The second edition of the Research Projects Forum at Higher Education Institutions commenced under the theme “Transformations in STEAM Education in the Digital Revolution Era: Interdisciplinary Innovation and Empowerment for a Sustainable Future.” The forum was jointly organised by the Oman Mathematics Committee and the Research Group for Innovation and Excellence in STEAM Education, with the participation of a distinguished group of academics, researchers, and specialists in STEAM fields. The event was held under the patronage of Her Excellency Dr. Sana bint Sabeel Al-Balushi, Member of the State Council, and attended by a number of faculty members, educators and researchers.
The forum underscores the importance of keeping pace with rapid digital transformations in STEAM education and highlights its pivotal role in reshaping learning systems and strengthening interdisciplinary integration. It seeks to empower teachers and students with future-ready competencies in line with the requirements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Sustainable Development Goals. The forum also serves as an active academic platform for the exchange of expertise, the presentation of research and applied experiences, and the discussion of contemporary global practices and their potential application within local and Arab contexts.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Mohammed bin Said Al-Ghafri, Member of the Oman Mathematics Committee, emphasised that investment in education is a fundamental pillar for building a generation capable of engaging with modern technologies and the challenges associated with them. He highlighted the importance of advancing the education system to ensure its relevance to contemporary demands, and stressed the need to support high-quality research projects that contribute effectively to achieving sustainable development goals and strengthening the role of education in comprehensive national development.
Dr. Mohammed Shahat delivered the address on behalf of the Research Group for Innovation and Excellence in STEAM Education at the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education. He noted that the forum stems from a firm conviction that STEAM education represents one of the most important strategic approaches to educational development, enabling a shift from content-centred teaching to capacity building, and from rote learning to learning based on research, design, innovation, and real-world problem-solving. He added that the forum reflects a growing awareness of the need to keep pace with accelerating digital transformations and their implications for redefining the role of the teacher, the nature of curricula, and learning environments. He further affirmed that collaboration with the Oman Mathematics Committee represents an effective model of interdisciplinary integration and the unification of efforts between scientific research and educational development, particularly in advancing mathematics education within an integrated STEAM framework that enhances educational quality.
Dr. Magda bint Talib Al-Hinai, Chair of the Oman Mathematics Committee and Head of the Forum’s Organising Committee, delivered a lecture entitled “A Roadmap for Developing Giftedness in the Sultanate of Oman.” She highlighted the growing awareness of the importance of nurturing gifted individuals and the alignment of this focus with the objectives and priorities of Oman Vision 2040. She noted that the national programme of talents has been incorporated into the Tenth Five-Year Plan, and explained that Sultan Qaboos University managed the first phase of the programme through the formation of a national team representing various supporting entities. The team examined the status and challenges of gifted individuals across school and higher education stages, extending to talent management in the labour market, while also reviewing international best practices in identifying, nurturing, and managing talent.
The lecture also addressed key scholarly literature on giftedness, including definitions, models, and competitiveness indicators, and proposed pathways for talent development in the Sultanate of Oman. In addition, it reviewed several successful international experiences and supportive local practices, contributing to the development of an integrated framework for nurturing gifted individuals and maximising their impact on sustainable development and the knowledge economy.
Through the collaboration between the Oman Mathematics Committee and specialised research groups, the forum represents a practical model of integration between scientific research and educational development. It reflects unified efforts to transform science and mathematics education from traditional frameworks into innovative, research- and technology-based educational practices, capable of preparing future generations with the skills required to contribute effectively to the knowledge economy.