A research team from SQU, in collaboration with the National Centre for Statistics and Information and the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science at the Ministry of Education, is launching Oman’s first national study to examine the current state of and opportunities for lifelong learning within Omani society.
The study will be conducted through a telephone survey involving a random sample of adult Omanis. The survey focuses on three main areas: the availability of learning opportunities close to people’s homes and the ease of accessing them; individuals’ actual participation in learning activities; and the skills they possess in areas such as digital skills and AI, problem-solving, self-directed learning, civic responsibility and environmental sustainability.
The initiative comes amid growing international interest in lifelong learning in response to the rapid changes shaping today’s world. The United Nations has incorporated lifelong learning into Sustainable Development Goal 4, which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
UNESCO has also established the Global Network of Learning Cities, which now includes more than 350 cities worldwide that exchange experiences and expertise in providing learning opportunities for their residents. In Oman, Oman Vision 2040 emphasises the importance of developing national capabilities through inclusive education and a lifelong learning system that builds future skills as a key pillar of the knowledge economy.
Within this framework, the wilayats of Muscat, Nizwa and Sur joined UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities in February 2024, positioning Oman among the active Arab countries in this field. Member cities are required to monitor their progress in providing learning opportunities for their residents, which requires reliable data that has not previously been available.
Professor Aisha bint Salim Al-Harthi, Principal Investigator of the research project supporting the survey, explained that lifelong learning competencies have become increasingly important in shaping the opportunities available to individuals. The project, supported by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation’s Research and Innovation Programme, is entitled “Lifelong Learning Competencies in Omani Learning Cities”.
Professor Al-Harthi noted that the growing international emphasis on accumulated skills and experience can enhance individuals’ employment and social opportunities, help them explore new areas for continuous learning, and strengthen their psychological, social and economic resilience.
“Learning is not limited to formal classrooms, academic subjects or qualifications,” she said. “It continues throughout life and across its different stages according to individuals’ needs and circumstances. With the growing volume of information and digital content, simply being able to access information is no longer sufficient. Lifelong learning requires a range of essential competencies, which this research project seeks to examine.”
The study is expected to establish Oman’s first national database on lifelong learning, providing a baseline against which future developments can be measured. It will also identify gaps in the distribution of learning opportunities and highlight areas in which individuals believe they need further learning opportunities.
The findings will also support the reports of Oman’s three Learning Cities as they prepare for the Seventh International Conference on Learning Cities, scheduled for 2027 under the theme “Learning Cities in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”.
The study is distinguished by its interdisciplinary approach, bringing together the College of Education’s expertise in measuring learning and learning competencies with the College of Arts and Social Sciences’ expertise in geographic information systems. This will make it possible to link learning data to geographical locations and support the development of a geographical index of learning opportunities.
The research team includes Dr. Al-Saeed Al-Shamy from the College of Education; Dr. Noura bint Khalifa Al-Nasiri and Dr. Montasser Abdelghani from the College of Arts and Social Sciences; and Khalid Al-Maawali from the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science at the Ministry of Education.