News & Event

The University of Buraimi hosted the symposium on: "The Role of Research Chairs in Enhancing Education, Scientific Research and Knowledge Transfer", under the auspices of HE Prof. Dr. Rahma bint Ibrahim Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation. The symposium was organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation and Ministry of Education, represented by the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, with the online participation of experts from international and regional organizations concerned with education, culture and science (UNESCO, ICESCO, ALECSO), in the presence of a number of Their Excellencies and heads of research chairs.

The symposium targeted heads and professors of scientific chairs inside and outside the Sultanate of Oman, researchers, and students of higher education institutions. It aimed to introduce the concept of research chairs, their importance, and their role in enhancing education and scientific research, as well as providing participants with skills in establishing and managing research chairs. The symposium also aimed at exchanging expertise and experiences between educational and research institutions on establishing and managing research chairs from inside and outside the Sultanate of Oman.

The one-day symposium highlighted the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation’s interest in supporting the establishment and activation of research chairs, the role of international organizations in supporting research chairs to achieve sustainable development goals, presenting successful experiences and good practices in establishing and investing in scientific chairs, and building partnerships between scientific chairs and university networks worldwide.

During the opening ceremony of the symposium, Dr. Mahmoud Al-Abri, Secretary-General of the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, delivered a speech in which he stressed the importance of exchanging expertise and enhancing cooperation between all universities and research institutions in the Sultanate of Oman in support of research chairs, which are modern and important tools in enhancing academic and scientific activities.

He added: “Recognizing the importance of strengthening international cooperation in the field of higher education by the three organizations that the National Commission is associated with (UNESCO, ICESCO and ALECSO), and supporting the development of scientific research and higher education institutions in different countries in all sectors that the organizations are concerned with, including education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture and communication, the organizations have launched the Research Chairs Networks Program, where the UNESCO Chairs Network alone includes more than (1000) chairs, and a cooperation program in more than (120) member states of the organization.”