Higher Education Minister signs deal for University City Project

Muscat: The University City Project (Oman University and the Science and Technology City) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Omantel to develop ICT services in the university city and transform it into a model of smart academic cities in the Sultanate, by providing a rich and integrated experience of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies and the internet of things for students and academic and administrative staff of the city.
The MoU was signed on behalf of the University City project by Dr. Rawya bint Saud Al Busaidiya, Minister of Higher Education and Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the University City Project (Oman University and the Science and Technology City), and by Talal bin Said Al Ma’amari, CEO of Omantel.
The MoU aims to enable the University City (Oman University and the Science and Technology City) to benefit from the various digital technologies and electronic applications and to make it an environmentally friendly city by optimising the use of various energy resources, providing the operational costs of the city’s facilities and building a technical community that keeps up with the current developments in information technology.
Dr. Rawya bint Saud Al Busaidiya, Minister of Higher Education and Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the University City Project (Oman University and the Science and Technology City) said that the move was part of the University’s strategic objectives and aspirations to be a smart academic city that benefits from the great technological potential of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, artificial intelligence and 21st teaching methodologies ,in addition to taking advantage of these technologies in the promotion of scientific research and innovation and create a smart scientific and research environment.
Talal bin Said al- Ma’amari, CEO of Omantel said “Through this fruitful collaboration, we aim to create an integrated digital ICT system on the university campus and transform it into an ideal model of smart cities based on a range of Internet technology systems, the Internet of things and the technology of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which in turn will provide innovative systems that the university city can benefit from in enriching the quality experience for users in Oman University and the Science and Technology City “
The signing of this Memorandum is meant to support eGovernment trends towards building institutions with ICT rules that are compatible with the Sultanate’s aspirations for digital transformation and the creation of integrated smart cities.
Through this cooperation between Omantel and the University City, ICT services and digital technology will be provided in all university facilities to enhance the educational and research process and enhance the efficiency of the administrative and technical work in the University City.