Latest news with #ScientificResearchandInnovation
Muscat Daily
6 days ago
- Politics
- Muscat Daily
Majlish A'Shura seeks fairer funding for private college students
Muscat – The Education, Scientific Research and Innovation Committee of the Majlis A'Shura met specialists from the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation on Monday to discuss the criteria for financial support provided to domestic scholarship students at private higher education institutions. The meeting, chaired by Jamal Ahmed al Abri, head of the committee, followed directives from His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to ensure fair support for Omani students across the higher education system. Discussions focused on how eligibility rules are set and the need to revise current regulations. Committee members stressed that students enrolled in private institutions should receive financial allocations comparable to those studying in public institutions. Members raised public concerns about what many see as an unfair funding system, pointing out that some families with children in private colleges are excluded from support due to criteria that do not always reflect their financial reality. Ministry officials said eligibility is determined by factors such as household income, family size and the distance between home and campus. They acknowledged receiving several complaints from parents and community members calling for a review of the system. During the session, the committee also reviewed a report from its recent meeting with the Oman Authority for Academic Accreditation and Quality Assurance of Education, which covered school evaluation policies. Members further examined the Ministry of Education's 2024 annual report.
Observer
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Observer
A smart way to clean your car's AC
Muscat: Engineer Mahmoud bin Mohammed al Hinai, a lecturer at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in Nizwa, has devised a smart method for cleaning and sterilizing the interior of a car's air conditioner without having to disassemble the dashboard, which will be mentioned by the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation in its magazine. The idea revolves around adding miniature sprayers, similar to the water jet sprayers found in cars, to clean the glass. These sprayers are installed in front of the air conditioner's evaporator (refrigerator) from the inside, and are connected to the sprayers with a tank containing special air conditioning cleaning fluids. These are environmentally friendly and available in the market at affordable prices. The cleaning process can be completed within minutes by the user or by maintenance centers. The cleaning fluids exit from the bottom of the car along with a special pipe for draining condensed water from the air conditioner. This innovation contributes to eliminating the unpleasant air conditioning odor that all car users notice when the air conditioner is turned on, which is caused by accumulation of dust, fungi, and microbes in the air conditioner's evaporator (refrigerator), which has cost some car companies more than a billion and a half dollars just because of the odour. Generally, cleaning the air conditioner without having to disassemble the dashboard is an expensive, tiring, and time-consuming process that results in more problems, such as annoying noises when the dashboard is reinstalled incorrectly. He will represent the Sultanate of Oman at the exhibition Geneva International Invention Fair 2025, supported by the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation.
Observer
13-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
PDO commits RO 4.4m to social investment projects across Oman
MUSCAT: Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has signed 14 landmark agreements worth around RO 4.4 million to fund a wide range of social investment projects, reinforcing its role as a key partner in Oman's sustainable development agenda. Signed on the sidelines of Oman Sustainability Week and the Oman Petroleum & Energy Show (OPES) 2025, the agreements span sectors including education, health, environment, and community infrastructure—directly supporting Oman Vision 2040 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 'These projects reflect PDO's deep-rooted commitment to social responsibility and its ongoing efforts to create lasting impact in communities,' said Dr. Aflah bin Said al Hadhrami, Managing Director of PDO. 'They also exemplify how strategic partnerships can drive development that is inclusive, innovative, and future-focused.' Education took center stage in PDO's new investments. A key agreement with the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation will fund 150 full scholarships for students in PDO's concession area for the 2025–2026 academic year—85 for diploma-level and 65 for bachelor's programs. PDO is also co-financing the establishment of the Emerging Technologies Unit at Sultan Qaboos University—an initiative expected to benefit over 20,000 students annually and support 3,000+ graduation projects in fields such as artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain, and cybersecurity. Five additional development programs—Ma'rifa, Ta'zeez, Tamayouz, Work Experience, and Engineering Village Camp—will be rolled out with the Ministry of Education to guide students' career paths and foster innovation. Two kindergarten classrooms will also be built in schools within the concession area. In partnership with the Ministry of Health and Daleel Petroleum, PDO will help expand the emergency department at Ibri Hospital, which serves over 50,000 patients annually. Another health facility will be built in Andat, Dhofar Governorate, improving access to care for residents and energy sector workers in the area. Environmental sustainability is also on the agenda. PDO will work with Nama Water Services to construct a desalination plant and distribution network in southern Ghubrah, Al Jazir, benefiting more than 300 residents. A camel cheese production facility will be established in Rakhyut through a partnership with Al Jisr Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), aimed at empowering over 4,000 camel owners and developing a new income-generating activity. PDO is also supporting upgrades to the camel racing track in Maqshan, Dhofar. PDO will fund defensive driving courses for 580 ambulance drivers in collaboration with the Royal Oman Police, provide high-tech equipment for SQU's Water Technology Laboratory, and help complete the final phase of the Bahla Cultural Center in Al Dakhiliyah. To nurture young talent, PDO will support 20 skills development programs at the Youth Center, reaching over 4,000 Omani youth. Additionally, the "Must'adad" program by Outward Bound Oman will benefit 500 young men and women, equipping them with essential life and leadership skills. The signing ceremony was attended by HH Sayyid Dr Fahd bin al Julanda al Said, President of Sultan Qaboos University, alongside undersecretaries, governors, and senior officials from participating institutions. —ONA
Muscat Daily
04-05-2025
- Science
- Muscat Daily
Young innovators shine at Environmental Hackathon
Innovative projects by young Omanis tackle environmental challenges during two-day event The Environment Authority has announced the winners of the Environmental Excellence Hackathon, held over two days in North Batinah Governorate. The event saw enthusiastic participation from young innovators and technology enthusiasts from across the Sultanate. The hackathon was held under the patronage of His Excellency Dr Saif bin Abdullah al Haddabi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation for Scientific Research and Innovation, and attended by His Excellency Dr Abdullah bin Ali al Amri, Chairman of the Environment Authority. Taking first place was the project titled 'Pure Activated Carbon', followed by 'Stark' in second place, and 'Bio Power' in third. Nizar bin Salem al Fanah al Arimi, Director of the Environment Department in North al Batinah, stated that the hackathon was designed to develop creative and technical solutions to environmental challenges. 'It aimed to encourage and support youth and developers in the environmental field, promote innovation, and find smart applications and platforms to address pressing environmental issues,' he said. He noted that the hackathon attracted a distinguished group of programmers, leading companies, job seekers and postgraduate students, who worked intensively over 48 hours to present innovative solutions to specific environmental problems. Participants exchanged ideas, designed prototypes, and built applications intended to improve environmental outcomes. The hackathon addressed a broad range of environmental topics, including coastal erosion, climate change, hurricanes, rising temperatures, invasive species, desertification, and overgrazing. During the closing ceremony, the Masar platform was launched to track performance indicators of employees in the North al Batinah Environment Department. The event also featured several working papers on environmental issues and a dialogue session focusing on the impact of climate change.
Muscat Daily
30-04-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Three Omani innovators selected for ITEX 2025 in Malaysia
Winners announced at Sohar University; projects include innovations in water filtration, dental materials, and remote control technology Muscat – The Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation has announced the selection of three young Omani innovators who will represent the Sultanate of Oman at the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2025), scheduled to take place from May 29 to 31 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Malaysia. The selected finalists are Yusra bint Yousef al Ghadani for her innovation titled 'Squid Ink Water Filter Project', Malak bint Khalifa al Harthi for her project 'Portland Cement Composite Reinforced with Carbon Nanoplates as Dental Filling', and Badr bin Salim al Muqbali for his invention 'Remote Control Device for Operating a Ring Bonding Unit'. The announcement was made during a ceremony at Sohar University, held under the patronage of H E Mohammed bin Sulaiman al Kindi, Governor of North Batinah. Amna bint Ali al Siyabi, Research and Innovation Capacity Building Specialist at the Ministry, stated that ITEX is among the most prominent international platforms for innovation, offering young inventors the opportunity to develop their projects, engage with their peers from around the world, and present their ideas to investors and industry experts across diverse sectors such as medicine, agriculture, biotechnology, construction, and energy. She explained that the Ministry received 59 applications for this year's edition, from which 20 innovative projects were shortlisted and evaluated by a specialised jury. The top three were then selected to represent Oman based on their creativity, feasibility, and potential global impact. Siyabi emphasised the Ministry's commitment to supporting Omani youth and encouraging a shift towards a knowledge-based economy. She highlighted the importance of international participation in helping young innovators turn their ideas into viable start-ups that bring added value to the national economy. ITEX is an annual exhibition known as the Inventions and Innovations Market. It attracts participants from over 20 countries in Asia and Europe and showcases more than 1,000 inventions across various categories. The event serves as a vital hub for inventors, investors, entrepreneurs, and experts to share ideas, secure funding, and promote technological advancement on a global scale.
