Doha: The Ministries of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) and Sports and Youth have unveiled the second edition of the Outstanding Young Researchers Award, themed “Youth and Social Responsibility: Duties and Challenges… Qatari Society as a Model.” This initiative aims to enhance strategic collaboration between the ministries and foster scientific research among Qatari and resident youth.
According to Qatar News Agency, Director of the Department of Islamic Research and Studies at Awqaf, HE Sheikh Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Ghanem Al-Thani, emphasized the award’s role in encouraging young researchers to address societal challenges and propose practical solutions. The inaugural edition of the award focused on the issue of late marriage and its repercussions on youth in Qatari society.
The second edition comprises nine research themes, exploring the legal, educational, and cultural aspects of social responsibility, as well as values, national identity, voluntary work, and youth initiatives. It also tackles intellectual, cultural, and economic challenges facing young people in fulfilling these responsibilities.
Maha Al Rumaihi, Director of the Planning, Quality, and Innovation Department at the Ministry of Sports and Youth, highlighted that the award reflects the objectives of Qatar’s National Youth Policy. It underscores the ministry’s commitment to harnessing the potential of young people, guiding their interests towards community service, and nurturing a balanced national character.
The organizing committee has outlined specific participation criteria: researchers must be Qatari or residents aged 20 to 39, and their research must be newly prepared for the award in Arabic, following a rigorous scientific methodology. The research should be between 100 and 150 pages, submitted in both PDF and Word formats, alongside a CV and a copy of the contestant’s ID.
Collaboration among researchers is permitted, but non-compliance with conditions or violations could result in the withholding or withdrawal of the award. The prize pool exceeds 200,000 Qatari riyals, with 100,000 riyals for the first-place winner, 75,000 for the second, and 50,000 for the third.
The deadline for submitting research papers is set for Sunday, July 5, 2026. The scientific evaluation phase will commence immediately, focusing on content quality, analytical depth, and the realism of proposed solutions.