العربية
Under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Saif bin Abdullah Al-Haddabi, President of the Research and Innovation Authority, Sohar University held a ceremony at Kempinski Hotel Muscat to launch its Research Chairs and sign partnership agreements. The event was attended by members of excellencies, Chairman of Sohar University Board of Directors and members of the board, the deputy chair of the Board of Governors and board members, the Vice Chancellor of Sohar University, senior officials, representatives from government and private sector organisations, strategic partners, academics and researchers.
The event marked the launch of three strategic partnerships that reflect Sohar University’s diverse approach to leveraging partnerships to create national impact. These included two Research Chairs: one through a national partnership with Sohar International Bank in financial research, sectoral intelligence and SME development, and the other through an international partnership with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in culture, arts and trade. The third is an industry partnership with Jindal Steel Oman to establish and operate the Jindal Skills Training Centre at Sohar University.
Together, these partnerships bring together research and knowledge creation, national and international collaboration, skills and capacity building, and industry engagement. They connect the University’s academic and research capabilities with sectoral needs and national priorities, supporting the transformation of knowledge and partnerships into practical value and lasting impact.
Dr. Hamdan bin Sulaiman Al Fazari, Vice Chancellor of Sohar University, emphasized that these initiatives reflect the evolution and growing impact of the University’s partnerships, stating: “What we are launching today reflects the model of partnership we believe in at Sohar University; one that brings together knowledge and expertise, connects research with application, and aligns education with the needs of the industry. We believe that the strength of our university is measured not only by the knowledge it creates, but by its ability to turn knowledge into opportunities, research into solutions, and partnerships into national capabilities the potential to creat impact. Through these partnerships, we continue to invest in research, build capacity, and expand national and international collaboration, strengthening the University’s role as a knowledge and development partner.”
As Sohar University celebrates 25 years of its journey, these partnerships mark a new chapter in the University’s ambition to broaden its impact and strengthen its role as a knowledge and development partner, connecting its academic and research capabilities with sectoral needs and national priorities.
Sohar International Research Chair for Financial Research
The Sohar International Research Chair for Financial Research, Sectoral Intelligence and SME Development represents a national strategic partnership between Sohar University and Sohar International Bank. It aims to establish a platform for applied financial and economic research and to transform data and research into practical knowledge that supports SMEs, decision-makers, and the financial and banking sectors, while strengthening the capacity to respond to economic transformations.
Oman–India Research Chair for Culture, Arts and Trade
The event also marked the launch of the Oman–India Research Chair for Culture, Arts and Trade, through an international partnership between Sohar University and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The Chair will serve as an academic and knowledge platform that strengthens the longstanding historical, cultural, artistic and economic ties between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of India, while opening new avenues for research, knowledge exchange and collaboration between the two countries.
Partnership with Jindal Steel Oman for Skills and Capacity Development
In the third pathway, which strengthens integration between education and industry, Sohar University signed an agreement with Jindal Steel Oman to establish and operate the Jindal Skills Training Centre at Sohar University. The partnership brings together industrial expertise and the University’s academic and training environment to support the development of technical and professional skills, build national capacity, and enhance workforce readiness in response to evolving labour market requirements and industry needs.
The three partnerships represent an integrated model of Sohar University’s approach to harnessing research and knowledge, national and international collaboration, capacity building, and industry partnership through interconnected pathways that strengthen the University’s contribution to national priorities and development.