the eligibility criteria for student staff members to submit research proposals, as well as the budget and project duration for different grant types, including the Undergraduate Research Grant (URG), Graduate Research Grant (GRG), and Research Grant (RG).

The event also included a question-and-answer segment, where participants could raise research-related queries. Mrs. Alice M. Lontok, the head of the IT section, addressed these queries and provided further clarification on relevant topics. The session was also an excellent forum for staff members to engage in open discussion with the presenter, sharing their thoughts and concerns on various research issues. The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Mrs. Sonia V. Soans, the IT department's Staff Development Unit (SDU) coordinator, who expressed appreciation for the insightful presentation and engaging discussion.