POLICIES

NUST Research Policies

NUST’s Research, Innovation & Commercialisation (RIC) Policy serves as a comprehensive framework to guide research activities, promote innovation, and ensure effective commercialisation of research outputs. The policy fosters a research-driven culture within NUST, encouraging faculty, students, and researchers to contribute to national and global advancements.

Key Highlights:

Research Excellence: NUST emphasises high-quality research aligned with national priorities and global challenges. The policy supports faculty and students in conducting impactful research.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship: The policy encourages the development of innovative solutions and startups through NUST’s incubation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Commercialisation of Research: NUST facilitates technology transfer, patents, and industry collaborations to bring research from labs to the market.
Funding & Grants: Faculty and researchers are supported through internal and external funding opportunities, grants, and sponsorships.
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): The policy provides guidelines on patenting, copyrights, and commercialisation strategies while ensuring fair benefit-sharing among stakeholders.
Collaboration & Partnerships: Strong emphasis is placed on national and international collaborations with academia, industry, and government for research and development (R&D) projects.
Ethics & Compliance: The policy ensures adherence to ethical research practices, regulatory frameworks, and quality assurance measures.

NUST Best Researcher Award Policy

To promote research excellence, NUST recognizes outstanding faculty contributions through its Best Researcher Awards.

Key Highlights:

Award Categories

1. University Best Researcher Awards:

Three awards, each with PKR 150,000 and a certificate, given in:
- Engineering
- Natural & Biosciences
- Management, Social Sciences & Architecture

2. School/College Best Researcher Awards:

One award per institution, with PKR 75,000 and a certificate.

3. Top Performer Awards (University Level):

Eleven category-based awards, each with PKR 25,000 and a certificate.
Categories include: Highest Citations, H-Index, Impact Factor, International/National Projects & Funding, Early Career Researcher, and more.

Eligibility Criteria:

Regular faculty/staff with at least two years of service at NUST (waived for military personnel).
Previous winners can be re-nominated after three years.
Only research affiliated with NUST will be considered.

Evaluation & Selection:

Awards are based on research projects, publications, student supervision, and funding secured.
Nominations are reviewed by the NUST Evaluation Committee (NEC), chaired by the Pro-Rector (RIC).

Updated: 30/05/2025

NUST Move Sanction Policy for National and International Visits

NUST facilitates faculty and employees in conducting research visits, collaborations, and knowledge exchange. This policy outlines the process for move sanction (official travel approval) for national and international research visits.

Key Highlights:

Eligibility: Applies to NUST employees (civilian & military) and students participating in research-related travel.
Scope: Covers lab research, field surveys, conferences, project discussions, and academic collaborations.
Funding: Can be supported by research projects, host organizations, or NUST funds, but RIC Budget cannot be used if project funds are available.

Approval Process:

Domestic Travel (Up to 3 Days): Approved by Principal/Commandant.
Domestic Travel (More than 3 Days): Approved by Pro-Rector (RIC).
International Travel: Approved by Rector (NUST) with recommendations from Pro-Rector (RIC).

Application Requirements:

Must be submitted in advance (13 working days for international, 7 for domestic).
Documents required: Invitation letter, budget approval, expenditure report, and an undertaking confirming no duplicate funding.
Multiple researchers traveling to the same destination can apply together.

Additional Conditions:

NUST employees remain on duty with full salary during move sanction.
Faculty not part of a research project must provide host organization invitation & PI recommendations.
Students’ travel cases are processed by Research Directorate & Registrar.

Updated: 30/05/2025

NUST Journals Policy

NUST publishes five research journals to enhance its global reputation and support academic excellence. This policy revision focuses on improving indexation, visibility, quality, and financial independence.

NUST Journals:

NUST Journal of Engineering Sciences (NJES) – SCME
NUST Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities (NJSSH) – S3H
NUST Journal of Natural Sciences (NJNS) – ASAB
NUST Journal of International Peace & Stability (NJIPS) – CIPS
NUST Business Review (NBR) – NBS

Key Highlights:

Editorial Boards: Each journal must have a diverse Editorial & Advisory Board with international experts.
Peer Review: All submissions undergo a blind peer review by at least two independent experts.
Publication Frequency: Journals must be published biannually (twice a year).
Indexation & Archiving: Efforts must be made to get indexed in HEC Journal Recognition System (HJRS), Scopus, Web of Science, and DOAJ.
International Contributions: Journals should actively invite foreign scholars and maintain geographical diversity in authorship.
Online Management System: Manuscripts will be processed via Open Journal System (OJS) or equivalent.
Financial Model: Journals should aim for financial sustainability through external funding, sponsorships, article processing charges, and HEC grants.
Promotion & Citations: Editorial teams must actively promote articles on social media to increase readership and citations.
New Journal Launches: Proposals for new NUST journals will be evaluated through a structured approval process.
Honorariums & Financial Support: These are calculated on specified set of rules.

Updated: 30/05/2025

NUST Research and Innovation Digital Media Policy

NUST promotes its research and innovation activities through digital media platforms to enhance visibility, attract collaborations, and boost research rankings. This policy defines the structure and guidelines for research promotion.

Key Highlights:

Digital Platforms:

Research Directorate Website – Showcases research projects, events, publications, and collaborations.
Research Blog – Features faculty achievements, applied research, patents, tech transfer, and industry collaborations.
Research & Innovation Newsletter – Distributed quarterly to over 50,000 recipients, linking blogs and key research highlights.
Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) – Promotes research grants, publications, inventions, and faculty achievements.
YouTube Channel (Upcoming) – Will feature videos of research projects, technology development, and commercialisation stories.

Content Submission Guidelines:

Blogs must be 600–800 words, written in layman’s terms, with images, author details, and relevant links.
Social media posts should include two to three-line summaries, relevant hashtags, and organisation tags.
Research papers, grants, and patents must be submitted with DOI links, project summaries, and funding agency details.

Incentives & Recognition:

Best Newsletter Blog Award: Every year, best performing blog, provided by faculty member is shortlisted and awarded with cash prize and a Certificate of Appreciation annually.
High-impact research papers and faculty achievements will receive prominent digital promotion.

Updated: 30/05/2025

NUST Research Groups Policy

NUST recognizes the significance of Research Groups in fostering collaboration, innovation, and knowledge transfer. This policy provides guidelines for the formation, functioning, evaluation, and incentives of research groups across NUST schools and colleges.

Key Highlights:

Objectives:

Establish formal research entities aligned with national and international priorities.
Enhance interdisciplinary collaboration and research productivity.
Support grant applications, research projects, and student supervision.
Facilitate industry and academic partnerships.

Formation & Structure:

Research Group Lead: Full/Associate Professor with a strong research background.
Co-Leads & Members: Faculty, postdoctoral researchers, PhD/MS/BS students, and research assistants.
Groups must have at least 5 faculty members and a defined research focus.

Key Functions:

Define research roadmaps and thematic areas.
Apply for external research grants and commercialization opportunities.
Conduct seminars, symposia, and research collaborations.
Support student research projects and postgraduate supervision.
Establish dedicated web pages for visibility and outreach.

Performance Evaluation:

Annual reviews based on publications, funded projects, patents, collaborations, and industry linkages.
Groups must submit an annual report to the Research Directorate.

Incentives & Support:

Seed funding (PKR 1-2 million) for group leads.
Research grants, lab space priority, AAR credits, hiring authority.
Preference for conference funding and internal grants.
Increased visibility on the NUST website, research blog, and reports.

Updated: 30/05/2025

NUST Research Publications Financial Award Policy

NUST provides financial incentives to encourage high-quality research publications. This policy revises the incentive structure, shifting focus from quantity to journal quartiles and citations to enhance NUST’s global ranking.

Key Highlights:

1. Eligibility Criteria:

Only NUST-affiliated authors publishing under “National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan" are eligible.
Papers must be published in Web of Science Indexed (JCR) impact factor journals (Q1, Q2, or Q3 only).
NRP (NUST Research Portal) upload is mandatory before applying.
Applications must be submitted within 12 weeks of the publication date.
Maximum of four authors per paper can receive the award.
Award structure and distribution are calculated on Journal category and ranks etc.

2. Exclusions:

No awards for letters to the editor, editorials, abstracts, comments, errata, or corrigenda.
PhD thesis books and conference papers are not eligible.
Faculty cannot apply for both publication charges reimbursement and financial awards for the same paper.

Updated: 30/05/2025

NUST RIC Policy

Key Highlights:

Research Excellence: NUST emphasises high-quality research aligned with national priorities and global challenges. The policy supports faculty and students in conducting impactful research.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship: The policy encourages the development of innovative solutions and startups through NUST’s incubation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Commercialisation of Research: NUST facilitates technology transfer, patents, and industry collaborations to bring research from labs to the market.
Funding & Grants: Faculty and researchers are supported through internal and external funding opportunities, grants, and sponsorships.
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): The policy provides guidelines on patenting, copyrights, and commercialisation strategies while ensuring fair benefit-sharing among stakeholders.
Collaboration & Partnerships: Strong emphasis is placed on national and international collaborations with academia, industry, and government for research and development (R&D) projects.
Ethics & Compliance: The policy ensures adherence to ethical research practices, regulatory frameworks, and quality assurance measures.

Updated: 30/05/2025

NUST ERC/IRB Policy

To ensure the highest ethical standards in research, NUST has established a centralised Ethical Review Committee (ERC) / Institutional Review Board (IRB) to oversee research involving human participants, animals, and sensitive data.

Key Highlights:

Functions of ERC/IRB:

Develops ethical guidelines for research at NUST.
Audits research projects to ensure compliance.
Grants or withdraws ethical approval for research involving human and animal subjects.
Provides mandatory ethical clearance for funded projects, research publications, and patents.

Scope of Ethical Review:

Studies involving human participants, biological materials, or personal data.
Research with potential environmental impact or risks.
Collaborations involving ethical considerations (e.g., industry partnerships).
Exemptions:
Research that does not involve identifiable human data or direct participant involvement may be exempt.

Updated: 30/05/2025

NUST National and International Conference Policy

NUST encourages and supports faculty, staff, and students in organizing and participating in national and international conferences to foster academic excellence, research collaboration, and knowledge exchange. The policy outlines the framework for conducting conferences, including eligibility criteria, funding support, and procedural guidelines.

Key Highlights:

Eligibility: Faculty members, researchers, and students can organise or participate in conferences aligned with NUST’s academic and research priorities.

Financial Support: Partial or full funding may be provided for organising and attending conferences based on the relevance and impact of the event.

Approval Process: Organisers must submit proposals in advance for review and approval by relevant authorities.

Collaboration & Partnerships: NUST encourages joint conferences with academic institutions, industries, and government bodies to enhance outreach.

Quality Assurance: Conferences must adhere to high academic standards, ensuring impactful research dissemination.

Post-Conference Reporting: Organisers are required to submit reports outlining key outcomes and contributions.

Updated: 30/05/2025

NUST Funded Research Projects Policy

NUST provides financial support for faculty and student research projects to encourage innovation, applied research, and commercialisation. This policy outlines the funding categories, eligibility criteria, and approval process for research projects.

Key Highlights:

Funding Categories:

Grant for Young Researchers – Supports newly inducted faculty and students in conducting applied research addressing national needs.
Grant for Concept Note Development for Industry – Funds prototype development and industrial process improvements.
Grant for NUST Living Lab – Supports on-campus testing and deployment of research projects with commercial or social benefits.
Grant for Flagship Projects – Provides seed funding for large-scale projects with commercialisation potential.
Grant for Interdisciplinary Projects – Funds research involving multiple disciplines, industry partners, and research labs.
Grant for Bridge Financing – Covers project expenses while awaiting external funding disbursements.
Grant for Futuristic Initiatives – Supports high-impact research beyond existing categories with national/international significance.

Eligibility Criteria:

Faculty must be regular NUST employees (Adjunct faculty eligible only for interdisciplinary and flagship projects).
Students must apply under a PhD-holding supervisor.
Projects must be applied research with commercial, social, or industrial relevance.
Interdisciplinary projects must involve at least one industry partner and two research labs.

Funding Allocation & Conditions:

Maximum grant per project: PKR 2.5M (case-by-case exceptions allowed).
Living Lab FYPs can receive up to PKR 0.3M.
Funds can be used for equipment, prototyping, deployment, regulatory clearances, and commercialisation but not for faculty honorariums, office equipment, or infrastructure.
Faculty can lead one project per year and supervise two FYPs.

Approval & Reporting:

Proposals reviewed by the Project Technical Review Committee, chaired by Pro-Rector (RIC).
Supervisors must submit progress reports every six months and a final impact report upon project completion.
FYP-based projects must be submitted before the 6th semester and implemented by the 8th semester.

Updated: 30/05/2025

NUST Research Ethics & Plagiarism Policy

NUST is committed to upholding research integrity and preventing plagiarism. This policy ensures compliance with HEC guidelines and international ethical standards.

Key Highlights:

Objectives:

Define ethical research practices and plagiarism policies.
Establish a Research Ethics Committee (REC) to handle violations.
Ensure Turnitin plagiarism checks for all research outputs.

Plagiarism & Research Misconduct:

Plagiarism includes: verbatim copying, self-plagiarism, data fabrication, citation manipulation, and intellectual property theft.
Turnitin similarity limits: Maximum 19% overall, with no single source exceeding 5%.

Research Ethics Committee (REC):

Handles complaints related to research integrity.
Ensures independent investigations without conflicts of interest.
Reports cases to HEC and regulatory bodies where necessary.

Updated: 30/05/2025

NUST Research Exhibitions & Competitions Policy

NUST provides financial support to encourage student and faculty participation in research exhibitions and competitions at national and international levels.

Key Highlights:

Eligibility & Funding Criteria:

Who can apply? NUST students (as participants or organizers) under faculty supervision.
The funding amount and ratio is calculated as per defined set of requirements.
Each school/college can submit up to two events per financial year for approval.

Approval & Process:

Applications are accepted in March and September for events occurring in July–December & January–June.
The Research Exhibitions & Competitions Committee (RECC), chaired by Pro-Rector (RIC), reviews and approves applications.
Schools/colleges must submit applications one month before the event, including event details, team members, funding sources, and timelines.

Funding Exclusions:

Seminars, conferences, workshops, symposiums.
Events linked to research projects or funded by other NUST departments.
Final Year Project (FYP) Open House events.
Faculty travel support for exhibitions and competitions.

Post-Event Reporting:

Supervisors must submit a post-event report & financial summary for review.

Updated: 30/05/2025

NUST Research Proposal Policy

NUST is committed to fostering a research-driven environment by supporting faculty in securing funding for research projects. This policy outlines the procedures for preparing, submitting, and managing research proposals.

Key Highlights:

Objectives:

Encourage faculty to develop and submit research proposals.
Guide researchers on proposal preparation, budgeting, and financial management.
Standardize the process for proposal approval and submission.
Promote interdisciplinary collaboration and industry partnerships.

Eligibility & Research Project Criteria:

Faculty members can apply for research funding as Principal Investigators (PIs), preferably with a Co-PI.
Projects must have clear research objectives, deliverables, and a predefined budget.
Funding must come from government, private, or international sources, including NUST’s internal research funds.

Proposal Submission & Evaluation:

Proposals must be approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and vetted by the Research Directorate.
The NUST Research Portal (NRP) must be used for submission and tracking.
Endorsement from the Pro-Rector (RIC) is required before submission to funding agencies.

Budgeting & Fund Management:

Research budgets should align with project objectives and funding agency guidelines.
University overheads (indirect costs) must be included in the proposal.
Proper financial records must be maintained, with audits ensuring compliance.

Collaboration & Industry Engagement:

Researchers are encouraged to work with academic and industrial partners.
Formal agreements and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) must be established where needed.

Updated: 30/05/2025

NUST Research Seminar Policy

NUST promotes the culture of research seminars to facilitate knowledge sharing, research collaboration, and academic discourse among faculty, researchers, and students. This policy establishes a structured framework for organizing and conducting research seminars across NUST schools and colleges.

Key Highlights:

Purpose: Research seminars provide a platform for faculty and students to discuss recent research, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and engage with national and international experts.
Frequency: Each NUST school/college is encouraged to organize at least one research seminar per month, either in-person or online.
Participation: Faculty members, PhD students, and invited speakers from NUST, national, and international institutions are encouraged to present their research. PhD students must present at least one seminar before completing their degree.
Quality Assurance: Schools/colleges are responsible for ensuring high-quality research presentations relevant to their expertise and potential interdisciplinary collaboration.
Funding Support: Financial and administrative support for national and international speakers may be provided on a case-by-case basis, subject to approval.
Visibility & Reporting: Seminar schedules, topics, and abstracts will be published on the NUST Research Directorate website for wider dissemination.
Monitoring & Evaluation: Regular research seminars will be factored into the school’s performance ranking, and the Research Directorate will conduct periodic reviews.

Updated: 30/05/2025