Omani women drive academic excellence and research innovation

Much has been written about Omani women entrepreneurs, leaders and institutional trendsetters. Another aspect to celebrate this Omani women’s day is the leading role that they are playing in academic research and publication.
The rise in women participating and achieving leadership positions in Humanities and Education has been well documented. But Omani women are now increasingly visible in scientific research and technology development, across fields like medicine, renewable energy, environmental science and biotechnology.
Unesco data shows that female shares in research roles in Oman are significant compared with some global averages. Their findings show almost a 125 per cent increase in publishing by women in Oman from 2010 to 2020.
A 2022 study conducted on female-led research in the MENA region showed that women accounted for 47 per cent of all published research in Oman between 2016-2020. This includes research publishing in all academic areas.
There are a number of ways in which research output can be classified in terms of gender. These could be inclusive studies on journal metrics based on area of focus, research interest and authorship.
The impact of research is also measured in terms of the quality of the journals, their citations over a period of time, and their potential for future collaboration.
There is no dearth of examples which showcase the way in which women are translating opportunity into high-impact research. Sultan Qaboos University routinely honours female students and faculty members who are engaged in research and making a global impact. Other colleges and universities in Oman follow suit.
For example, in medicine, female Omani researchers have been researching stem-cell and fertility-preservation, moving from laboratory experiments to implementation on the ground. This has aided in women-led labs and an increase in research output in health sciences.
Academic publications by women in Oman have also showcased a variety of fields including education, law, international relations, as well as linguistics and literature.
An important consideration is that such research is based on community needs and changing concerns. For example, there is now more focus on research which aims to study patterns of social media engagement and the influence of Artificial Intelligence in different disciplines. Preliminary data on these publications show increased output by women researchers in Oman.
This rise in female participation in research is driven by expanded higher-education access, targeted scholarships and a growing policy emphasis on research and innovation. The combination of strong female participation in higher education, specific national programmes in keeping with Oman Vision 2040, and strong individual performance shows how Omani women are using every possible opportunity to engage with academic research and publication which links with community interests and with Oman’s future.
In spite of these encouraging trends, there is some progress to be made. For example, there is a need to document data on female-led research across institutions in Oman, and its impact. Sustained bibliometric analyses based on quantitative data remain to be provided. Such data will not only help in the accreditation processes which most institutions of higher education are involved with, but also help to improve global rankings.