Speakers from 13 countries discuss empowering university students in foundation programme
Sohar: The First Foundation Programme Conference on Empowering University Students in the 21st Century commenced today at Sohar University in North Al Batinah Governorate.
The conference features speakers and academics from 13 countries alongside higher education institutions in the Sultanate of Oman.
Dr. Hamdan Sulaiman Al Fazari, Vice Chancellor of Sohar University, emphasised that the conference aligns with global trends in empowering university students within foundation programmes, addressing developments in higher education and modern disciplines in line with labour market demands and student aspirations.
He added that higher education institutions undertake a pivotal role in empowering students and fostering their transformation in the 21st century by investing in human capital, offering programs, policies, and platforms that not only prepare students for careers but also cultivate them as future creative and innovative leaders. These initiatives provide programs and specialisations that meet labour market needs, align with technological advancements, and keep pace with artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
The conference includes 13 parallel sessions featuring 56 scientific presentations and working papers, which explore key areas such as artificial intelligence in language teaching and learning, assessment and feedback, enhancing student engagement in learning environments, student autonomy and 21st-century skills, digital integration, critical thinking, academic integrity, and innovation in education.
Additional topics focus on AI literacy and educational innovation, developing language skills using AI, assessment and feedback strategies, learner autonomy and self-evaluation, innovative language teaching methodologies, integrating AI and critical thinking, digital technologies and academic integrity, as well as 21st-century skills and digital competencies.
The conference brings together 80 speakers from universities and educational institutions in Oman, alongside academics and experts from 11 countries, which are France, Spain, Morocco, the UAE, Malaysia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, the People's Republic of China, Iran, Nigeria, and Algeria.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
3 days ago
- Observer
Workshop looks at advancing coastal water sustainability
SUHAR: As part of its commitment to advancing scientific research and environmental sustainability, Sohar University hosted a high-level workshop on Monday entitled: 'Assessing the Impact of the Decision Support System for Coastal Waters (DISCO) on Stakeholders'. The event was organised in collaboration with the Directorate-General of Fisheries Research at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, and comes as part of the ongoing activities under the DISCO research project, which is strategically funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation and receives a funding support from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The workshop commenced with a keynote address by Prof Kelvin Bwalya, Director of Research Development at Sohar University. He began by warmly welcoming the delegates on behalf of Vice-Chancellor Dr Hamdan al Fazari, quoting, "I extend a warm welcome to all the delegates to this prestigious event. Sohar University is always happy to host internationally recognised events to reaffirm our commitment to meaningful research that aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Oman Vision 2040." Prof Bwalya further expressed pride in the university's collaboration on a Nasa-funded research project alongside esteemed partners from the USA and Oman's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources. Dr Dawood al Yahyai, Director-General of Fisheries Research, delivered another keynote address. He emphasised the critical role of the DISCO system in advancing sustainable marine resource management and enabling data-driven environmental decision-making through cutting-edge monitoring technologies. Led by Prof Dale Kiefer, Principal Investigator from the University of Southern California, the research team presented the developmental journey of the DISCO system and its technical capabilities in monitoring oceanographic and environmental conditions of coastal waters. Presentations were also delivered by Suad al Bimani from the Marine Science and Fisheries Centre, highlighting the key challenges facing Oman's coastal ecosystems. Dr Scott Burg and Prof Rakesh Belwal from Sohar University presented the methodology used for stakeholder impact assessment, which is part of the new evaluation phase of the project supported by Nasa. The scientific programme featured six main sessions, including live demonstrations, scientific presentations and interactive discussions. The participants were divided into two parallel focus groups to evaluate user needs, provide feedback on the system's capabilities, and explore ways to enhance its adoption and impact across relevant sectors. The event brought together experts and representatives from major national institutions, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, Royal Navy of Oman, OQ, Majis Industrial Services, Sultan Qaboos University, the National University of Science and Technology, the University of Technology and Applied Sciences and Sohar University.
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Times of Oman
OPAZ engages with the community via ‘Tajawob' platform
Muscat: The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (Opaz) engaged with several suggestions, complaints, reports and inquiries submitted via the national platform 'Tajawob' until the end of May. A total of 44 requests were received, including 12 suggestions, 10 complaints, 20 inquiries and 2 reports, reflecting a growing interaction aimed at enhancing public participation tools. Dr. Ahmed bin Saif Al Mamari, Acting Director of Customer Services Department at Opaz, confirmed that all requests received via the platform have been given due attention since its launch in late February. Complaints were handled within record timeframes, with the shortest response time recorded at under 10 minutes and the longest at two days. Most inquiries focused on investment procedures, company registration and investor visas. Complaints, meanwhile, were referred to the relevant departments for resolution. He stated that the received suggestions were diverse, including the development of incubators in industrial cities, enhancement of the tourism front in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (Sezad), and the renaming of certain industrial cities under the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn). All suggestions have been referred to the relevant departments within the Authority and the zones it supervises for study and evaluation. Al Mamari also mentioned that some of the submissions received via the platform included innovative proposals, reflecting the level of public engagement with global technological and scientific advancements. One notable suggestion involved utilising the advancements in drone technology for the transport sector, which was referred to a specialised consultancy, while technical experts in the zone provided their input directly to the proposer. The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones affirmed that the national platform for suggestions, complaints, reports and inquiries, will contribute to strengthening community partnership and effective communication, as well as improving the business environment through continuous engagement, high transparency and prompt responsiveness.
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Times of Oman
Oman making efforts to be among top in global innovation index by 2030
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman is making dedicated efforts to support research and innovation, which has resulted in its advancement by 10 positions in the Global Innovation Index (GII) issued by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) over four years—rising from 84th to 74th place. Additionally, Oman improved its ranking in innovation outputs by 23 spots, moving from 109th to 86th. In this context, Dr. Saif Abdullah Al Haddabi, Undersecretary for Research and Innovation at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, affirmed to Oman News Agency (ONA) that the recent commendation by the World Bank for "Oman Vision 2040"—which places significant emphasis on human capital development, education quality enhancement, and fostering a culture of research and innovation—reflects the concerted efforts of all relevant stakeholders working diligently to achieve the vision's goals. He stated that Oman, under "Oman Vision 2040," aims to rank among the top 40 countries in the Global Innovation Index by 2030 and among the top 20 by 2040. He explained that the innovation index is one of the most critical indicators in "Oman Vision 2040," as it influences competitiveness and other key metrics. The index is measured by WIPO, drawing data from the World Bank, UNESCO, and 13 other global institutions. At the national level, he noted, the index is measured through infrastructure and digital framework programs. This includes research centers such as the Muscat Innovation Complex as an established infrastructure, as well as Oman Research and Education Network (OMREN), which covers nearly 99% of institutions and connects all universities and colleges in Oman, offering over 23 services. He highlighted the development of digital infrastructure through Oman Research Portal, an integrated digital platform managing research programs—evaluating, funding, and tracking their performance. Additionally, efforts are underway to establish a research equipment platform cataloging and classifying research tools used by academics, industrial institutions, and other stakeholders. Al Haddabi added that the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation implements numerous programs supporting scientific research in Oman, categorized into three main initiatives targeting academic, governmental, and industrial sectors. The Scientific Publishing Program, he noted, serves as an international benchmark for knowledge production, tracking publications in prestigious scientific journals. This programme enhances Oman's standing in the Global Innovation Index's knowledge output metrics. Since 2018, the Ministry has funded 2,228 research projects under the Academic Sector Research Support Program ("Performance-Based Institutional Funding"), including 475 projects last year worth approximately OMR2.4 million. Under the Strategic Research Programme for the government sector, addressing institutional challenges, 74 projects were funded, while the Industrial Sector's "Ijada" Program supported 61 projects with a total investment of OMR2.5 million. Al Haddabi emphasised that these integrated programmes, initiatives, and funding mechanisms collectively advance "Oman Vision 2040" objectives, elevate Oman's global rankings, and enhance the efficiency of national research and innovation. As for innovation and capacity-building programmes, he outlined 13 initiatives, including the National Program for Supporting Innovation Centres in Higher Education, the Student Graduation Projects to Startups Program, the Falling Walls Competition, and national research awards honouring scholars across sectors. Omani innovators and researchers also participate in international competitions such as the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions, the Kuala Lumpur International Invention Awards, and the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. He touched on the four pillars of the National Innovation Strategy, namely Knowledge-Based Economic Diversification (Transforming traditional products into high-value outputs using technology and knowledge), Human Capital (Investing in education, skills, and cognitive development to foster innovative solutions), Institutional Integration (Strengthening collaboration among government, academic, and industrial entities to address national challenges) and Intellectual Property (IP) (Protecting innovators' rights and patents to ensure long-term investment in innovation, where IP assets like patents are key intangible resources for licensing or commercialization). On future plans, he stated that the Ministry is implementing structured strategies to support academic innovation through establishment and empowerment pathways, including six university incubators. Programs are designed to be flexible and scalable for maximum researcher and innovator benefit. Upcoming initiatives include launching "Oman Innovates," a national platform centralizing innovation services—facilitating access to support, registration, funding, and investor connections—to serve as Oman's digital innovation hub. In conclusion, Al Haddabi underscored the media's vital role in promoting scientific and innovation culture, which is fundamental to nurturing a generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. He observed growing awareness in schools and universities through competitions and events, reflecting the nation's progressive strides in research and innovation.
