العربية
Sohar University organized the Second International General Foundation Program (GFP) Conference on Thursday, 5 February 2026, with wide participation from academics, experts, and researchers from within the Sultanate of Oman and abroad. The conference was held as part of the University’s ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of teaching and learning. The event was held under the patronage of Major General (Ret.) Hassan Al Naseeb, Chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees.
The conference reflects the University’s commitment to developing the General Foundation Program as a pivotal stage in preparing students academically and skill-wise, thereby enhancing their readiness to progress into various academic disciplines. The conference featured 63 research papers and specialized working papers, presented both in person and virtually, by 81 speakers from 21 countries, including Türkiye, Morocco, the Gulf countries, the United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Spain, Malaysia, and Japan. The presented papers addressed a wide range of topics, including the development of 21st-century student skills, innovation in teaching methods, the use of modern educational technologies, improving learning outcomes in foundation programs, and aligning educational outputs with labor market needs.
In his opening address, Dr. Hamdan Al Fazari, Vice-Chancellor of Sohar University, emphasized that the conference focuses on key areas shaping higher education today, including teacher professional growth and lifelong learning, digital literacy, data technologies and assessment in learning communities, as well as teacher wellbeing and professional resilience. He noted that these themes align closely with Sohar University’s commitment to innovative teaching practices and educator empowerment, as outlined in the University’s Strategic Plan. This was followed by remarks from Dr. Saju Abraham, Head of the General Foundation Program at the University.
The conference hosted two keynote speakers: Dr. Rima Al Zadjali, who spoke on Teacher Leadership in Action: Driving Student Success, and Dr. Abdullah AbualKishik, Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology at Sohar University, who delivered a keynote on Empowering Educators in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities, Responsibilities, and Trust.
At the conclusion of the conference, participants emphasized the importance of strengthening academic and research collaboration among universities and educational institutions, and of leveraging research outcomes to inform educational policies and teaching practices. They highlighted the vital role of foundation programs in supporting students academically and in developing their language skills, critical thinking, and independent learning abilities.
The conference also included panel discussions and interactive workshops focused on sharing best practices among educational institutions, discussing challenges facing foundation programs, and exploring ways to further develop them in line with rapid regional and global changes in higher education. This conference reaffirms Sohar University’s commitment to providing a learning environment that fosters creativity and innovation, supporting the professional development of faculty members, enhancing the quality of education, and achieving the objectives of the University’s academic strategy, in alignment with Oman’s vision for a knowledge-based economy and sustainable development.