العربية
As part of its commitment to providing students with practical experiences and developing dialogue and discussion skills, and in implementation of the strategic plan that includes the student experience and prepares them to be globally-oriented citizens, Sohar University, represented by the Student Affairs Department, organized the second edition of the Al-Areeb Debate Forum under the slogan: “We Elevate Ideas and Create Dialogue,” on Sunday, February 16, 2025, on the university campus, targeting students from higher education institutions in the Sultanate. The forum was sponsored by Dr. Awadh Al-Mamari, Pro Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.
64 debaters representing 12 higher education institutions participated in the forum, including Sultan Qaboos University, the University of Technology and Applied Sciences with its branches (Ibri, Al Musanna, Shinas, and Suhar), Al Sharqiya University, Al Buraimi University College, Majan College, the vocational College, and Oman College of Health Sciences.
The forum aims to develop critical thinking and logical analysis skills and helps participants enhance their research and analytical abilities, and make decisions based on logical arguments and evidence. In addition to honing persuasion and communication skills and enhancing public speaking and presentation abilities. Furthermore, it prepares students for local and international competitions, qualifying them to participate in national and international contests with high competitiveness. It also aims to prepare a conscious generation capable of leading the future and contributes to building influential and decision-making leadership personalities, in line with the aspirations of Oman Vision 2040.
The forum began with a visual presentation and a keynote speech by the head of the debate club, student Bayan Al-Mamari: “This forum has come to gather those interested in debates, including students and specialized academics, in an effort to promote this noble art as a fundamental pillar in our societies and as an effective tool in building advanced nations. Debates are not an intellectual luxury but a key to renaissance and one of the most important means to establish a culture of constructive criticism, which makes a person a leader, not a follower, an active participant, not a passive one.” Additionally, His Excellency Judge Mazen Al-Ghashri delivered a speech in which he discussed debates between the past, present, and future.
The forum featured various segments, where attendees enjoyed a musical performance by a group of talented students. A live art display was also executed to create a creative painting reflecting the forum’s logo. This was followed by a workshop on impactful speaking and a discussion on the history of debates in Oman, in addition to a panel discussion with the participating teams. The forum concluded with the honoring of the teams for their effective participation in the dialogue performance.
It is worth mentioning that the Al-Areeb Forum for Debates is part of a series of initiatives adopted by Sohar University to promote a culture of refined dialogue, elevate the level of critical thinking, and equip students with tools for persuasion and expressing opinions in a scientific and methodical manner.