Oman Tech Summit: AI’s Impact on Education & Research
▼ Summary
– The Oman Research and Education Network Technology Summit (OTS25) opened in Muscat, focusing on AI’s role in transforming education, research, and innovation in Oman.
– The event was inaugurated by the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation and featured Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Al Ghamdi from SDAIA as guest of honor.
– Interactive panels and workshops showcased AI tools, with officials emphasizing integration into education, talent development, and cross-sector adoption.
– UNESCO expert Prof. Marc-Antoine Dilhac highlighted the need to balance AI innovation with ethics, promoting transparency and creativity in learning.
– The summit concluded by reinforcing AI’s potential to drive Oman’s digital economy, enhance productivity, and support a resilient, inclusive society.
The recent Oman Technology Summit (OTS25) powerfully underscored artificial intelligence’s transformative role in reshaping education and research across the Sultanate. Held at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, the two-day event was inaugurated by Dr. Rahma bint Ibrahim Al Mahrouqiyah, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, with Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Al Ghamdi, President of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, attending as the guest of honor. This gathering united academics, government leaders, and international specialists to examine how AI can revolutionize curriculum design, personalized learning pathways, and practical research, aligning directly with Oman’s National AI and Advanced Technologies Programme and its wider digital transformation strategy.
A central theme of the summit was accelerating the integration of AI throughout the educational landscape. Through interactive panel discussions, hands-on workshops, and live technology demonstrations, participants explored practical applications of AI tools in classrooms. Najah bint Mohammed Al Rashdiyah, Director-General of the Innovation Centre at the Ministry, stressed the government’s dedication to embedding AI into the education system, identifying collaboration and long-term sustainability as critical factors for success. Dr. Ali bin Amer Al Shaithani, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, detailed Oman’s strategic AI roadmap, focusing on nurturing local talent, establishing human-centric governance frameworks, and encouraging AI adoption across different economic sectors.
The ethical dimensions of AI in education received significant attention. Prof. Marc-Antoine Dilhac, a UNESCO AI Ethics Expert from the University of Montreal, delivered a keynote address on “Learning and Teaching in the Age of Generative AI.” He highlighted the crucial need to balance technological innovation with strong ethical principles, urging educators to champion transparency, develop prompt engineering skills, and foster creativity within AI-enhanced learning environments.
The event also served as a platform for strengthening regional and international cooperation. Dr. Al Ghamdi shared valuable insights from Saudi Arabia’s journey in scaling AI initiatives, with a particular focus on advancing women’s participation in the field, stimulating job creation, and developing AI models. His presentation reinforced a shared regional vision for responsible and inclusive innovation. OTS25 facilitated numerous partnerships, technology transfer agreements, and capacity-building programs linking academic institutions, industry leaders, and government entities. The accompanying ‘Future Path Exhibition’ displayed a range of AI-driven projects from twelve academic institutions, while the SDAIA Pavilion attracted considerable interest with its demonstrations featuring drone technology, 3D printing, and virtual reality applications.
Looking toward the future, the summit’s concluding sessions explored the relationship between AI and the digital economy. This included the announcement of the “Gamathon” Hackathon winners, a group of innovators creating AI-powered solutions designed to bolster Oman’s knowledge-based economy. Throughout the discussions, experts consistently pointed to AI’s extensive impact beyond the classroom, emphasizing its potential to boost productivity, drive innovation, and unlock new economic opportunities, all while maintaining a steadfast commitment to ethical and sustainable implementation. The successful conclusion of OTS25 reaffirmed Oman’s deepening investment in artificial intelligence as a cornerstone for building a resilient, inclusive, and forward-looking society.
(Source: MEA Tech Watch)