OTS 2025 Summit Highlights AI Role in Education and Research

The Sultanate of Oman is hosting a major event focused on the future of education and research. The Oman Research and Education Network (OMREN) is organizing the OTS 2025 Summit at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre on 20 and 21 October 2025. The summit aims to highlight artificial intelligence (AI) as a key driver of change in education and research. It forms part of Oman’s national plan to strengthen innovation and digital transformation across vital sectors.

The summit began with an opening ceremony under the patronage of Dr. Rahma Ibrahim Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. In her opening remarks, she emphasized the importance of AI in advancing education, scientific study, and creative thinking. The Minister also noted that such events are vital for promoting collaboration, sharing knowledge, and finding practical solutions to current challenges in education and research.

The OTS 2025 Summit seeks to promote innovation, strengthen cooperation in research, and support the exchange of ideas among institutions and experts. It aims to introduce practical recommendations that can help improve education and research at the national level. The summit also showcases successful global experiences in using AI to raise the quality of education and increase academic efficiency.

Najah Mohammed Al Rashidi, Director General of the Innovation Centre at the Ministry, spoke about the Ministry’s goal to help institutions apply AI in areas such as curriculum design, learning outcome analysis, and applied research. She stressed that AI can help train a new generation of Omani professionals who can lead change in education and research.

A special guest, Dr. Abdullah Sharaf Al Ghamdi, Chairman of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), shared Saudi Arabia’s experience in developing AI. He discussed national indicators, sources of inspiration, and future goals. He also presented Saudi Arabia’s plan to create a National Occupational Standard Framework for Data and Artificial Intelligence and described ongoing legislative and social initiatives related to AI.

Dr. Ali Amer Al Shidhani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, explained Oman’s efforts through the National Programme for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Digital Technologies. He said that the programme supports the country’s digital transition and helps integrate AI into public services and education.

Marc-Antoine Dilhac, Professor of Ethics and Political Philosophy at the University of Montreal and AI ethics expert at UNESCO, delivered a presentation titled “Learning and Teaching in the Age of Generative Artificial Intelligence.” He discussed how AI supports education through idea generation, virtual tutoring, and practical training, but also warned of challenges such as unreliability, skill loss, and authenticity issues.

The first day of the OTS 2025 Summit featured two main sessions. The first discussed AI technologies, legislation, and capacity building. The second session focused on the effects of AI on education systems, teaching methods, and learning experiences. Another part of the summit, called Future Dialogues, included two sittings—one on the challenges of using AI in education and another on the relationship between higher education outcomes and labour market needs.

Both sittings addressed how academic institutions can prepare for the AI era and how education can better match future job requirements. Through these discussions, the OTS 2025 Summit highlighted the growing importance of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of learning and national development.