Qatar Foundation Research and Development (QF R&D) will be collate public opinion through a series of surveys to provide a comprehensive view of the research and development landscape in Qatar.
R&D activities are critical to the country’s transition into a knowledge-based economy, as envisioned by Qatar National Vision 2030 and outlined in national and sectoral strategic development plans.
QF R&D, one of the main pillars of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development ( QF), has commissioned Qatar University Social & Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) to conduct the surveys as part of the ‘Baseline Measurement Survey on General Public Awareness, Appreciation and Support for Research’ project.
Due to commence this month, the R&D’s research project supports QF’s on-going mission to cultivate in Qatar a culture of active citizenship, life-long learning and interest in research.
A workshop was held between QF R&D and SESRI to formalise objectives, design and methods ahead of the launch of the surveys. Participants discussed the need to identify a national representative measure of perceptions, knowledge, and support for R&D in Qatar.
SESRI will begin reaching out to nationals and white-collar expatriates, seeking their opinion with regard to expectations and perceived benefits of R&D in Qatar. This brief and confidential survey will be conducted by telephone from SESRI’s calling centre, targeting a statistically drawn sample of the resident population. Additional electronic surveys will be conducted with members of academia, public and private sectors, in addition to the media.
The results of these surveys are expected to provide a comprehensive view of the R&D landscape in Qatar, which in turn, will assist in identifying avenues for increasing awareness and support among the different target groups, and constructing a context-specific model of engagement with research, science, and technology. The survey results will also serve as the baseline for monitoring public support over time.