Sunday 28 / April / 2024
Muscat: The Omani Society for Human Resource Management (OSHRM)'s 7th annual conference on sustainable development kicked off on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre and the winners of the Human Resources Innovation category have been revealed.
In the government sector, the Civil Aviation Authority emerged victorious in the Human Resources Innovation category. The Work Health and Wellbeing Award was claimed by the Social Protection Fund.
Turning to the private sector, Oman Air Catering clinched the Human Resources Innovation Award, with Bank Dhofar receiving the Digital Transformation Award and Oman Airports securing the Work Health and Wellbeing Award. The Research Grant for the best idea in human resources was awarded to Dr. Drichi from Muscat College.
Occidental was recognized for the Best Human Resources Management Team in Institutions, while Maryam Al Araimi from Sultan QaboosUniversity received a motivational award for the best research idea. Onsor Company was honored with the Excellence in Human Resources Management Award, while the award for the best female-led institution in human resources management was not conferred. Sheikh AimanAl-Hosni was named the Best CEO of Oman Airports.
Dr. Yasmin Al Bulushi from Royal Academy of Management emphasized the human-centric nature of these awards, stating they celebrate achievements to advance creativity, innovation, and excellence in all fields. She underscored the priority of investing in humans, noting them as the true wealth and the linchpin of developmental sectors. Human resource development, she stressed, is imperative for comprehensive development.
The awards saw spirited competition between the government and private sectors, signaling progress and qualitative advancements towards excellence and innovation. This echoes the goals of OSHRM since its establishment in May 2014, dedicated to the continuous development of the human resources sector to enhance and develop human resources in the Sultanate. The Societyprioritizes human resources, aiming to equip them with modern skills to meet the demands of the evolving job market.
On the second day of the 7th annual OSHRM Conference, twelve workshop papers and two discussion panels were presented. Maryam Al Shaibani, Vice President for Integrated Digital Solutions at OQ, delivered a workshop titled "Change Management and Digital Adaptation." She highlighted the importance of embracing change alongside digital advancements, emphasizing the need to consider embracing technological changes from the outset and their impact on projects.
Dr. Ihab Fikri, CEO of Almentor Holding, presented a workshop titled "Empowering Human Wisdom in the Age of Artificial Intelligence." He pointed out that the presence of human wisdom alongside AI builds nations, whereas AI without human wisdom undermines them. He emphasized that humans must persevere and strive with determination on life's journey.
Dr. Maen Murdi, Chairman and CEO of Entreviable, discussed "The Performance Revolution - powered by AI" He spoke about the importance of competitive advantage for institutions, with innovation as its source. Regarding human resource management, Dr. Murdi stated that it is currently one of the most critical departments, as it deals with all aspects of the organization. He highlighted that HR skills require annual updates, with training needs in Oman amounting to over a billion dollars annually.
The conference's workshop papers covered various topics, including knowledge transfer and talent development in the field of information and communication technology, the role of leadership in organizing institutional transformation, the next wave of human resources with AI, AI in the workplace and the future of work, the impact of AI on business futures, and preparing tomorrow's leaders. Additionally, the conference included two discussion panels: one on the compatibility of AIwith diversity, equality, and inclusivity, and another on the role of governance and policies in the age of AI.
