author - oman observer

We now have a brand new symbol for the Omani Rial, inspired by the Arabic script and calligraphy. This move supports the internationalising of financial services, and also serves to preserve heritage...

As the National Day celebrations in Oman draw to a close, the sight of families and friends enjoying the cool outdoors was a heartening sight. Not so encouraging was the sight of young teenagers glued...

As Oman celebrates its National Day, the focus this year has shifted to interesting ways in which history is being showcased and narrated. Drawing direct lineage to the Al Busaid State, founded in...

One of the most consequential questions that face educationists in the present day of automation and Artificial Intelligence is the relevance of learning to write.If machines can write within seconds,...

In a world dominated by technology, automation and globalisation, there is no doubt that higher education needs to find ways to align its goals with specific market needs if it is to be of value to...

An anecdote in a leading journal has recently created buzz in higher education. A student just ‘asked for a little help’ in writing a paper due the next morning. Within seconds, she got a ready...

The recently held QS Arab Forum for universities had good news for Oman’s higher education sector. While the flagship Sultan Qaboos University climbed in rank from 362 to 334, four other...

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...

It is Nobel Prize season and at no other time has this award been more discussed internationally. But the literature prize was less the focus of attention this year. Hungarian writer László...

World Translation Day was celebrated on September 30 with a variety of events, workshops and seminars. This time, one of the most discussed topics was, of course, the role of Artificial Intelligence...

Two important events took place in the last couple of weeks that have a direct relation to Arab cinema. The first is the phenomenal reception that the film ‘The voice of Hind Rajab’ got in the...

When Palestinian professor and poet Refaat Alareer was killed in an air strike in Gaza, his poem ‘If I must die’ echoed through the conscience of the world. “If I must die/Let it bring hope/let...

Imagine being able to see the ancient wonders of the world, including the hanging gardens of Babylon or the lighthouse at Alexandria, as if it existed today. One could wander in the serene gardens or...

A report released last week suggests that reading for pleasure has seen a massive 40 per cent dip over the last two years. Based on a study by the University of Florida, the study found that, while...

As the new academic year begins in Oman today for teachers and administrators, it is a good opportunity to look at the challenges which face teachers and the ways in which they could be...

Over the last couple of years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been the topic of heated debates among a number of groups: software developers, Human Resource departments in companies, and of course,...

Every day, we hear stories of school dropouts who are now running start-ups worth millions of dollars. While there may be a few success stories that make headlines, it is worth considering that...

Sandhya Rao MehtaThe writer is an Associate Professor, Sultan Qaboos University Recently, the outdoor spaces of Sultan Haitham City won the Best Landscape Architectural Design award at the Arabian...

A recently conducted research revealed that the typical time a 10-year old child could focus on a task is 10 minutes. In a world of scrolling and endless digital content, this should be one of the...

The school-leaving grade 12 results were announced last week in Oman, and as always, there were tears of joy and disappointment. Many students may have felt they got rewarded for their hard work while...