Institute of Scientific Research and Revival of Islamic Heritage

The Beginning:

Umm Al-Qura University is keen on encouraging scientific research and it has witnessed great advancement through the past years and the establishment of many research centers. That is why the University decided to join all of these centers under the supervision of one entity to coordinate their work and help in encouraging the scientific research process.

Specialized committees were formed to study the idea and submit the necessary suggestions to the University Council. After the University Council has reviewed the results of the study and the specialized committees' suggestions, it has recommended establishing the Institute of Scientific Research and the recommendation was approved by the University's Higher Council. The approval was endorsed by His Royal Highness and it was decided to establish the Institute of Scientific Research in 8/1/1406 AH.

Work actually started in the Institute in 9/4/1406 AH after joining all the individual scientific centers to it and they are: Revival of Islamic Heritage Center, Educational and Psychological Research Center, Islamic Education Research Center and Applied and Engineering Sciences Center.

In 19/4/1407 AH, the University's Higher Council in its first session in 1407 AH approved of establishing new research centers to cover all the scientific specializations in the University. Thus the Institute supervised seven scientific research centers; each specialized in a field of knowledge. The new centers were the Islamic Studies Research Center, the Social Sciences Research Center and the Arabic Language and Literature Center.

In 1417 AH, the eighth Engineering and Architectural Sciences Center was established. As a result, the Applied and Engineering Sciences Center was called the Applied Sciences Research Center, as per His Highness, the Custodian of the Two Sacred Mosques endorsement on the six session's agenda of the Higher Educational Council in 1/6/1417 AH pursuant to decree no. 7/5/1417.

The Institute includes the following research centers:

• Revival of Islamic Heritage Center
• Educational and Psychological Research Center
• Islamic Education Research Center
• Applied Sciences Research Center
• Islamic Studies Research Center
• Arabic Language and Literature Center
• Social Sciences Research Center
• Engineering and Architectural Sciences Center

In 1425/1426 AH, the Institute of Scientific Research and Revival of Islamic Heritage opened a branch in the Deanship of Academic Studies and a female vice-dean was appointed to it.

The Institute's Objectives:

The Institute aims at promoting the University's message, encouraging scientific research in different fields, caring for the Islamic heritage and linking the University to the community in an Islamic environment. This is achieved through:

• Putting a plan for the scientific research process and providing the suitable methods to execute this plan employing the human and financial means.
• Propagating Islamic thought and achievements throughout history and encouraging the scientific and academic researches.
• Gathering the Islamic heritage and giving it the due attention such as indexing it, editing it and making it available to researchers.
• Holding fast to the Islamic standards in the light of the sound belief in all researchers and activities.
• Encouraging the University's academic staff to conduct scientific researches in various fields that can enrich and serve the society.
• Cooperating with scientific and other organizations and institutions whether inside or outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to conduct researches and exchange knowledge and experiences.
• Publishing the scientific research results and providing the various scientific verification methods to facilitative the researcher's duties.
• Following up both Arabic and non-Arabic scientific researches, translating and publishing the beneficial ones.
• Making the necessary means and possibilities available to the academic staff and female researchers whether from inside or outside the University, with special attention to those dedicated to researching and providing the suitable scientific environment.
• Supporting and financing the research projects in all scientific and engineering fields which serve the society.

The board of the Institute consists of a chairperson who is the dean of the Institute, a secretary-general who is the vice-dean, and members represented in the dean of postgraduate studies, five managers of the Institute research centers, and seven persons from the teaching staff. The board carries out the following:

• Proposing the general policy of the Institute and supervising its execution
• Discussing the suggestions and research projects that are presented by other centers to the Institute and carrying out the needed recommendations about them
• Proposing the budget draft of the Institute
• Approving on the annual report of the Institute scientific achievements at the end of every year

Scientific and Research Services offered by the Institute:

First: Institute Databases

1. English databases

The Institute offers international databases in English, to help the researchers get the data and studies which they need. The following are examples of these databases:

• Applied sciences and Technology Index (Applied sciences and Technology Index 10/83 - 3/97)10/83 - 3/97)
• Educational sciences (articles) (ERIC _ 1966- December 1996)
• Educational sciences (books) (Education Library _ till 1995)
• Human sciences index (Humanities Index - Indexing Coverage (1/84-3/97)
• Psychology (articles) (Psyclit Journal Articles (1974-1997)
• Psychology (books) (Chapters and Books (1987-1997)
• Social sciences index (Social Sciences Index - Indexing Coverage (2/83-1/97)
• Social sciences file ( Socio File (till 1995)
• Medical sciences index (Medline on Silver Platter (1966- May 1997)
• Index of masters and doctoral theses in the American universities (UMI- Pro Quest (1861-March 1997)
• Electronic resources (Electronic Resources (till 1993)
• Engineering information (Engineering Information (1987-1995)
• Education general index (Education Index (till 1995)
• Books in press (Books in Print plus (till 1995)
• International bibliography in literature and languages (MLA Int. Bibliography)

2. Arabic Databases

The Institute has established a number of Arabic databases, which are:

• A database for the academic theses of Umm Al-Qura University, which includes the academic theses (masters and doctoral theses) which have been discussed in Umm Al-Qura University since its foundation and until the present time
• A database for the microfilm indices of the manuscripts available in the Microfilm Library of the Institute. This database includes information about 27 figures and more than 20, 000 microfilms.
• A database for the Arabic poetry encyclopedia, which aims at compiling the verses of Arabic poetry to correct, arrange and certify them in a way that facilitates finding any verse through analytical search indices
• A database for the Institute publications, which includes information about the books printed in the Institute of Scientific Research since its foundation and until the present time

Second: Research Services presented by the Institute:

• Communicating with King Faysal Center for Researches and Islamic Studies in Riyadh. This communication service has been provided by the Institute since 1409 AH. This center sends reports about the issues of masters and doctoral theses which are registered in the Center's database so as not to work on already discussed issues.

Libraries affiliated to the Institute:

• The Institute Library: It is the second library in the university following the Central Library in terms of its area, contents of books, Arabic and foreign periodicals, scientific reports, excerpts of researches and academic theses, and other materials which are indispensable for the researchers in any field. The library is well equipped to serve the needs of researchers and seekers of knowledge.
• Microfilm Library for Manuscripts: The Institute has exerted a great effort to provide more that 20,000 microfilms in all fields. The Institute also provides readers to serve the researchers and students desiring to read the manuscript microfilms. Also, the Institute indexes the contents of the library and prepares database for them, in addition to publishing a number of indices. The Institute has a special unit for photographing adjoined to the Microfilm Library for Manuscripts, and these microfilms are now being turned into CDs.