Muscat: The third COMEX Conference will see a host of experts getting together to enlighten conference attendees about various issues related to ICT. Held alongside the COMEX 2012 expo, the Conference, organised by OITE Conferences and the Information Technology Authority in cooperation with the Oman IT Society, will take place from 1st - 2nd May, 2012 at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Seeb from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm on both days. The theme for this year's conference is Enhancing Oman Human Capital through Optimum Use of ICT and will see related topics being discussed under three main sessions namely Developing National Human Resource through Latest Technologies - Trends & Best Practices; "Advancing the Skills and Training Development using ICT"; and Technology and infrastructure for the Growth of SME's.
His Majesty has laid constant emphasis on the transformation of the country into a knowledge society through incorporating ICT into the functioning of the government and consequently the public and private sector. Giving way to a digital society involves the integration of digital technologies in home, work education, recreation and other activities which would advance the skills and training of the country's individuals. Keeping this in mind session two of the COMEX Conference entitled "Advancing the skills and training development using ICT" shall touch upon the same, giving primary importance to the relevance of ICT in the education system, its role in nurturing the future generations, empowering women and revolutionizing the private sector.
In fostering a digital society, the main focus lies in preparing the future generation to tackle the effects of globalization which will require them to have access to information, access to the latest technological tools and adequate technological skills and training development. This calls for the implementation of ICT in the educational structure of the country, where students learn through engaging with technology in the classroom, enabling them to change tomorrow's workplace. These shall be enhanced upon in Education Transformation - Building 21st Century Learning Skills by Andy Nehme, Regional Manager Middle East North Africa - World Ahead, Intel and The importance of ICT in Education - How technology in the classroom provides students with skills that prepare them for the workforce by Mr. Salim Ziade, General Manager, HP Personal Systems Group (HP PSG), Middle East.
Dr. Zahra Al Rawahi, Director of ICT Sector, The Research Council, Oman, will add her inputs on the importance of ICT in the field of education via the topic Science & Technology Education Development as Pillar towards Achieving a Knowledge-based Economy: Key Challenges & Prospects, via discussion about the new tools for education that would encourage students towards innovation and creativity, the use of ICT across curriculum and the use of ICT to support skills and training development.
The benefits of ICT should not be extended to just the youth but the women of the country as well. This calls for recognition of the economic opportunities women could bring to the country through active participation in numerous development fields including planning and decision making at the level of the family, institutions and society. This calls for equal gender access to information and technology, further promotion of ICT education and skills training among women and encouraging women to take up leadership roles to bring about economic development, which Dr. Jung-Ah Cho, Director, Gyeonggi Women's Development Centre (GWDC), will enlighten attendees upon in Empowering women through ICT
One of the primary goals of the Omani Government in its Vision 2012 was to develop a private sector capable of optimum use of human and natural resources in an efficient and ecologically- sound way, with some government incentives and some financial assistance, in order to stimulate rapid growth, particularly in areas of production and commerce. This and related issues will be tackled by Mr. Hamid Al Bahri, HR Executive Manager, Oman Society for Petroleum Services via a case study entitled Forging partnerships with private sectors to develop and customized training and skills development programmes for future HR requirements.
A separate panel discussion entitled Preparing the youth towards the future: Bridging digital divide moderated by Mr. Sharifa Al Barami, Founder & CEO, Al Jazeera Technical Solutions, Oman, will see panelists Dr. Cho, Mr. Ziade and Dr. Al Rawahi, coming together to discuss what comprehensive solutions, innovative models and holistic strategies should be in-placed in order to impart the youths and future work-force with the right ICT knowledge and know-how.
For more information on the COMEX Conference 2012 please visit www.comexoman.com/conference
© Press Release 2012
