17 March 2011
MUSCAT -- Middle East College of Information Technology (MECIT) is all set to organise a two-day conference on March 22 and 23 at its premises in Knowledge Oasis Muscat.
The international conference on "Applied Information and Communications Technology" will focus on the tremendous potential for ICT to change the way business is done and services offered and delivered in different industries, said Prof Thomas Anderson, Senior Adviser of Science and Technology Policy of the Research Council Oman.
He said the conference is important given the scope of issues, as it will show so many aspects of what can now be achieved through ICT.
"Important sub-themes include ICT and organisational change, which is relevant across the board. In addition, education and health are very important, because here there is still so much more that can be done, opportunities are moving fast, and the institutions in this area are in most cases much behind," he added.
The conference topics are very relevant both to Oman and to other countries, Prof Thomas said, adding: "Emerging economies, like Oman, invest disproportionately in ICT, but the potential benefits are not yet fully captured because of the lack of room for organisational change and innovation."
He said the conference will provide practical examples of benefits and also what is required in terms of investment in people and business models in order to gain from ICT. It will also demonstrate the key role played by ICT today in breaking into new markets and overcoming traditional boundaries.
"Conversely, it will show the risks and dangers of not adopting a comprehensive approach, as ICT can then turn out to be costly and even weaken performances. By increasing awareness and inspiring a more open mindset, the conference can help generate very positive outcome because the most limiting factor is our own hesitation to embrace new ideas and rely on routinised ways of working," he added.
Expressing his views, Dr Ali Sharaf al Musawi, Head of Department of Instructional and Learning Technologies at Department of College of Education (Sultan Qaboos University) said all subtopics that will be discussed at the conference are very important as they cover a wide range of areas related to information technology in various aspects of life such as: health, education, environment and agriculture.
"There is no doubt that each of these areas has its own applications of IT that requires to be addressed with specialised research to provide related issues and solutions in a scientific and accurate manner.
This is what the conference aims by offering the cross multiple subtopics under consideration," he said.
Dr Ali reiterated that the conference is a good contribution in providing researchers and students in the Omani higher education institutions with a forum through which they can display their creative innovations and scientific research, in addition to their exchange of information and new experiences with local scientists and those coming from different countries.
"The interaction of experiences in itself adds to the quality of the field of information technology in the Sultanate and the Gulf states.
"Those in the industrial, agriculture and education sectors in the Sultanate will also benefit from these experiences by understanding solutions adapted to the local environment and resettling technological products to the social development experienced by the community in Oman," he added.
MUSCAT -- Middle East College of Information Technology (MECIT) is all set to organise a two-day conference on March 22 and 23 at its premises in Knowledge Oasis Muscat.
The international conference on "Applied Information and Communications Technology" will focus on the tremendous potential for ICT to change the way business is done and services offered and delivered in different industries, said Prof Thomas Anderson, Senior Adviser of Science and Technology Policy of the Research Council Oman.
He said the conference is important given the scope of issues, as it will show so many aspects of what can now be achieved through ICT.
"Important sub-themes include ICT and organisational change, which is relevant across the board. In addition, education and health are very important, because here there is still so much more that can be done, opportunities are moving fast, and the institutions in this area are in most cases much behind," he added.
The conference topics are very relevant both to Oman and to other countries, Prof Thomas said, adding: "Emerging economies, like Oman, invest disproportionately in ICT, but the potential benefits are not yet fully captured because of the lack of room for organisational change and innovation."
He said the conference will provide practical examples of benefits and also what is required in terms of investment in people and business models in order to gain from ICT. It will also demonstrate the key role played by ICT today in breaking into new markets and overcoming traditional boundaries.
"Conversely, it will show the risks and dangers of not adopting a comprehensive approach, as ICT can then turn out to be costly and even weaken performances. By increasing awareness and inspiring a more open mindset, the conference can help generate very positive outcome because the most limiting factor is our own hesitation to embrace new ideas and rely on routinised ways of working," he added.
Expressing his views, Dr Ali Sharaf al Musawi, Head of Department of Instructional and Learning Technologies at Department of College of Education (Sultan Qaboos University) said all subtopics that will be discussed at the conference are very important as they cover a wide range of areas related to information technology in various aspects of life such as: health, education, environment and agriculture.
"There is no doubt that each of these areas has its own applications of IT that requires to be addressed with specialised research to provide related issues and solutions in a scientific and accurate manner.
This is what the conference aims by offering the cross multiple subtopics under consideration," he said.
Dr Ali reiterated that the conference is a good contribution in providing researchers and students in the Omani higher education institutions with a forum through which they can display their creative innovations and scientific research, in addition to their exchange of information and new experiences with local scientists and those coming from different countries.
"The interaction of experiences in itself adds to the quality of the field of information technology in the Sultanate and the Gulf states.
"Those in the industrial, agriculture and education sectors in the Sultanate will also benefit from these experiences by understanding solutions adapted to the local environment and resettling technological products to the social development experienced by the community in Oman," he added.
© Oman Daily Observer 2011
