Sudan Young Researchers Association (SYRA)

 

The Sudan Young Researchers Association (SYRA), hosted by the National University of Sudan, is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of Sudanese scholars. SYRA provides a structured platform for mentorship, collaboration, skills development, and outreach, empowering students and early-career researchers to produce high-quality, impactful research.

By bridging gaps between students, faculty, and external partners, SYRA fosters innovation and strengthens the role of research in advancing national development and evidence-based policy. The association promotes cross-disciplinary inquiry in fields such as health, agriculture, energy, environment, governance, and disaster resilience—equipping young researchers to address Sudan’s most pressing challenges with creativity and rigor.

Through mentorship, training, ethical research practices, and knowledge dissemination, SYRA aligns with the university’s mission to advance knowledge, support student development, and contribute to sustainable, locally driven solutions. By connecting academic inquiry with policy, practice, and international networks, SYRA aims to cultivate a vibrant research culture that prepares Sudan’s youth to become leaders in national and global scholarship

Objectives

SYRA’s objectives are:

  1. Build a vibrant, inclusive platform to develop and connect Sudanese undergraduate and early-career researchers for high-quality, impactful work aligned with national and international standards.
  2. Capacity-building and training: Provide structured mentorship and training to develop research design, methods, analysis, writing, and ethics skills.
  3. Research and innovation: Support and showcase student-led, interdisciplinary research projects that generate novel findings and practical recommendations.
  4. Collaboration and partnerships: Establish active collaborations with local and international institutions to broaden mentorship, resources, and opportunities.
  5. Dissemination and policy impact: Facilitate dissemination of research to policymakers, practitioners, and communities through briefs, reports, and public-facing outputs.
  6. Funding and sustainability: Create seed funding and sustainable financial/planning mechanisms to support ongoing research activities and growth.
  7. Ethics, inclusivity, and responsibility: Promote rigorous ethical practices, data integrity, and inclusive participation across gender, disciplines, and backgrounds.

Activities and Programmes

Mentorship and training

  • Research proposal development workshops
  • Statistical analysis and research methods bootcamps (quantitative and qualitative)
  • Academic writing clinics and peer-review circles
  • Ethics and responsible conduct of research sessions

Research seminars and communities

  • Quarterly research seminars by members and visiting researchers
  • Monthly journal clubs across disciplines
  • Interdisciplinary research groups addressing priority themes (health, agriculture, technology, governance, environment)

Fundraising and research support

  • Small grants for pilot studies, data collection, and pilot analyses
  • Assistance with grant writing and budgeting
  • Support for conference travel stipends and poster presentations

Outreach and dissemination

  • Policy briefs and evidence-informed briefs for ministries, NGOs, and community organisations
  • Public lectures and community engagement events
  • Collaboration with media for science communication

Opportunities and mobility

  • Internship and placement programmes with partner institutions
  • Exchange or visiting scholar opportunities within Sudan or abroad (where feasible