Last Update on: 17 April 2024

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1. Purpose
2. Scope
3. Definitions and Acronyms
4. Objectives
5. Duration
6. Annual Allocation
7. Eligibility Criteria
8. Benefits
9. Application Procedure
10. Review and Evaluation
    
11. Expectations
    
12. Visit Report
    
13. Deadline
    
14. Acknowledgements
    
15. Implementation, Compliance, and Reporting
    
16. Compliance and Performance Indicators
    
17. Document Amendment Information
    

1. PURPOSE

The purpose of these guidelines is to support the administration of the Hosted Sabbatical Leave Program for international and local (within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) scholars and researchers.

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2. SCOPE

1. These guidelines apply to the support of Hosted Sabbatical Leave Program giving opportunity of hosting distinguished faculty, researchers and/or scholars to visit KFUPM for exchange of experiences, contributing to on-going project, or expanding collaboration. The program provides an opportunity for international and local faculty and researchers to spend a semester or an academic year (flexible duration) at KFUPM.
   
2. These guidelines apply to all KFUPM faculty, researchers and external visitors to KFUPM.

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3. DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS 

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4. OBJECTIVES

1. This program aims to attract and host distinguished international and local faculty and researchers from reputable academic or research institutions to be hosted at KFUPM for a productive sabbatical leave experience.
2. The program seeks individuals who will contribute to the academic and research environment, collaborate with KFUPM faculty and researchers, and pursue their own research goals.

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5. DURATION

The visiting faculty or researcher should spend a minimum of one semester at KFUPM and can extend his/her stay to a maximum period not exceed 2 semesters.

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6. ANNUAL ALLOCATION

KFUPM is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive research environment. We encourage application of faculty and scholars from all backgrounds and nationalities. The program is subject to change based on institutional priorities and availability of funding.

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7. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

1. Applicants must be faculty or researcher at a reputable academic or research institutions either inside or outside Saudi Arabia. 
2. Applicant eligibility:
   • The unit host must be an academic department or research center or college or Vice President Office.
   • The external visitor should not be a graduate from KFUPM
   • Visitor should not be the advisor or mentor of the KFUPM (Host) faculty
   • The external visitor has not utilized the program before in the same fiscal year
3. Research affiliates from the Interdisciplinary Research Centers (IRCs) and professorial faculty members in academic department are eligible to apply for hosting Visiting Scholars or an external collaborator to KFUPM, provided all expenses are charged to externally funded project and with an approval of home-department/center
4. Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent terminal degree in their field of expertise
5. Applicants must have a strong publication record and demonstrate active research agenda aligned with KFUPM's research priorities.
6. Applicants must not have previously participated in a sabbatical leave program at KFUPM.

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8. BENEFITS

The University will provide the following support to the selected applicants:

1. Furnished housing on the KFUPM campus.
2. Annually (prorated) incidental expenses applicable only for international visitors to cover movement and living expenses based on evaluation for duration of one (1) semester or maximum two (2) semesters. Truly distinguished visitors can be offered an extension of their stay based on their performance and the internal university evaluation.
3. Medical Services on Campus applicable only for international visitors
4. Access to research facilities, laboratories, and libraries
5. Collaborative opportunities with KFUPM faculty and researchers
6. Participation in academic seminars, workshops, and conferences organized by KFUPM
7. For international visitors Visa and residency support for the duration of the sabbatical leave
8. Round-trip tickets (only once for international visitors)
9. Title at KFUPM as Visiting Professor based on rank

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9. APPLICATION PROCEDURE

1. Applicants are encouraged to reach out to relevant academic department or research center at KFUPM prior to submitting their application to explore potential collaborations and hosting arrangements
2. The application form will capture basic information about the applicant, their proposed research project, host department/research center at KFUPM, and desired sabbatical leave duration.
3. The research proposal should clearly outline the applicant's proposed research project, its objectives, methodology, expected outcomes, and potential impact on KFUPM's research landscape. It should also demonstrate alignment with the host department/research center's research themes and existing collaboration opportunities
4. An updated CV highlighting the applicant's academic qualifications, research achievements, publications, and teaching experience.
5. A letter from the applicant's home institution confirming their leave of absence and expressing support for their participation in the program

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10. REVIEW AND EVALUATION

1. After being evaluated by the Center Directors/Department Chair, apart from the Scientific Council, a Special Committee appointed by the Vice President for Research and Innovation will evaluate the application to ascertain that the above criteria and guidelines have been taken into consideration. 
   
2. The selection criteria will include:
   • Alignment of research interests with KFUPM's research priorities.
   • Strength of the research proposal
     
   • Applicant's academic and research achievements.
   • Potential for continuous collaboration with KFUPM faculty
   • Endorsement from the collaborating institution
   • Availability of resources at KFUPM
3. The application could be discussed by the Visiting Scholars Special Committee and Visiting Scholars and Postdocs Office and is either:
   • Recommended for immediate approval, or
   • Not recommended for approval
4. The final approving authoring lies with the President

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11. EXPECTATIONS

• Teaching one (1) course per year.
• Co-supervising graduate students
• Co-developing a research lab
• Co-leading research project
• Attracting Postdocs and Graduate Students

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12. VISIT REPORT

1. The program will be administered by the Office of Visiting Scholars and Postdocs and fully responsible on supporting departments/centers and visiting scholars to assure outcomes such as:
   1. publications in reputed journals with the host professor;
   2. evidence of academic and/or research collaboration with the host institution/professor;
   3. a joint research project with the host professor;
   4. recruitment of reputable faculty/researchers to KFUPM
2. Upon completion of the visit, the host unit should submit a brief report to DROC.
3. Such outcomes should result from this specific program and should not have been obtained prior to visit.
4. A sample of the report, requirements and guidelines, are available on the DROC website or applicant could use the template provided by the Department Chairman/Center Director.

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13. DEADLINE

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but early submission is encouraged. Please refer to the KFUPM Research and Innovation website for specific deadlines

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14. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

1. Proper acknowledgment of KFUPM support in all publications/presentations and other outcomes resulting from the program is mandatory.
2. Publications or other outcomes with no acknowledgement would not be considered as program outcome(s).
3. Multiple acknowledgements will be treated as per announced policy (Examples of Typical cases and acknowledgements are available at Multiple Acknowledgements Guidelines).

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15. IMPLEMENTATION, COMPLIANCE, AND REPORTING

1. DROC shall implement these guidelines.
2. The DROC shall monitor the Hosted Sabbatical Leave Program.
3. Non-compliance with any provision in these guidelines shall be reported to DROC.

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16. COMPLIANCE AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 

In monitoring and reviewing the implementation of these guidelines, the following compliance and performance indicators shall be used:

1. Number of hosted sabbatical completed each year;
2. Submission of visit reports within one months of the visit end date;
3. New externally funded projects resulted from the visit;
4. Number of collaborative journal articles (ISI/Scopus indexed) by recipients and host;
5. Number of collaborative conference papers (ISI/Scopus indexed) by recipients and host;
6. Number of technology transfer to KFUPM.

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17. DOCUMENT AMENDMENT INFORMATION

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