MUSCAT, OCT 6
The three-day Regional Forum on Media and Information Literacy (MIL) opened in Muscat under the theme 'Empowering Minds in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.'
Organised by the Ministry of Education, represented by the Oman National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and the Unesco Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen in Doha, the forum is being held in cooperation with the Ministry of Information and in partnership with ISESCO and ALECSO.
The event aims to introduce the concept of media and information literacy, enhance users’ awareness of their digital rights and promote ethical behaviour online.
It also focuses on equipping participants with skills to identify misinformation and navigate the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr Abdullah bin Nasser al Harrasi, Minister of Information. The forum brings together teachers, supervisors, curriculum developers, media academics, journalists, and communication professionals from public, private, and civil sectors.
Dr Mahmoud bin Abdullah al Abri, Chairman of the Oman National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, emphasised that the forum reflects Oman’s commitment to harnessing artificial intelligence as a development tool supporting national progress and the knowledge economy in line with Oman Vision 2040.
He also noted the country’s strides in establishing regulatory frameworks for data protection, privacy and balanced access to information.
In a recorded message, Salah Khaled, Director of the Unesco Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen, said the forum underscores a collective regional commitment to dialogue, experience-sharing and advancing media literacy initiatives aligned with Oman’s digital innovation goals.
Najib Makni, Communication and Information Programme Specialist at Unesco, highlighted the growing challenges of misinformation and the importance of empowering youth to engage responsibly in the digital environment.
Noura al Abri, Director of the Communication and Information Department at the Omani National Commission, said the forum serves as an open platform for dialogue, policy discussion, and knowledge exchange on digital governance and rights protection.
She announced that an executive guide for media and information literacy will be developed as part of a two-year initiative to train over 1,000 participants — including students, teachers, parents and media professionals — on responsible digital practices and critical thinking skills.
The forum’s first day featured dialogue sessions and working papers on regional cooperation, policy frameworks, and legislation supporting media literacy, moderated by Ahmed bin Salem al Kalbani, Director of the Electronic Publishing Department at the Ministry of Information.
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