Muscat: The University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) on Monday began the second edition of a forum titled 'Universities of the Future in the Era of Digital Transition and Artificial Intelligence (AI)'.
The two-day forum seeks to consolidate the role of government institutions and higher education institutions in their drive to implement digital transition projects, enhance individual capabilities and spread knowledge.
The ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr Rahma bint Ibrahim al Mahrouqiyah, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.
The forum is aimed at providing innovative technical solutions that contribute to business management, addressing challenges and realising institutional change.
The event is being attended by 35 specialists from the Sultanate of Oman and abroad. It includes a number of dialogue sessions and specialised workshops that contribute to deepening understanding and employing digital technologies in the field of education. It will also review key challenges and opportunities for introducing modern technologies in universities.
An exhibition to be held on the sidelines of the forum will showcase samples of student innovations and models designed by leading companies in the field of educational technology.
Dr Hamoud bin Amer al Wardi, Dean of the College of Education in Al Rustaq and Chairman of the Forum Committee, stressed the Sultanate of Oman’s commitment to digital transformation as an essential part of its future vision.
He pointed out that Oman Vision 2040 has made digital transformation a key element for achieving sustainable development, enhancing the digital society, and building a thriving knowledge economy.
Dr Al Wardi added that the forum reflects national efforts to develop competencies and achieve operational efficiency in educational institutions. He also thanked the companies and government institutions that contributed their expertise and digital solutions to support these efforts.
For her part, Dr Huda bint Salim al Shueiliyah, Vice-President of the University for Electronic Systems and Student Services and Head of the Forum’s Supervisory Committee, stated that the forum comes within the framework of the university’s efforts to achieve its vision of excellence and innovation. She pointed to a number of projects implemented by the university in this context, such as unifying e-mail domains, upgrading the technical infrastructure, and improving network systems and cloud computing in cooperation with Oracle Oman.
She added that the university has launched several smart platforms, including the LeanSmart platform, which provides interactive and customised educational resources, and the EnCoach platform, which provides personalised training based on instant data analysis. The university also launched Murshed, a smart Arabic-language chatbot that provides instant answers to university affairs and student issues, with the ability to develop and add future features.
In addition, the university launched a central system for managing university libraries, and integrated the websites of all its branches under a unified domain to improve digital identity and enhance operational efficiency.
As part of its commitment to scientific research, the university announced the establishment of the ISESCO Chair for Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. The chair aims to address ethical issues related to the rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies, support scientific research, and localise artificial intelligence technologies to serve the economic and industrial sectors in the Sultanate of Oman.
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