MUSCAT : The symposium was organised by Ishraq Foundation for Press and Publication in partnership with Sohar University under the patronage of Said bin Sultan Al Busaidi, and witnessed the participation of academics, intellectuals and educators from across Oman.

Speaking during the event, Hamdan Al-Fazari said the symposium serves as an important intellectual platform to strengthen awareness about national identity and reinforce Omani cultural values in the face of fast-changing global developments.

He stressed that universities today are not merely educational institutions, but active partners in shaping societal awareness and preserving national and cultural constants. He added that protecting Omani identity requires integrated efforts between academic, media and community institutions to strengthen national belonging among future generations.

Meanwhile, Hamid Al-Saidi noted that the symposium aimed to emphasise the importance of investing in an Omani individual who is fully aware of his identity and capable of engaging confidently with the world while preserving authenticity, values and cultural heritage.

The symposium featured a series of scientific papers and discussions addressing the dimensions of national identity and the intellectual, cultural and media transformations linked to it. Discussions also explored the role of education and national institutions in reinforcing identity and preserving cultural values.

Across its two scientific sessions, participants examined topics including the evolving concept of national identity, the impact of cultural openness on values and behaviour, and the growing influence of digital media and social media platforms on collective awareness and cultural identity.

The sessions further highlighted the importance of educational curricula and institutional initiatives in promoting national belonging and protecting the cultural privacy of Omani society.

At the conclusion of the symposium, participants issued several recommendations, including strengthening the presence of national identity in educational curricula and cultural programmes, developing a national media discourse that promotes awareness of cultural constants, and enhancing partnerships between educational, media and cultural institutions.

The recommendations also called for greater support for youth initiatives that promote national belonging and for leveraging digital platforms to create purposeful national content that preserves Omani identity while keeping pace with contemporary transformations.

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