The Sultanate of Oman and Britain signed two letters of intent in the fields of space and artificial intelligence in education on Wednesday in the capital of Britain, London. These agreements were made during the official visit of Haitham bin Tariq, the Sultan of Oman, to Britain.
Details of the Agreements
The two letters of intent were signed on behalf of Oman by Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Mahdia bint Ahmed Al Shaibani, Minister of Education. On behalf of Britain, Dr. Alice Bunn, Joint Director of the UK Space Agency, and Scott McDonald, Chief Executive of the British Council, signed the agreements.
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The first letter refers to cooperation in the space sector and the exchange of experiences in space policy, scientific research, and innovation between the UK Space Agency and the Government of Oman. Meanwhile, the second letter pertains to the responsible use of artificial intelligence in education, supporting English language learning, and assisting teachers in the safe and effective application of artificial intelligence in classrooms.
Educational Implications
Dr. Mahdia bint Ahmed Al Shaibani, Minister of Education of Oman, emphasized in an interview that the signing of this letter of intent between the Ministry of Education and the British Council is an important step towards strengthening educational cooperation and exploring the opportunities provided by artificial intelligence technologies for developing teaching and learning methods and enhancing students' skills. These efforts align with technological developments and future needs and correspond with Oman 2040 goals.
The Minister of Education pointed out that the project includes empowering teachers to use AI-based learning tools and aligning educational activities with Omani curricula and the needs of participating schools. In this regard, principles of safe and responsible use of modern technologies and the protection of students and data are also taken into consideration.
Dr. Mahdia bint Ahmed Al Shaibani added that this pilot project will be evaluated based on indicators agreed upon by both parties so that its results can contribute to the development of educational practices and identify potential opportunities for future expansion and assist evidence-based decision-making.
The Minister of Education also emphasized that this collaboration aims to benefit from shared experiences in developing innovative learning environments and empowering students to acquire language skills and future competencies.
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