SQU research study wins 2023 National Research Award

MUSCAT, DEC 19

Omani researcher Marwa bint Nasser al Rajhiyah of Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) has been named the winner of the 2023 National Research Award in the Education and Human Resources sector, announced here recently.

Marwa’s winning research project, titled 'The role of cultural intelligence and adaptation methods for the level of problems faced by Omani scholarship students,' won the top award in the ‘Young Researcher’s category. The research paper unveils critical insights into the challenges confronting Omani students studying abroad, emphasising the indispensable role of cultural intelligence in surmounting these obstacles.

Al Rajhi's study addresses the spectrum of issues encountered by scholarship students: academic and cultural dilemmas, psychological stressors, and economic hurdles. The research, conducted on a diverse sample of 3331 male and female students across various international universities, spans both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, encompassing academic years from the first to the seventh.

Notably, a significant portion of the sample represents students in the UK and USA. The study's findings unveil an intricate network of direct and indirect relationships between cultural intelligence, adaptation methods, and the diverse challenges faced by students.

A higher level of cultural intelligence emerges as a direct correlate to reduced academic, cultural, and psychological problems. Cultural intelligence also exerts an indirect influence through positive adaptation, leading to a decrease in psychological issues. Conversely, a high level of negative coping methods is linked to an increase in various challenges faced by students.

The research further highlights the nuanced interplay between student gender and academic year, particularly in the realm of economic challenges. Females consistently grapple with higher economic problems compared to males.

While economic challenges for males show an initial increase before gradually decreasing, females face a relatively constant level of economic problems with slight fluctuations over the four years. The study underscores the absence of a similar effect on academic, cultural, or psychological problems but emphasises that females generally experience higher levels of these challenges than males.

Additionally, first-year students face heightened academic and cultural problems compared to their more seasoned counterparts. Al Rajhi's research not only provides a profound understanding of the challenges faced by Omani scholarship students but also offers tangible solutions to enhance their overall academic experience abroad.

Al Rajhi's recommendations are rooted in practicality, emphasising the need for training programmes before departure and integrated induction programmes upon arrival. She underscores the importance of financial education, particularly for females and students in their initial years, to mitigate economic challenges.

An innovative proposal includes the creation of an electronic platform or virtual association for Omani students on scholarship globally, fostering communication, support, and information exchange under the guidance of specialists from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation.