Muscat: Dr. Rahma Ibrahim Al Mahrouqi, the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, met today with Dr. Salim Araji, the Regional Director of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
During their discussion, both parties explored the current collaboration between the Ministry and ESCWA, emphasizing potential future partnerships. A key focus was the upcoming Conference on the Announcement of Oman in Higher Education, set to take place in October 2025 at Sohar University. This event will be organized in conjunction with various international organizations, including UNESCO, the American University of Beirut, and several Arab and global universities.
The conference aims to develop effective strategies for aligning higher education with the evolving needs of the labor market, particularly in the context of the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolutions.
It will highlight the latest technological advancements that assist educational institutions in adapting to rapid labor market changes, while also providing a framework for revising higher education policies across the Arab region. Additionally, a skills observatory will be established at multiple Omani universities.
The minister emphasized the necessity of adopting diverse educational models that offer various pathways to fulfill labor market demands. This conference is viewed as a significant initiative to strengthen the collaboration between Omani universities and colleges and higher education institutions both regionally and internationally, as well as with global organizations.
The minister also noted that in January 2025, Oman will unveil its initiative in scientific research, followed by the announcement regarding higher education in October.
Dr. Salim Araji, the Regional Director of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), outlined a preliminary vision for the upcoming conference. This vision encompasses proposed discussion topics related to higher education, including the impact of artificial intelligence on the sector, an assessment of the current state of higher education in the Arab world, and the importance of aligning private sector skills with educational institutions. Additionally, he emphasized the need to reassess higher education policies within the region and clarified the responsibilities of the conference organizers.
He conveyed the organization's commitment to establishing a productive partnership with the Ministry and educational institutions in the Sultanate of Oman. This collaboration, alongside relevant international organizations, aims to leverage the organization's technical expertise to align higher education outcomes with the evolving needs of the labor market. Furthermore, he highlighted the intention to work closely with educational institutions to evaluate the existing skill sets of graduates and to formulate recommendations and future strategies that will enable decision-makers to base their choices on accurate data.
