Latest news with #SaidbinHamoudalMaawali
Observer
21-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Digitalisation of curricula to empower teachers
The Ministry of Education, represented by the Directorate-General of Curriculum Development, and in cooperation with BP Oman, launched the Digitalisation of School Curricula Project for Grades 1–12. The event was held under the auspices of Eng Said bin Hamoud al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, and was attended by Dr Madeeha bint Ahmed al Shaibaniyah, Minister of Education. In his speech, Dr Abdullah bin Khamis Ambusaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Education for Education, emphasised the unprecedented opportunities brought about by digital technologies to enhance the quality of education. 'Education is no longer confined within the four walls of the classroom. It has become a vast space that transcends geographic boundaries and provides both students and teachers access to rich and diverse learning resources.' He said that the project directly empowers teachers with modern educational tools to deliver content more effectively and creatively while offering students a flexible and comprehensive learning experience that aligns with their individual needs and abilities. He added by saying that the project is an integral part of a broader vision for digital transformation in education, laying the foundation for a technology-based, future-oriented learning ecosystem. Yousuf bin Mohammed al Ojaili, President of BP Oman, expressed the company's pride in partnering with the Ministry of Education, stating that the initiative aims to empower teachers and enrich students' learning experiences through greater interactivity. He emphasised that the collaboration highlights the vital role of public-private partnerships in driving innovation and leaving a sustainable impact on education in Oman. The event featured a visit to a model interactive classroom, where a group of teachers and students presented sample lessons using digital textbooks and interactive screens. A short documentary on the project's development journey was also shown, followed by the official digital book launch and the honouring of BP Oman as the project's main sponsor. The digitisation process went through several key stages, beginning with the preparatory phase, which involved defining the technical and educational specifications for the digital content. This was followed by content analysis, scenario development, and quality review. Each digital book required up to 80 hours of review, totalling more than 4,800 hours for 60 books. A trial phase was then conducted in selected schools to gather feedback and refine the content. The final stage involves publishing the digital books through the ministry's Educational Technologies Portal and later via the Noor platform's digital repository, in line with broader national digital transformation projects. Media campaigns will also accompany the rollout to raise awareness. Dr Mona al Siyabi, Head of the Technical and Scientific Team for Digitising the English Language, said: 'In line with Oman Vision 2040, we have launched the first phase of developing digital interactive books for Omani schools. This phase focuses on transforming traditional textbooks into engaging digital formats for the early grades. "These new digital books are rich with interactive features, including games, activities and videos, designed to enhance the learning experience for students and support teachers in the classroom. They also serve as a helpful resource for parents at home. We aim to expand this effort to cover grades 5 through 12 in the upcoming stages." Currently, these interactive books are being piloted in selected schools, and we are collecting feedback from teachers and students to evaluate their experience and identify areas for improvement. The ministry aims to develop and transform traditional curricula into interactive digital content within the national educational platform. The project seeks to offer a variety of digital resources for different learning styles, support distance education using information and communication technology, foster self-learning and collaborative learning and equip students with future-ready skills. Ultimately, it aims to improve the quality of education, enhance student performance and provide accessible and effective digital learning tools. The project comprises 6 phases... the preparatory phase, the analysis phase, the educational scenario preparation phase, the digital production phase, a pilot phase and the digital book propagation phase (giving access to digital content via the e-learning portal and later via the Noor system).
Observer
21-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Project on digitalization of school curricula launched
Muscat: The Ministry of Education, represented by the Directorate General of Curriculum Development, and in cooperation with BP Oman, launched the Digitalization of School Curricula Project for Grades 1–12. The event was held under the patronage of Eng. Said bin Hamoud al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, and was attended by Dr. Madeeha bint Ahmed al Shaibaniyah, Minister of Education. In his speech, Dr. Abdullah bin Khamis Ambusaidi, Undersecretary for Education, emphasized the unprecedented opportunities brought about by digital technologies to enhance the quality of education, stating: 'Education is no longer confined within the four walls of the classroom. It has become a vast space that transcends geographic boundaries and provides both students and teachers access to rich and diverse learning resources.' He explained that the project directly empowers teachers with modern educational tools to deliver content more effectively and creatively, while offering students a flexible and comprehensive learning experience that aligns with their individual needs and abilities. He concluded by saying that the project is an integral part of a broader vision for digital transformation in education, laying the foundation for a technology-based, future-oriented learning ecosystem.
Observer
30-04-2025
- Business
- Observer
Forum highlights Oman's strategic maritime role
MUSCAT: The 1st Oman Maritime, Ports and Energy Forum concluded here yesterday, April 30, 2025 under the auspices of Eng Said bin Hamoud al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology. The forum under the theme, 'Exploring Commercial Opportunities to Drive Maritime Trade,' has been organised by Ship Energy and Asyad Group. It was attended by several key officials and dignitaries. In his keynote address, the Director General of Ports and Marine Affairs at the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technology, Muhanna Moosa Baqer, highlighted the significance of the event. 'This forum is important and timely on a number of counts. Firstly, it highlights the ambitions of Oman Vision 2040, which seeks to realise Oman's economic, technological, and human potential in the field of logistics and moving forward in harnessing the potential of the Sultanate of Oman's natural resources and production of renewable energy.' Baqer added: 'The world is on the cusp of a profound energy revolution, and Oman is intent on realising its potential to catalyse the changes required. Oman's ports have the advantages of geographical location beyond the busy Strait of Hormuz and Bab El Mandab. Its ports give access to over two hundred shipping lanes, offering direct links into markets in Africa, Asia, Europe, and The Americas.' Stella Kloth, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Oman, highlighted the significance of knowledge transfer and bilateral cooperation. 'When dealing with issues like climate change and the energy transition, sharing knowledge and cooperation is vital to achieve desired results and to create possibilities for innovation. Innovation can provide new opportunities and solutions to limit climate change and reduce the effects of it. Innovation can also help us in reducing the impact and make the maritime sector more sustainable and future proof. And this aligns seamlessly with the Oman Vision 2040 and with the sustainable development goals, and particularly SDG number nine, which stipulates that nations must build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation,' she said. Ambassador Kloth added, 'One major path for innovation in the maritime sector is the adoption of sustainable fuels and energy sources. This shift not only helps reduce the impact of climate change but also creates new opportunities for the export of sustainable fuels. By sharing our knowledge, we can accelerate the transition toward more sustainable fuels and energy sources, while also opening up new export possibilities.' The forum included multiple panels and keynote speeches discussing various aspects of maritime trade and energy. In addition to various specialised workshops. It concluded with a visit to the Margherita Cosulich bunkering tanker in Port Sultan Qaboos. According to officials, over 200 participants from 70 global institutions in the maritime and energy sectors took part in the forum.
Zawya
25-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman enhances cyber resilience in logistics sector
MUSCAT: In accordance with Oman Vision 2040, which emphasizes economic diversification, digital transformation, and human capital development, the Sultanate reaffirmed its commitment to cybersecurity with the inauguration of the 5th Oman Cybersecurity Conference on Thursday. Focusing on the theme, "Empowering Cybersecurity in the Logistics Sector", the conference was organized by Al-Roya newspaper, in collaboration with the Cyber Defense Centre and the Advanced Cybersecurity Academy. The conference opened under the auspices of Eng Said bin Hamoud al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology. In attendance were national and international experts sharing their perspectives on tackling the growing cyber threats to Oman's logistics infrastructure — a cornerstone of the Vision 2040 strategy to transform Oman into a competitive logistics center. Opening the conference, Hatim bin Hamad al Taie, Editor-in-Chief - Al-Roya, emphasized the need to inject cybersecurity into logistics planning, as both are essential to keeping modern economies afloat. "As cyber threats continue to grow globally, it is imperative that our supply chains are efficient and secure," Al Taie said. He mentioned Oman's unique geographical position and continued investment in ports and free zones as evidence of its growing role in regional and global trade. Al Taie also referenced the recent historic agreement on the world's first liquefied hydrogen corridor from the Global South to Europe as evidence of Oman's evolving role in global energy security. Eng Khamis al Hajri, Head of Cyber Defense Centre, delivered the keynote, quoting the vulnerability of global logistics networks to cyberattacks. He referred to the 2023 MOVEit breach that affected more than 93 million individuals as a chilling reminder. Al Hajri called for "Secure by Design" practices for ensuring cybersecurity from the onset. One of the highlights of the event was also the inauguration of the first national cybersecurity simulation exercise tailored to the logistics sector in Oman. The exercise aims at boosting digital preparedness, testing response to threat, and stimulating inter-agency coordination. Singaporean cybersecurity expert Leonard Kahou provided a general overview of how it's becoming increasingly difficult to secure logistics ecosystems. He warned that ransomware, data breaches, and social engineering tactics present increasing threats throughout supply chains — all the way to the end-user. Cyber Defence Centre engineer Hashem al Balushi revealed an alarming trend: Oman's logistics industry alone saw over 80,000 malware attacks and 37 advanced persistent threats within the first quarter of 2025. He advocated for robust protection mechanisms, including encrypted protocols, limited access permissions, and periodic system updates. Wrapping up the event, the Ministry of Labour's "Tashgheel" programme and several local businesses signed a memorandum of understanding to upskill Omani professionals in cybersecurity — doubling down on Vision 2040's focus on developing the workforce. The conference underscored the fact that a secure digital foundation is not a technical necessity alone, but rather a strategic necessity for Oman's sustainable development and economic future. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Observer
24-04-2025
- Business
- Observer
Oman enhances cyber resilience in logistics sector
MUSCAT: In accordance with Oman Vision 2040, which emphasizes economic diversification, digital transformation, and human capital development, the Sultanate reaffirmed its commitment to cybersecurity with the inauguration of the 5th Oman Cybersecurity Conference on Thursday. Focusing on the theme, "Empowering Cybersecurity in the Logistics Sector", the conference was organized by Al-Roya newspaper, in collaboration with the Cyber Defense Centre and the Advanced Cybersecurity Academy. The conference opened under the auspices of Eng Said bin Hamoud al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology. In attendance were national and international experts sharing their perspectives on tackling the growing cyber threats to Oman's logistics infrastructure — a cornerstone of the Vision 2040 strategy to transform Oman into a competitive logistics center. Opening the conference, Hatim bin Hamad al Taie, Editor-in-Chief - Al-Roya, emphasized the need to inject cybersecurity into logistics planning, as both are essential to keeping modern economies afloat. "As cyber threats continue to grow globally, it is imperative that our supply chains are efficient and secure," Al Taie said. He mentioned Oman's unique geographical position and continued investment in ports and free zones as evidence of its growing role in regional and global trade. Al Taie also referenced the recent historic agreement on the world's first liquefied hydrogen corridor from the Global South to Europe as evidence of Oman's evolving role in global energy security. Eng Khamis al Hajri, Head of Cyber Defense Centre, delivered the keynote, quoting the vulnerability of global logistics networks to cyberattacks. He referred to the 2023 MOVEit breach that affected more than 93 million individuals as a chilling reminder. Al Hajri called for "Secure by Design" practices for ensuring cybersecurity from the onset. One of the highlights of the event was also the inauguration of the first national cybersecurity simulation exercise tailored to the logistics sector in Oman. The exercise aims at boosting digital preparedness, testing response to threat, and stimulating inter-agency coordination. Singaporean cybersecurity expert Leonard Kahou provided a general overview of how it's becoming increasingly difficult to secure logistics ecosystems. He warned that ransomware, data breaches, and social engineering tactics present increasing threats throughout supply chains — all the way to the end-user. Cyber Defence Centre engineer Hashem al Balushi revealed an alarming trend: Oman's logistics industry alone saw over 80,000 malware attacks and 37 advanced persistent threats within the first quarter of 2025. He advocated for robust protection mechanisms, including encrypted protocols, limited access permissions, and periodic system updates. Wrapping up the event, the Ministry of Labour's "Tashgheel" programme and several local businesses signed a memorandum of understanding to upskill Omani professionals in cybersecurity — doubling down on Vision 2040's focus on developing the workforce. The conference underscored the fact that a secure digital foundation is not a technical necessity alone, but rather a strategic necessity for Oman's sustainable development and economic future.
