The Main Library, will organise the fifth Main Library Forum on Sunday, 13 September 2026, under the theme “The Future of Knowledge: From Access to Impact”. The forum will be held in the Grand Hall of the University Cultural Centre.

The forum builds on the success of previous editions, which attracted wide participation from researchers and academics from Oman and abroad. The previous edition drew more than 1,000 participants, further establishing the forum as a specialised academic platform for discussing contemporary issues in scientific research and exploring the future of knowledge amid digital transformation and the rapid development of artificial intelligence applications.

The forum aims to highlight the latest trends and practices in scientific research and enable researchers to develop their skills in identifying research gaps and formulating research questions of scientific value. It will also provide an opportunity to explore applications of artificial intelligence at different stages of the research process, enhance the quality of scholarly publishing, and increase the impact and citation of research in line with international best practices and standards.

The forum will feature Professor Adnan Al-Amin as the keynote speaker, drawing on his extensive experience and contributions to higher education, university leadership, quality assurance and academic accreditation. Professor Al-Amin holds a PhD in Educational Sciences and a Doctorat d’État in Arts from the Sorbonne University in Paris, earned between 1977 and 1991. He has authored 23 books and 40 research papers published in Lebanese, Arab and international journals and books.

The forum will feature three panel discussions, representing three perspectives on the future of knowledge and inviting participants to “Discover, Discuss, Share” through discussions of contemporary research issues spanning artificial intelligence and its ethics, scholarly publishing, and modern approaches to scientific research.

The first session, “Artificial Intelligence in Scientific Research: Applications and Ethics”, will be moderated and co-presented by Professor Ali Mahdi Kazem, with the participation of Dr. Athari Al-Zaabi, Dr. Fatma Al-Raisi and Professor Mohammed Al-Abri.

The second session, “Rigorous Scholarly Publishing: From Journal Selection to Enhancing Research Impact”, will be moderated and co-presented by Dr. Sulaiman Al-Sab’ei, with the participation of Dr. Ahmed Al-Harasi, Professor Abdullah Al-Saadi and Professor Omar Shawkat Al-Omari. The session will explore practices and standards related to the quality of scholarly publishing, the selection of academic journals, and ways of strengthening the visibility and impact of research.

The third session, “Modern Trends in Scientific Research Methodologies”, will be moderated and co-presented by Dr. Hashel Al-Saadi, alongside Professor Mahmoud Mohammed Imam, Professor Aisha Al-Harthi and Dr. Nabhan Al-Harasi. The session will examine the transformations taking place in scientific research, modern research methodologies, and tools that contribute to advancing research practices.

The forum will also feature a specialised exhibition bringing together leading international academic publishers and research service providers. The Main Library’s services will be showcased through an interactive experience entitled “The Researcher’s Journey”, which will take participants through the various stages of the research process, from identifying a research gap and formulating a research question to accessing peer-reviewed scholarly sources, using reference and citation management tools, and ultimately publishing research, enhancing its impact and measuring its reach.

The forum will also feature the Oman Library and Information Association and the Omani research repository Shuaa, alongside a range of interactive competitions and prizes for attendees, helping to encourage engagement and enrich the participant experience.

The forum is aimed at faculty members, researchers, postgraduate students and undergraduate students, as well as those interested in scientific research in Oman and abroad. It reaffirms SQU’s role in supporting scientific research, building an advanced knowledge ecosystem, promoting innovation and enhancing the quality of education, research and community service.

The forum further underscores the importance of university libraries as active partners in the research ecosystem and their role in taking researchers beyond simply accessing sources of knowledge towards using them to generate knowledge with meaningful impact, in step with the rapid changes taking place in the research environment.