The Sultanate of Oman is hosting, for the second consecutive time, represented by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation in collaboration with the Gulf Conferences Foundation, the second edition of the ICEF Middle East Forum for Scholarships in Oman 2025, which will take place from February 16-17, 2023. The forum will be inaugurated under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Kamil bin Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, at the Kempinski Hotel in Muscat.
The forum aims to showcase scholarship, qualification, and training programs in line with national visions in the region, explore key opportunities for student exchange and scientific and research partnerships, and discuss ways to enhance collaboration between regional higher education institutions and their Omani counterparts. It will also review international indicators related to higher education and national capacity building, as well as discuss the main challenges related to scholarships.
The forum will witness wide participation from several ministers and decision-makers from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries in the fields of higher education, science, and technology, in addition to the participation of more than 60 universities and global organizations with leading academic programs that align with the skills and specialties required in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Mr. Yahya bin Salim Al-Mandhari, Director General of Scholarships at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, stated: “This international forum is a great opportunity to exchange information and experiences, understand the challenges faced by entities in the field of qualifying and training national cadres, develop scholarship programs, discuss ways to sustain them, and enhance knowledge and scientific relations between educational stakeholders in the Gulf Arab countries and internationally. It also provides an opportunity to build sustainable partnerships between government funders and academic institutions seeking to attract international students, enhance cooperation between governments and leading universities, and encourage academic institutions to gain recognition from international accreditation bodies, as well as connect with policymakers interested in developing and improving international scholarship programs.”
He added: “The forum will include panel discussions and bilateral meetings that will enrich skills, knowledge, and experiences, allowing participants to learn about the latest global practices in higher education, science, and technology. On the first day, a series of discussion sessions will address national and regional trends in scholarships, showcase the experiences of governments, agencies, scholarship providers, and educational organizations regarding international higher education and scholarships, and present the perspectives of specialists on trends in international higher education and their impact on the Gulf region. It will also discuss bridging the gap between academia and industry, the role of small and medium-sized enterprises in enhancing innovation and providing practical training opportunities for international students, and the positive impact of cultural exchange and cooperation through scholarship programs. Additionally, a roundtable session will be held, featuring a select group of representatives from various entities and institutions to discuss several viewpoints related to international education and the scholarship programs offered by countries, including studying in the Sultanate of Oman.
