The Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), in partnership with Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press (HBKU Press), recently launched a scientific journal to support Arab families.
The launch was made in an official ceremony, which coincided with the sixth cycle of DIFI’s OSRA Research Grant. DIFI is a member of Qatar Foundation.
In support of Arab families
The DIFI journal and the OSRA Research Grant aim to support innovative and high-quality research development to enhance knowledge on issues facing Arab families, as well as provide policymakers with evidence-based policy and programme recommendations.
DIFI Executive Director Dr Sharifa Noaman Al-Emadi spoke at the ceremony, emphasising the ethical and institutional role and commitment of DIFI in producing, publishing and supporting scientific research, which policies and interventions are built upon.
It was necessary for us, after years of producing various knowledge guidelines pertaining to complex topics of interest to Arab families, that there be a scientific platform specialising in family issues allowing researchers to publish scientific and academic studies.
She then invited researchers to apply to publish their research.
Speaking about the OSRA Research Grant, Dr Al-Emadi said they have been able to through five cycles of the grant, support 48 research projects related to Arab families in various parts of the Arab world, aimed at enriching the Arab research agenda with various family topics.
Dr Al-Emadi concluded her remarks by thanking the Qatar National Research Fund for the support they have provided to the grant process and the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council for the technical support in launching the DIFI grant platform.
Dr Rima Isaifan, Head of Academic and Journals Publishing at HBKU Press and a joint Associate Professor at the HBKU College of Science and Engineering, presented an overview of the DIFI journal.
She said that the DIFI journal marks a valuable addition to the peer-reviewed journal portfolio at qscience.com because of its unique contribution to family research and policy-related topics. She added that HBKU Press has the privilege of working hand-in-hand with DIFI to disseminate and promote evidence-based knowledge towards developing family-related policies at national, regional and international levels.
Family Research Expert Dr Azza Abdel-Moneim and Researcher and Grants Specialist Fatima Al-Mutawa, both from DIFI, also provided overviews on the terms and conditions of publishing in the journal, as well as the OSRA Research Grant objectives, priority research areas identified for the sixth cycle, and eligibility of participants.
Check out Marhaba’s FREE e-Guides for everything you need to know about Qatar.