The Main Library at SQU organised the Fourth Forum under the theme “New Horizons in Academic Publishing and Artificial Intelligence”. The event brought together leading international publishers, researchers, and information service providers, and was attended by a wide academic and research audience.
Building on the success of previous forums, the gathering aimed to promote awareness of rigorous scientific publishing in line with international standards, caution against predatory journals, introduce the latest AI tools supporting research, and highlight best practices in selecting academic journals and enhancing research quality.
Hamid bin Rashid Al-Hajri, Head of Professional Development and Continuing Education, emphasised that the forum represented a valuable opportunity to explore the latest methods and tools that strengthen researchers’ skills and employ artificial intelligence in the service of science and knowledge. He noted that the library is committed to providing an integrated research environment that supports teaching and assists researchers at every stage of their academic journey.
The forum’s sessions addressed a range of pressing issues in academic publishing. One track focused on expanding the impact of research through Scopus, where speakers discussed emerging research trends and the role of AI tools in increasing efficiency and visibility. Another explored Research in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, highlighting the challenges and opportunities AI presents for raising research quality and aligning with global standards.
Further sessions examined Smart Publishing in the Modern Academic Era, underscoring the need for ethical practices in scholarly publishing and the importance of research effectiveness in enhancing knowledge production. Speakers also discussed how AI can make researchers more efficient, while stressing that human research skills remain indispensable. The final track, Building Bridges to Knowledge, explored the challenges and opportunities AI creates for authors and publishers, and how it can be harnessed to strengthen scholarly publishing.
Alongside the discussions, the forum featured an exhibition of the Main Library’s services, an information booth from the Oman Library and Information Association, as well as participation from information service providers and the Oman Research Repository "Shuaa", which provides a platform for Omani researchers to document their scientific output.
The event concluded with a ceremony honouring participants and speakers, and awarding contributors who enriched the forum. In his closing remarks, Mohammed bin Khamis Al-Balushi from the Main Library’s Marketing Section stated that the Fourth Forum constitutes a significant addition to the university’s research journey. He stressed the importance of continuing to organise such events, which bring together modern technologies, international publishers, and local researchers, thereby reinforcing the university’s standing on the global research map.