Challenges of Scientific Research from the Perspective of Faculty Members: A Field Study on Faculty Members at Ajdabiya University

Abstract

Scientific research constitutes one of the fundamental pillars for advancing knowledge and achieving progress across various academic and professional fields. It contributes to the production of new knowledge and the systematic and rigorous investigation of scientific and societal problems. Faculty members play a central role in promoting scientific research through conducting studies, producing scholarly work, and publishing their findings in specialized academic journals. Such activities enhance the quality of higher education and strengthen the standing of academic institutions. Although increasing attention to scientific research has become an unavoidable necessity and represents one of the most effective means of bridging the gap between developing and developed countries, an examination of the current state of scientific research in the Arab world clearly reveals the scale of the difficulties and obstacles confronting researchers and hindering research development. Several studies have reported a high level of research-related barriers in Arab countries and have highlighted the limited attention devoted to scientific research. Furthermore, the Arab Knowledge Index (2016) demonstrated the limited performance of Arab countries in this field and identified Libya as one of the three weakest Arab countries in terms of scientific research. This situation requires greater efforts to investigate the underlying causes and identify the principal barriers facing scientific research in Libyan institutions in general and at the University of Ajdabiya in particular, as this study seeks to demonstrate. Despite the considerable importance of scientific research, faculty members encounter numerous challenges that may affect their ability to conduct research efficiently and effectively. These challenges vary between personal, administrative, and academic factors, including limited funding, insufficient time due to teaching and administrative workloads, restricted access to recent scientific sources, and difficulties associated with academic publishing and its requirements. Accordingly, this paper aims to highlight the major challenges faced by faculty members in conducting and writing scientific research, examine their effects on the research process, and present recommendations that may contribute to reducing these challenges and strengthening a supportive research environment within higher education institutions in Libya.