Focus on future skills as global education meet begins in Sohar

Sohar: The International Conference of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its impact on education organised by the Ministry of Education, represented by the Directorate General of Education in the Governorate of North Al Batinah, started at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Sohar yesterday.
The ceremony was patronised by Sheikh Khalid bin Omar Al Marhoon, Minister of Civil Service, and attended by a number of members of the State Council, Sheikh Mohana bin Saif Al Lamki, Governor of North Al Batinah, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamdan Al Toobi, Advisor to the Ministry of Education and a number of their excellencies and officials.
Dr. Ali bin Nasser Al Harrasi, Director General of Education, North Al Batinah, Chairman of the main committee of the conference, delivered a speech in which he stressed the importance of developing and improving education, noting that the conference came as a result of joint efforts by the Ministry of Education and State institutions concerned with the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The first session of the conference followed during which a number of working papers were presented. Dr. Wayne Holmes of the Institute of Educational Technology at the Open University of the United Kingdom presented a paper on artificial intelligence in education and its implications for teaching and learning. Dr. Said bin Hamad Al Rubaie, Secretary General of the Education Council reviewed the Sultanate’s National Education Strategy, 2040.
Dr. Hamoud bin Khalfan Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Education and Curriculum presented a working paper on the Ministry of Education’s directions to keep up with the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Dr. Salim bin Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, CEO of the Information Technology Authority submitted a detailed presentation on the rehabilitation of national skills and capacities during the 4th Industrial Revolution. The main session of the conference was concluded by a paper presented by Dr. Yousef bin Abdullah Al Balushi entitled “Towards a National Framework of Future Skills”.
The Minister of Civil Service, the patron of the ceremony and the attendees, opened the exhibition accompanying the conference, which included many successful experiences in the applications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, as well as honouring the participants in the main sessions of the conference and the sponsoring and supporting institutions.