Muscat: Under the patronage of Major General Khalifa Ali Al Siyabi, Assistant Inspector General of Police and Customs for Administrative and Financial Affairs, with the presence of Dr. Saeed Hamad Al-Rubaie, Vice Chancellor of the University, the "Citizenship and Digital Citizenship in Higher Education Curricula: Sustainable Horizons" forum was launched at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in AL Mussanah.
The event began with a speech by Dr. Nasser Salem Al Baimani, Assistant President Vice Chancellor at the branch, in which he said “This forum aims to promote and foster the values of citizenship and digital citizenship among the people of Oman in general, and university students in particular. This will be achieved by integrating these values into the educational curricula through well-structured plans that can be implemented through clear mechanisms and policies. The goal is to enhance citizenship, support national education, and make it a fundamental element in the strategies of higher education institutions.”
The forum contained a workshop titled "Enhancing Citizenship in the Digital Age: The Strategic Role of Higher Education Institutions," presented by Dr. Moza Al Saadi. The forum also included a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Hanan Abdulaziz Al Kindi with participation from academics and specialists. The discussion focused on several key topics including, the Educational Role of Mosques in Instilling Citizenship Values by Professor Dr. Muslim Salem Al Wahibi and the Role of Islamic Culture in Enhancing National Identity and Digital Citizenship by Dr. Ahmed Al Haddad. The session also discussed Citizenship and Its Importance in Higher Education Curricula by Dr. Aziza Abdullah Al Ta'i. and the values in Fifth-Grade Textbooks in Oman in Light of the 2020 Sustainable Development Goals by Dr. Hashil Said Al Ghafri.
The event included an accompanying exhibition and a student debate championship and was concluded with a musical performance by students and the final round of the student debate championship among participating universities.
The forum emphasizes the importance of Citizenship in Oman as a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable development. Oman Vision 2040 places significant emphasis on national identity, heritage, education, and scientific research, with the goal of developing national capacities capable of creating a society proud of its identity and committed to its responsibilities.