Muscat: The Sultan Qaboos Higher Centre for Culture and Science at the Diwan of Royal Court organised on Monday a panel discussion titled "University Student Activities: Reality and Aspirations," with the participation of representatives from public and private higher education institutions in the Sultanate of Oman, held at the Centre's main hall.
The session aimed to highlight the importance of university student activities and their role in developing students' skills, refining their personalities and capabilities, and fostering values of leadership, initiative, and teamwork. It also discussed students' interests, needs, and aspirations, as well as ways to enhance their active participation in various university activities.
The discussion covered several pillars related to developing university student activities, most notably listening to students' opinions and aspirations regarding participation in activities, highlighting their impact on developing personal and academic skills, motivating students toward initiative and active engagement, and exchanging experiences and ideas that contribute to advancing student work.
Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Abri, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs for Guidance and Student Activities at Sultan Qaboos University, emphasized that student activities represent an important arena for developing students' personal skills, pointing to the importance of learning by doing and peer learning in gaining expertise and enhancing their capabilities through interaction and shared experiences.
He explained that participating in student activities yields positive psychological impacts, contributing to boosting self-confidence, acceptance of others, and identifying strengths among group members, thereby reinforcing teamwork spirit and positive interaction among students.
Dr. Hilal Ali Al Maqbali, Deputy Assistant President for Electronic Systems and Student Services at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Sohar Branch, explained that optimal investment in student activities depends on directing them toward skill development and refining student capabilities, noting that these activities have become a modern necessity due to the opportunities they provide for acquiring and developing skills through practice and experience.
He pointed out the importance of utilising student activities in shaping student personality and preparing them for future requirements, emphasising that the initial steps in executing activities must be precise and well-considered, while paying attention to the cognitive and academic aspects to achieve integration between student activities and the educational process.
The session also addressed the requirements and needs of educational institutions in the realm of student activities, alongside presenting models of student initiatives across various higher education institutions, enabling the exchange of expertise and experiences and benefiting from practices that enhance the quality of student activities and expand their impact within the university community.
This session comes within the framework of interest in enhancing the role of student activities in enriching the university experience, and creating a space for dialogue and exchange of views between educational institutions and student representatives, supporting the development of student initiatives and building youth capabilities.