Reseach Activities
Strategy of Scientific-Research Activities
Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani University covers a wide range of university activities; of course, this refers to research that is not considered in isolation but is one of the fundamental areas of the university, the results of which are reflected in the teaching-learning process.
Over the past two decades, the university has developed various areas of research- Ph.D. Programs in Law, Public Administration, and Theology, as well as various scientific research units, have ensured the institutionalization of research, although this is an ongoing process and must be constantly focused on development. The research direction of the university was significantly conditioned by the fact that initially, it was established as a research institute, which soon afterward started its educational activities and continues to develop this institutional heritage.
Scientific research and creative activities are carried out in different directions and are mainly defined by the fields of law, humanities, and social sciences, which are covered by parallel educational programs, or adjacent, interdisciplinary fields within these programs. The planning and promotion of research activities are carried out in accordance with a special rule, and the general university research strategy is provided for in the university strategy and action plan.
Research activities at Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani University are defined for the purpose of the University Strategy (Research Strategy) - to develop and promote scientific and research activities at the local and international levels with a high research reputation. These main tasks combine: Increase the scientific productivity and research reputation of academic staff; Institutionalization of scientific-research activities; Commercialization of scientific-research activities; Internationalization of scientific-research activities. Each task is formulated in accordance with current and future challenges, each action outlined in the action plan is causally related to them, and most importantly, they are practically achievable, feasible, and measurable, which is confirmed and verified by relevant indicators at the stage of monitoring their implementation.
Planning and Promoting Scientific Research Activities
Research planning is a constantly updated process carried out annually by the University with the involvement of faculty, academic staff, students, and the Academic Council. The planning and implementation of the plan is a continuous chain, built on the principle: Faculty - Administration - Academic Council - Faculty. Research priorities in each area are discussed at faculty councils whose proposals are analyzed by the Vice-Rector and the Academic Research and Development Council. Based on the analysis, a project will be developed and reviewed by the Academic Council. As a result of the review and approval by the Academic Council, the scientific-research priorities of the University for one year are determined; however, the dynamics of the correlation between the plans and achievements of the previous year and the results will be taken into account. According to the priorities, the faculties will develop action plans and start implementing them. Of course, this does not mean interfering in the academic activities of professors or students or setting any limits; on the contrary, by the operation of this mechanism, more institutional support is organized; of course, each researcher is free and studies individually at his own discretion.
The main directions of the research activities of the University are:
Theology and religion studies;
Law and Public administration;
Business Administration, Management and Development Studies;
Political Science.
Sociology and psychology are added to these fields, within which the directions will be further narrowed, and concentration will take place in parallel with the teaching-learning process, depending on the challenges of the field and the needs of the country and society.
Hundreds of researches have been conducted in this direction on behalf of the University; in addition, books, translations, and textbooks published by the University are integrated into the curricula of the leading universities of Georgia in theology, religion, law, international relations, and politics. A particular priority is the commercialization of research, which has been successfully implemented at this stage, and the commercialization of popular, curriculum-integrated textbooks sponsors other research activities, the preparation and publication of research results online for free. Access to impact on specific areas of science. It is planned to strengthen and develop the commercialization of recreational activities. The University publishes field and interdisciplinary academic periodicals: "Dialogue" (since 2004); "Methods of Law" (since 2017); "Orbeliani" (since 2019); Orbeliani Law Review (since 2020).
Research and creative activities at the University are carried out both by the academic staff individually and within the scientific-research units created for this purpose. In the framework of the institutionalization of research activities, the activities of research units were reviewed and evaluated, and as a result, the units that created real products, their activities were supported by the academic research staff themselves and had a firmly established scientific identity. The University currently has the following research units: the Church Social Education Center, the Institute of Theology and Philosophy, the Center for Crime and Criminal Justice, the Davit Batonishvili Law Institute, the Development Research Institute, and the Michel Muskhel Institute.
Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani University provides a flexible and effective system to support research and development (R&D planning, evaluation, and promotion rules) for academic staff, students, and research departments, with the aim of promoting research and creative activities at the University both locally and internationally.
In order to support and encourage scientific research, the University has an Academic Research and Development Coordinating Council, which is the Rector's deliberative body and makes decisions independently. The Board Parity is designed to include ex officio a Vice-Rector, Academic Research and Development Manager, Human Resources Manager, Student Affairs Officer, Student Self-Government, and one academic staff member from each faculty. The Board reviews proposals of students, academic staff and research units, research projects, and applications, following the established procedure, after which it makes a decision on the motion with the Rector. At the suggestion of the Board, monthly publications of professors and students are funded, and participation in various development activities. The Coordinating Council announces various small research grant competitions for the joint participation of both academic staff and academic staff and students.
Various forms of incentives, both tangible and intangible, have been established for both academic staff and research units for successful research activities. The University supports disseminating information about research and creative achievements and research reputation through official and social media. Special support measures are provided for the affiliated staff of the University. The University finances publications costs the and the administrative fees for publishing articles in other periodicals.
The University is focused on attracting young researchers and teachers, as evidenced by the average age of those involved in other educational programs. The University ensures the involvement of young staff in research activities under the supervision of professors, as well as a joint research of professors and students. Undergraduate and graduate students publish research papers, participate in scientific conferences, and note the involvement of graduates in both research and development activities. Within the framework of the doctoral program, each doctoral student engages in significant research, the publication of which is provided by the University. Moreover, in parallel with the development of the doctorate, it is planned to work and introduce postdoctoral programs, which will enable not only young researchers related to the field but also to attract stakeholders from outside the University and involve the University in the teaching-learning-research process.
In order to increase the University's involvement in international and local research projects, the University provides information to academic/visiting staff and researchers and supports their participation in research projects. University staff and students are provided with information on local and international science grants on an ongoing basis, and interested individuals are consulted individually. The University systematically conducts research development activities, training on research project writing, grant project management, finding scientific resources, and online academic platforms.
Internationalization of Scientific-Research Activities
The internationalization of university research activities is provided by the Internationalization Policy and Mechanisms Document (Internationalization Policy and Mechanisms), the University Strategy and Action Plan, as well as research support mechanisms, research product quality evaluation mechanisms and staff productivity assessment system. Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani University actively participates in international research projects, has permanent international conferences, publishes international peer-reviewed journals, as well as an international English-language journal in Development Studies. University staff participates in international conferences, seminars and other academic events both inside and outside the country, have exclusive access to international scientific databases and libraries.
Bilateral and multilateral exchange projects are implemented with partner universities. University academic staff participates in joint research scholarships of the Rustaveli Foundation and DAAD, research competitions and grant projects of USAID, IRZ and other international organizations. There is a close international partnership with the University of Notre Dame (Indiana, USA) with the Nanovica Institute, with several researchers participating in the Mendoza Business School-wide Leadership School each year, and one researcher receiving a research fellowship per year to conduct research at the University of Notre Dame. Dozens of researchers each year.
Anti-Plagiarism and the Fight Against Plagiarism
The University has developed a Rules for the Prevention, Detection and Response to Plagiarism, which aims to promote scientific and academic activities at the University and to adhere to the norms of academic good faith. This rule applies to university staff and students, as well as to any person who participates in university-sponsored research activities or publishes a paper in a university publication. The document developed before approval is reviewed by the Board of each faculty. This process ensures the participation of all parties. The document is approved by the order of the Rector.
The University has plagiarism program: StrikePlagiarism.com. Program systematically deliver, search, and identify information from other sources. Helps evaluate text and indicates their location. The anti-plagiarism system detects the identical fragments in the document to be analyzed, which are placed in a database of different data, in Internet resources. The paper in the StrikePlagiarism.com system is checked by the university (course supervisor, qualification thesis supervisor, program supervisor or master and doctoral program coordinator) through specially created reports. Papers are placed in an open space which helps to raise awareness and prevent the detection of plagiarism. In case of plagiarism, the student's thesis is canceled. In case of plagiarism in master's and dissertation papers, the paper is not evaluated, the student is given the opportunity to submit the paper in the following semester.