RUET Updates Research Grant Policy, Boosts Funding for Faculty and Postgraduate Scholars
The Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) has updated its research grant policies and procedures to make research activities more dynamic, modern, and aligned with international standards. Under the new policy, budget allocations have been significantly increased for research grants, publication incentives, and travel allowances for seminars for both faculty members and postgraduate researchers. The document, published by the Office of Research and Extension, outlines in detail the funding framework for research activities and the conditions for obtaining grants.
According to university sources, the new policy has been formulated in line with the grant guidelines of the Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC). As a result, the allocation for research at RUET has increased considerably compared to previous levels. The policy includes funding for faculty and postgraduate research project expenses, travel allowances for participation in international conferences or seminars, publication grants and honoraria for research papers in international journals, as well as costs related to the publication of the university’s JEAS journal and research project abstract volumes.
The new policy also introduces special research grants to encourage early-career faculty members. Giving priority to lecturers and assistant professors, research grants of up to Tk 200,000 for a one-year period will be awarded. However, to qualify for this grant, recipients must publish at least one research paper in a peer-reviewed journal. Similarly, Master’s or MPhil-level researchers will be eligible for grants of up to Tk 300,000 for one year, with the condition that at least one research paper be published in an internationally indexed journal.
For PhD-level researchers, the allocation has been increased further. Part-time students or faculty members working under a university supervisor may receive research grants of up to Tk 700,000 for one year. Meanwhile, active faculty members holding PhD degrees will be eligible for advanced research grants of up to Tk 1.5 million for a two-year period. This project will allow the appointment of research assistants, and at least two research papers must be published in journals. Additionally, non-teaching students enrolled in PhD programs will be eligible for research grants of up to Tk 500,000 for one year, with the condition that at least one research paper be published in a conference or journal.
The policy also introduces specific guidelines for financial management of research projects. In all cases, the minimum allocation cannot be less than 60 percent of the maximum grant limit. The project director will receive a one-time honorarium equivalent to one month’s basic salary, capped at Tk 60,000. Approved project funds will be disbursed in two installments, and the project director will not receive the honorarium unless at least 60 percent of the allocated funds are spent.
Research assistants engaged in advanced research projects will receive a monthly stipend of Tk 22,000, which may amount to a maximum of Tk 264,000. This allocation cannot be transferred to any other expenditure category. In addition, a separate policy for travel grants has been introduced for presenting research papers at international conferences or journals, under which a faculty member may receive up to Tk 30,000 per year as travel allowance. However, only one author per research paper will be eligible for this benefit.
To encourage publication in international journals, the policy also introduces special publication honoraria. Based on the quality of the publication, Tk 60,000 will be awarded for first-tier journals, Tk 50,000 for second-tier journals, and Tk 15,000 for third-tier journals. For research papers published in fourth-tier peer-reviewed international journals, an honorarium of Tk 6,000 will be provided. A faculty member may receive honoraria for a maximum of two publications, with a total cap of Tk 120,000.
RUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. S. M. Abdur Razzak said that research is the lifeblood of a university. He noted that increasing research budgets and formulating timely policies are crucial for modernizing research activities and bringing them to international standards. He also emphasized that research is one of the key indicators in global university rankings, and RUET is therefore placing special emphasis on expanding both the scope and quality of research to strengthen its position on the global stage.
According to him, the new policy will create greater opportunities for conducting high-quality research, particularly encouraging young faculty members and postgraduate researchers. This will increase both the pace and quality of research at the university, strengthening RUET’s position at national and international levels.
RUET’s Office of Research and Extension continues to conduct research activities in various fields of engineering and technology, keeping pace with global advancements. At the same time, it is also engaged in joint research with universities and research institutions at home and abroad, along with journal publications, organizing seminars and symposiums, awarding fellowships and medals, and strengthening industry–academia collaboration. According to concerned stakeholders, the new policy will enhance international-standard research, increase publications in indexed journals, and further strengthen industry–academia collaboration, significantly boosting the quality and dynamism of research at RUET and making the university more visible in the global research arena.
DBTech/SIS/EK/OR
