His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, will patronise SQU's ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of its opening tomorrow, Monday, in the Grand Hall of the Cultural Centre.

The celebration carries the theme "A Lasting Legacy", evoking four decades of national, scientific and intellectual contribution. Over that time, the University has pursued a pioneering path in shaping people, producing knowledge and anticipating the future. It has done so through an integrated system that places the individual at the heart of education, knowledge at the foundation of research and innovation, and the future as the horizon for development and foresight.

"Shaping people" stands at the forefront of this legacy as one of the University's most important roles and missions. Over forty years, it has prepared generations of Omani talent who have strengthened a wide range of sectors, carrying the learning, knowledge and experience they gained into the fields of development and national service.

Knowledge production, meanwhile, has gone beyond research and studies to partnerships and research projects that have translated scientific knowledge into applications, decisions and initiatives with a lasting impact. This reinforces the University's position as an active partner in the nation's development journey.

The legacy also extends to shaping the future, through a forward-looking vision that goes beyond building the present to anticipating what lies beyond it. This is pursued through centres of excellence, futures research, innovation programmes and scientific partnerships that open new horizons within and beyond the Sultanate of Oman.

The celebration will be accompanied by a scientific symposium on SQU, held by Royal directive of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on 10 and 11 of this month.

The symposium will review four decades of leadership and impact, highlighting SQU's role in the country's economic and social development over the past forty years. It takes as its starting point the University's national standing as the first national university in the Sultanate of Oman, and the pivotal role it has played over four decades in building the Omani individual, preparing national talent, producing knowledge, and strengthening scientific research and innovation. It also considers the University's contribution to supplying state institutions and their various sectors, and to serving society while consolidating its authentic national identity and values.

The 40th anniversary is an occasion to recall a journey rich in achievement and to look ahead to a new phase of work and giving, so that the University's legacy continues to endure in people, knowledge and the future.