Qatat Finance and Business Academic

QFBA

Celebrating Excellence in Financial Research

Welcome to the official page of the National Finance Researcher Award. This award is designed to promote excellence in financial research and is aligned with Qatar's National Vision 2030 (QNV2030). This initiative supports QNV2030 by fostering innovation and knowledge creation in the financial and banking sectors, which is essential for economic diversification and sustainable development in Qatar. This national award is designed to honor the innovative and impactful research done by Bachelor and Master students in Qatar, with a special category award dedicated to Qatari nationals.

About the Award

This award is offered by QFBA in collaboration with Doha Bank. This prestigious award will encourage and support the next generation of finance researchers in Qatar. Our goal is to foster a culture of academic excellence, creativity, and innovation, providing a platform for young researchers to showcase their work and contribute to Qatar’s finance and Banking sector growth and development.

Award Categories

The following awards will be presented to the top research projects:

  • Best Qatari National Finance Researcher Award: QAR 10,000
  • First Place (Bachelor’s Degree Research Project Award): QAR 10,000
  • First Place (Master’s Degree Research Project Award): QAR 10,000
  • Second Place (Bachelor’s Degree Research Project Award): QAR 5,000
  • Second Place (Master’s Degree Research Project Award ): QAR 5,000

Award Affairs Management

The Finance Researcher Award is managed by the QFBA Research Award Committee which will be responsible for the following key tasks:

  • Coordinating with Qatar higher education institutions for their nominations
  • Receiving and processing research submissions.
  • Ensuring that each submission meets all application requirements and adheres to high scientific standards.
  • Applying specific criteria to assess the quality, originality, and relevance of the research to short list projects for final review by the independent reviewers.
  • Overseeing the arbitration process, including the collection of feedback and recommendations from external reviewers.
  • Collaborating with nominated applicants throughout the submission and review process.
  • Reviewing and presenting final recommendations and outcomes from external independent reviewers to the award winners.

Research Focus/Topics

Research submissions should concentrate on topics related to the Finance, Banking and Economics ranging from but not limited to:

  • Personal Finance
  • Corporate Finance
  • Financial Markets
  • Behavioural Finance
  • Risk Management
  • Stock Market and Economic growth
  • FinTech and Digital Banking
  • Sustainable & Green Finance
  • Crowdfunding
  • Investor Behaviour
  • Banking Regulations and Policies
  • Islamic Finance and Banking
  • International Finance
  • Any contemporary topic related to Finance and Banking (e.g. Role of Technology in Finance and Banking sector, etc.)

Conditions for Submission Eligibility Criteria:

  • Applicants must be Qatari citizens or residents of Qatar.
  • Participants should be either recent graduates of 2023 and 2024 or currently enrolled in their final year of a bachelor’s or master’s degree program at an accredited academic institution in Qatar and likely to complete research by 1st December 2024.
  • Submissions will be made individually.
  • Each participant may submit only one dissertation.

Research Submission Requirements:

  • All submissions must be in English or Arabic
  • Dissertations must be original, unpublished, and not previously funded by other entities.
  • The research should adhere to high scientific standards, including rigorous methodology, thorough documentation, and proper referencing.
  • Research should be recent, completed within the 2023 and 2024.
  • Submissions must include a research poster that visually explains the key aspects of the research, in addition to the dissertation itself.

Poster Requirements:

  • Size and Format: The poster must be A1 size (594 x 841 mm) in PDF format, with a clear and visually appealing layout.
  • Content: Include the research title, researchers' names, abstract, objectives, methodology, findings, and conclusions. Highlight key visuals like graphs or images.
  • Clarity: Present information concisely using bullet points, brief explanations, and diagrams. Avoid text overload.
  • Design: Use readable fonts and colors that enhance clarity and engagement.
  • Review: Ensure the poster is reviewed by the student before submission for accuracy and quality.

General Terms:

  • Dissertations should be submitted in either PDF or Word formats, with the author’s name omitted from the files to ensure impartial evaluation.
  • A personal introductory paragraph about the author/student in English and /or Arabic must be included in the application.

Application Period:

Nominations of student projects by the Universities for the Finance Researcher Award will open on October 15th 2024 and will remain open until 1st December 2024.

Arbitration Process

The QFBA Award Committee reserves the right to make final decision based on external reviewers feedback. Each project will be evaluated from a total score of up to 100%. This comprehensive evaluation process is designed to enhance the quality of the research. The results and observations are then submitted to the Award Committee for final consideration and decision-making.

The decision of QFBA Award Committee will be final.

Judging Criteria

1. Originality and Innovation

  • Does the research introduce new ideas or perspectives in the field of finance or banking?
  • Is the approach unique and creative?

2. Relevance and Impact

  • How relevant is the research to current issues and trends in finance and banking?
  • What is the potential impact of the research on the industry or society?

3. Methodology

  • Are the research methods appropriate and well-executed?
  • Is the data collection and analysis robust and reliable?

4. Clarity and Presentation

  • Is the research clearly written and well-organized?
  • Are the arguments and conclusions logically presented?

5. Depth of Analysis

  • Does the research provide a thorough and in-depth analysis of the topic?
  • Are the findings well-supported by evidence?

6. Practical Applications

  • Can the research be applied in real-world scenarios?
  • Does it offer practical solutions or recommendations?

7. Contribution to Knowledge

  • Does the research contribute to the existing body of knowledge in finance and banking?
  • How significant is this contribution?

8. Ethical Considerations

  • Does the research adhere to ethical standards and practices?
  • Are any potential conflicts of interest disclosed?

How to Apply

Universities in Qatar will nominate up to 5 dissertations i.e. two Bachelor dissertations, two Masters dissertations and one dissertation from Qatari National. The QFBA Award Committee will contact nominated students and arrange submission of posters and dissertations.

Ceremony

An awards ceremony to announce the winners will be held in January. Further details regarding the ceremony will be provided closer to the date.

Post-Award Support

Winners will be mentored and encouraged to publish their research in conferences or peer-reviewed journals.

Contact Us

For any inquiries or further information, please reach out to us at:

Phone: +974 4496 8289

Email: FRA@Qfba.edu.qa