Latest news with #ResearchandInnovation
Observer
4 days ago
- Business
- Observer
Forum highlights integration between academic, industrial sectors
More Omani students will benefit from the Siraj Foundation, an endowment foundation supporting education, during the 2025-2026 period, turning their dreams into reality, as announced by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. This announcement was made at the First Annual Forum to Enhance Integration between the Academic and Industrial Sectors, held under the auspices of Dr Rahma bint Ibrahim al Mahrouqiyah, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, at the Ministry's General Diwan office on Wednesday. During the forum, 18 agreements were signed to promote community engagement in enhancing education, with the primary goal of strengthening partnerships between higher education institutions and society. These agreements aim to cultivate a culture of endowment in support of education, focusing on raising awareness among students, teaching staff and administrative departments, as well as encouraging participation in educational institution events and activities. The forum also featured visual presentations from private higher education institutions, public and private sector organisations; and the Siraj Education Endowment Foundation. The Ministry also presented the Ejaad platform, emphasising cooperation between the academic and industrial sectors. Engineer Mahmoud bin Khalfan al Hadidi, CEO of the Siraj Foundation, expressed pride in expanding the network of partnerships with educational institutions to enhance social solidarity and support students in need. The Foundation is actively implementing initiatives and programmes to support education in Oman, including the "University Student Sponsorship" initiative and the "Siraj Advantages" electronic platform, which facilitate donations and support for students pursuing higher education. The First Annual Forum to Enhance Integration between the Academic and Industrial Sectors brought together institutions from both sectors and was attended by CEOs of public and private sector organisations, as well as presidents and deans of private higher education institutions. In his opening speech, Yahya bin Salam al Mandhari, Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, emphasised the importance of aligning higher education with the needs of the labour market to contribute to sustainable development, in line with Oman Vision 2040. The forum aimed to exchange experiences in areas such as scientific research, training for graduate students and financing projects in private higher education institutions, highlighting the significance of developing a flexible educational system to meet the demands of the changing times and supply the labour market with skilled national talents.
Observer
11-06-2025
- Business
- Observer
Oman calls for international cooperation in science
The Sultanate of Oman is participating in the 2nd Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange held in the People's Republic of China. The Omani delegation is headed by Dr Rahma bint Ibrahim al Mahrouqiyah, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. In her speech at the conference, Dr Rahma emphasised the importance of international cooperation in science and technology, praising the Belt and Road Initiative's role in strengthening scientific and research partnerships among participating nations. She also highlighted Oman Vision 2040 and its key pillars, which align with the objectives of the Science and Technology Exchange Initiative under the Belt and Road framework. She noted Oman's key achievements since its first participation in the initiative, including the signing of an MoU on science and technology cooperation. This has led to several collaborative programmes between Omani and Chinese universities, such as knowledge exchange in 'smart campuses,' enhanced scientific cooperation with Chinese private sector institutions — particularly global company Huawei — as well as student and researcher exchanges; and cultural cooperation through Chinese language education and Arabic teaching for non-native speakers. On the sidelines of the event, the Minister held talks with Lin Xin, Vice Minister of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, exploring ways to enhance scientific and technical exchange in priority research areas such as environmental sciences, food security, medicine, health sciences (including traditional medicine) and artificial intelligence. Discussions also covered expertise exchange in marine and ocean sciences, genetic resources and mutual invitations to scientific conferences, including the upcoming Arab-Chinese Conference scheduled in August 2025. Additionally, they reviewed cooperation in cultural exchange, teaching each country's language in higher education institutions and increasing mutual recognition of academic credentials. During her visit to Sichuan University in Chengdu, the Minister explored potential collaboration in scientific and research programmes, particularly in creative arts. She also discussed partnership opportunities between Omani private higher education institutions and the Chinese university, including joint exhibitions, young researcher training, bilateral research projects, cultural student events and cooperation in AI, IoT and modern technologies. — ONA
Muscat Daily
03-06-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Over 51,000 students register for higher education programmes
Muscat – A total of 51,027 students have registered for the 2025/2026 academic year through the Unified Admissions Centre of Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, marking completion of the first phase of the admissions process. According to the ministry, the figure includes 25,706 male and 25,321 female students. The applications are for a wide range of opportunities, including government higher education institutions, internal and private sector scholarships, as well as scholarships and grants from abroad. The next phase – the Modify Your Choices window – is set to begin following announcement of the General Education Diploma results in July. During this period, students can review and rearrange their academic choices based on their final grades in consultation with their families. To assist students in making informed decisions, the centre will release the results of a pilot screening in the first week of July. This preliminary screening will be based on first-semester performance and current programme preferences. Describing the Modify Your Choices phase as a cornerstone of the admission process, Unified Admissions Centre noted that registration at this stage is considered final for participation in the first round of screening. This will be followed by interviews, admission tests and medical examination, depending on programme requirements. A new procedure introduced this year includes a separate registration mechanism for private-funded study programmes at Sultan Qaboos University and for specialisation programmes at private universities. A dedicated guide for these programmes will be issued and registration will open once the first round of screening is complete allowing students to prioritise government-funded options first.
Observer
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Observer
Oman at persons with disabilities programme in US
NEW YORK: The Sultanate of Oman participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) for Persons with Disabilities in New York City, USA. The Sultanate of Oman's participation comes in confirmation of its commitment to supporting the rights of persons with disabilities and enhancing their capabilities. The participation brought together a group of leaders and practitioners in the field of disability representing several institutions, including the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, and the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, as well as a number of persons with disabilities. It aimed to learn about the American experience in providing programmes and services for persons with disabilities, exchange ideas and experiences, and learn about policies and legislation in place to promote the rights of this group. It also aimed to raise awareness and exchange knowledge between Omani experts and their international counterparts in this field. The programme included a series of workshops and dialogue sessions with experts specialising in the affairs of persons with disabilities, providing participants with the opportunity to develop practical strategies to improve the quality of life for this group in their communities. — ONA
Muscat Daily
31-05-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Omani inventors win three medals at ITEX in Malaysia
Muscat – Oman won one silver and two gold medals at the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2025) held in Kuala Lumpur that concluded on May 31. Badr bin Salim al Muqbali received a gold medal for his invention – a remote controlled device to operate a ring-bonding unit. Earlier, he won the Best Innovator Award presented by the Bunyan Foundation in Saudi Arabia. The second gold for Oman was claimed by Malak bint Khalifa al Harthi for her project involving a Portland cement composite reinforced with carbon nanoplates, proposed for use as dental filling. The silver medal was won by Yusra bint Yousef al Ghadani for her project titled 'Squid ink water filter'. Amna bint Ali al Siyabi, Research and Innovation Capacity Building Specialist at Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, described ITEX is a major international platform that allows young inventors to develop their ideas, connect with peers worldwide, and present their innovations to investors across sectors including medicine, agriculture, biotechnology, construction and energy. According to al Amna, the ministry received 59 applications for participation in ITEX this year. Twenty projects were shortlisted and assessed by a specialised jury, with the top three chosen to represent Oman based on creativity, feasibility and potential global impact. ITEX is held annually and brings together inventors, startups, investors and entrepreneurs from across Asia and Europe. This year's event featured over 1,000 inventions from more than 20 countries, offering opportunities for funding and industry exposure.
