ISG launches ‘The Forum’ to turn student ideas into innovation

MUSCAT: The Indian School Al Ghubrah (ISG) has launched The Forum, a multipurpose innovation hub designed to help students transform ideas into concepts, prototypes and real-world solutions by bringing together design, technology and human values.
The Forum was inaugurated by Dr Badr bin Hamoud al Kharousi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Education for Education, in the presence of ISG founder Dr P Mohamed Ali, ISG President Ahmed Rayees, Ministry of Education officials, school administrators and guests.
The launch also featured an exhibition of projects developed by ISG students, offering a glimpse into the school’s approach to innovation and interdisciplinary learning.
Addressing students, Dr Al Kharousi encouraged them to dream big, continue learning and ask questions. He stressed the importance of using technology responsibly and harnessing it to improve quality of life.
“My message to the students is to keep learning and asking questions; keep dreaming bigger and bigger as that makes our learning journey joyful and beautiful,” he said.
He added that Oman Vision 2040 seeks to develop students capable of contributing to the advancement of the country and society by embracing the skills and language of the future.
Dr Mohamed Ali, founder of ISG, said the Forum was built on the belief that innovation is a process, not a product. It serves students from Grades 3 to 12 through eight interconnected pods dedicated to presentation, collaboration, innovation, simulation, mentorship, media, creativity, and reading, research and reflection.
He explained that an idea could begin with reading or observation, develop through research and collaboration, take shape through design and prototyping, and then be tested, refined and communicated.
“Technology enables this journey, but it is not the destination,” he said, adding that the ultimate aim was to develop students who think critically, connect knowledge, explore possibilities and create solutions ethically and responsibly.
ISG President Ahmed Rayees said the concept grew from a vision he first shared nearly four years ago, supported by the continued encouragement of the founder to move beyond conventional approaches to education.
“As learning moved beyond textbooks, we envisioned a space where students could question, research, collaborate, design, experiment and create,” Rayees said.
He said the school deliberately moved beyond the idea of a conventional AI or robotics laboratory to create an ecosystem that could support innovators across disciplines.

“The Forum gives that vision a physical form,” he said.
The initiative aims to help students identify meaningful problems, think across disciplines and use technology responsibly. It also seeks to move students from being consumers of technology to becoming thoughtful creators and innovators.
According to school officials, the Department of Design, Technology and Innovation (DTI) was challenged to develop an idea within 365 days with the potential to progress towards incubation and intellectual property.
The Forum is designed for the wider learning community, from preschool to Grade 12. DTI is integrated into classroom experiences for preschool through Grade 2, while students in Grades 3 to 12 have a dedicated weekly session at The Forum alongside cross-curricular integration.
The school has also introduced a structured AI learning pathway, including an AI Foundation Programme for Grade 3, Foundation and Advanced AI programmes for Grades 4 to 8, and an AI Crash Course for Grades 9 to 12.
A digital dashboard provides students with access to programme modules, enabling learning and exploration to continue beyond the classroom.
Dr Hussaina Azgar said the response from students had been encouraging, with many already bringing forward their own interests, ideas and projects.
“The spirit of ‘I have an idea — can I try it?’ is exactly the culture we want to nurture,” she said.
The Forum is also open to educators, parents and experts, creating opportunities for wider collaboration and mentorship. School officials stressed that innovation at the hub is not limited to students interested in coding, robotics or science.
Students can engage through research, writing, art, storytelling, photography, fashion, engineering, electronics, entrepreneurship and other disciplines.
The Forum offers opportunities to explore AI, coding, robotics, IoT, electronics, automation, 3D design and printing, simulation, engineering, renewable energy, digital media, product design, textiles, fashion, visual arts and interdisciplinary research.
Students can also work with sensors, AI vision systems and robotic platforms, while combining emerging technologies with traditional skills and creative disciplines.
Another initiative, SparkTank – Innovation Challenge, allows students to identify real-world problems, develop solutions and pitch their ideas, introducing them to elements of entrepreneurship.
The Forum can accommodate around 150 students at a time and is designed as a flexible learning environment that can support individual exploration, small-group collaboration, workshops and presentations.
Its eight interconnected pods provide spaces and facilities for AI, robotics, electronics, prototyping, simulation, media, mentorship, creativity, presentation, research and reflection.
Alongside technology, students are encouraged to use design thinking, sketching, storyboarding, ethnography, research, prototyping and testing to develop their ideas.
The Forum was developed internally by the school team, which was involved in its concept development, planning, spatial design, material selection, resource curation, execution, curriculum integration and student experience.