His Majesty Haitham bin Tarik has continued the process of giving superiority and interest in the education sector which began with great interest by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.
His Majesty has continued the process of giving, superiority, and interest in the education sector of its various types and levels, and to provide a supportive and stimulating environment while enhancing the importance of scientific research and innovation, saying, “It will be among our national priorities, and we will provide it with all the reasons for empowerment as it is the basis through which our children will be able to contribute to building the next stage requirements.”
The Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation confirmed that the Royal Speech of His Majesty in the Council of Oman strengthens the ministry’s programmes in support of academic and research institutions in keeping with the royal trends and providing a stimulating, attractive, and encouraging environment for scientific research development, innovation, and creativity, leading to an established economy and gain knowledge through innovation-driven startups.
Dr Saif bin Abdullah al Haddabi, Under-Secretary for Scientific Research and Innovation, points to the series of programmes that the Ministry is working on to provide a supportive and stimulating environment for researchers at various levels.
The ministry also provides a number of scientific and knowledge exchange opportunities for researchers and innovators to benefit from their peers in various countries of the world by involving researchers in the ‘Lindau’ meetings for Nobel Prize holders, the London Forum for Young Scientists, and the Falling Walls Laboratory Competition, which opens up opportunities for them to exchange experiences, acquire knowledge, and build partnerships, knowledge and investment for their research and innovative ideas.
The Scientific Research and Innovation Sector continued its efforts in implementing programmes and projects that support researchers and innovators in the Sultanate of Oman, as these programmes were developed to suit local aspirations and in line with various global developments. It approved 13 strategic programmes for the scientific research and innovation sector within the 10th Five-Year Plan 2021-2025, which is the first executive plan for Oman Vision 2040.
Among the results and achievements of interest in this sector are the creation of new specializations in higher education institutions and the support of research projects to enhance Oman’s ranking in the Global Innovation Index.
Oman’s progress in this year’s innovation index was the result of partnership and combined efforts between various national institutions and programs in improving innovation indicators across the national team.
The results of the report showed that Oman advanced 9 places in innovation outcomes, and the Sultanate was ranked among the top 20 countries globally in 5 sub-indices; as it achieved second place in the world in the percentage of science and engineering graduates out of total graduates, ninth in the world in the percentage of government spending per student, 16th in the world in the availability of information and communications systems technologies, 19th in business policies, and the same in labour productivity growth. This index jumped 93 places compared to last year.
The importance of the generous and inspiring motion reflects His Majesty’s belief in education, scientific research, and innovation and the role of these sectors in building the country’s present and future, which has been reflected positively in the roles played by the Ministry to provide national competencies with dynamic capabilities and skills that compete locally, regionally and globally and are consistent with the objectives of ‘Oman Vision 2040’.
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