1. The need to cope with the advance of science and technology. Universities are forced to turn into ‘forward-thinking institutions’ so as to adapt, evolve and meet future challenges.
2. The need to improve the quality of knowledge and accordingly the quality of education. Institutions of higher education are required to provide students with the most up-to-date, accurate, reliable and adequate information in all subject areas. Equally essential to the universities, is the student and faculty’s involvement in scholarship and creative exploration activities that increase their understanding of the world and inspire and enrich their learning and teaching expertise.
3. The need to remain abreast with the dynamics of development (modernization), and mutual understanding of cultures. In the age of globalization, NDU’s role is to maintain a strategy by which it can strengthen itself and the community against the threats posed by the rapidly changing society, and the intense global competition.
4. The need to provide industry with expertise, knowledge and resources. Industrial firms need to have access to highly trained students and facilities. NDU has always rendered those services through its research centers and faculty who should always help industrial firms become more effective and profitable.
5. The need to improve universities’ academic environment and performance. For NDU, institutional research has always provided valuable support to better institutional management, decision-making and planning functions. Such kind of research is a continuous process, and will always lead to better institutional development.

Consequently, the Research and Development Office has set a five-year plan which would enable NDU to distinguish itself as one of the leading research institutes in the region. As for the academic year 2007-2008, the following objectives will guide NDU’s research activities:

1. Enhance and support industry-university research through building new industrial partnerships or raising the intensity levels of existing ones.
2. Establish collaborative agreements with other universities and/or research centers locally, regionally and internationally;
3. Develop an institutional research process whose main objective is to collect, sort, analyze and disseminate accurate, verifiable information about NDU’s environment and performance.
4. Coordinate institutional assessment and research activities;
5. Encourage joint faculty research projects, particularly in interdisciplinary areas.
6. Identify new industries, commerce, private foundations, governmental agencies that would support research projects and activities;
7. Review existing policies pertaining to research and development and devise new ones as needed.

The University expects that the majority of faculty members and graduate and senior undergraduate students will be active in research. Accordingly, the Office of Sponsored Research and Development is committed to provide the necessary support to foster their research activities.

For the past twenty years, NDU has proved to be an extraordinary teaching institution; it has been enhancing its research stature as one of the leading universities. With more determination and enthusiasm, NDU will always strive to develop and sustain a fertile and stimulating environment for learning, teaching and public service.