MUSCAT: Sohar University was awarded the constancy project Oman Food Waste Awareness Study, in a highly competitive bid on the joint-industry-academia EJAAD platform, by Oman Environmental Services Holding Company SAOC (be’ah).
The formal agreement, inked on November 8, 2023, between Dr Hamdan al Fazari, Vice Chancellor of Sohar University, and Mohammed Moosa Ibrahim, Chief Corporate Support Officer at be’ah, designates Professor Rakesh Belwal, Principal Investigator from the Faculty of Business at Sohar University, to spearhead the development of the baseline instrument and assess public food waste awareness in the Sultanate of Oman.
Professor Belwal, along with the support of researchers Dr Muhammed Shakil Ahmed and Fatma al Qasmi, has initiated a comprehensive study using a questionnaire-based survey and subsequent focus groups. This study is set to cover all governorates in Oman over the next eight months.
Dr Hamdan al Fazari affirmed Sohar University's unwavering commitment to collaborative research, highlighting the institution's distinction as the leading higher education institution in Oman for research quality. Professor Ghassan al Kindi, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation, congratulated Professor Belwal on securing his third consecutive research and consultancy project from be’ah, emphasising the university's dedication to excellence and growth.
In a statement on behalf of be’ah, Dr Farah al Barwani, Senior Manager - Research and Development at be’ah, stated, "This project aligns with be’ah's commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goals and Oman Vision 2040. The initiative aims to mitigate the economic, environmental, and social impact of food waste, in harmony with the broader vision for a sustainable future in Oman." Sohar University, rapidly advancing in research and consulting capabilities, has ascended to the 17th position among Arab institutions for the citation of published research articles. This significant accomplishment represents a remarkable 20-point rise in the QS Arab University Rankings this year.
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