Shinas: The University of Technology and Applied Sciences in Shinas, North Al Batinah Governorate, has organized an entrepreneurship forum under the slogan “Innovation for a Sustainable Future”.
The three-day event coincides with the Global Entrepreneurship Week, in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Department in the governorate.
Dr. Moza bint Mohammed Al Shehhi, Deputy Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Shinas Branch, explained that the forum contributes to strengthening the partnership with community institutions, entrepreneurs, owners of small and medium enterprises, and students of higher education institutions in the Sultanate of Oman, to form extended bridges between the various sectors in North Al Batinah Governorate.
In pictures: Entrepreneurship Forum at the UTAS in Shinas begins
She added that the forum aims to spread awareness of the importance of entrepreneurship and support young entrepreneurs of different age and professional groups by organizing workshops that aim to provide entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and knowledge. The forum also aims to enhance the spirit of initiative, creativity, and competition among participating students by holding an entrepreneurship hackathon for the category of higher education institutions in the Sultanate and the category of schools in the governorate.
For his part, Sulaiman bin Ali Al Balushi, Head of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Department in North Al Batinah, pointed out that this forum is a translation of the Authority’s message in supporting and empowering small, medium and micro enterprises to grow and expand and raise their competitive capabilities through innovative and sustainable programs, with the aim of developing the individual and society, diversifying sources of income and raising their contribution to the gross domestic product.
The accompanying exhibition was also opened as part of the forum’s activities, which included a number of pioneering projects in entrepreneurship and productive families, and craft projects for a number of craftsmen, in addition to introducing the services provided by government institutions supporting entrepreneurship, and student company projects, as the number of participants in the exhibition reached more than 35 institutions, companies and entrepreneurs.
In addition to the hackathon for entrepreneurship projects for higher education institutions and the school category, which numbered 26 projects, including 22 projects for higher education institutions, and four projects for the school category.
A dialogue session was held on the use of financial technology for sustainable entrepreneurship, in which a number of specialists in supporting entrepreneurship from the public and private sectors participated.
The three-day forum includes 7 training sessions in the fields of entrepreneurship, including generating and developing entrepreneurial ideas (business model), the concept of entrepreneurship and its importance, the characteristics of a successful entrepreneur, the difference between creativity and innovation, product development and marketing strategy (content creation – marketing), in addition to introducing the services provided by the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development to entrepreneurs in the Sultanate of Oman, presentation skills for entrepreneurs, the financial plan for the commercial project, and artificial intelligence applications in entrepreneurship.
The opening ceremony of the forum was sponsored by His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Hajri, Wali of Shinas.
