The third and final day of the Scientific Research and Sustainability: A Vision for Change Conference was held today at the Grand Hall, Cultural Centre, Sultan Qaboos University, under the patronage of Professor Amer bin Saif Al-Hinai, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Postgraduate Studies and Research. The conference, which brought together researchers, professionals, and practitioners from different countries concluded with dynamic discussions and significant recommendations aimed at aligning scientific research with sustainability imperatives across multiple sectors.
The day’s agenda featured a range of insightful papers and presentations that explored the intersection of research, policy, and practice. Among the topics discussed was the management of sustainable energy in the pharmaceutical industry, with a focus on optimising drying processes. Another paper addressed the need for integrated policies that enhance human well-being and strengthen the capacities of displaced and mobile populations, reflecting an urgent global concern.
Artificial Intelligence also featured prominently in the proceedings. A compelling study presented AI as a transformative tool for building research infrastructure, improving access to knowledge, and encouraging more effective usage behaviours, particularly within Arab academic institutions, as a means to support sustainable development.
In the realm of education, participants examined the transition from eco-schools to eco-universities, highlighting sustainable practices in academic settings. Another paper offered a comprehensive view on the interconnectedness of food security, health security, and armed conflict in the Arab world, proposing a new vision centred on the holistic well-being of the Arab individual.
Healthcare systems were the focus of several contributions. A detailed examination of budgeting and spending in Palestine’s healthcare system from 2000 to 2024 identified key gaps and opportunities for reform. Additionally, a presentation on public-private partnerships in healthcare outlined methods and policies to strengthen sector collaboration. These discussions were complemented by a Tunisian case study on water rights, climate change, and the evolving social contract.
Real-world data and AI analytics were central to a paper on advancing value-based medicine, illustrating how evidence-based practices can bridge the gap between research and clinical reality. Locally focused research also featured prominently, with a study on community participation in managing aflaj (traditional irrigation systems) in Ad-Dakhliyyah Governorate offering a compelling example of sustainable natural resource management.
Higher education was also addressed through a paper exploring how AI integration and data analytics can be harnessed to optimise enrolment management in universities, enhancing long-term sustainability in resource allocation and institutional planning.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Sulaiman bin Dawood Al-Sabei, Dean of Postgraduate Studies, presented a set of forward-looking recommendations drawn from the conference deliberations. He emphasised the importance of enhancing sustainable partnerships between researchers and productive and development sectors. Dr. Al-Sabei called for a comprehensive review of current models of collaboration between universities and industrial, developmental, and service sectors, recommending the adoption of best practices such as regular field visits, interactive databases, and sustainable action plans that yield measurable impact.
He further highlighted the need to design applied, collaborative research projects that directly support the Sustainable Development Goals. These projects, he noted, should address real-world challenges using actual data and available resources, thereby producing actionable scientific outcomes that can inform public policy and institutional strategies.
Lastly, Dr. Al-Sabei stressed the importance of building researchers’ competencies in translating knowledge into sustainable economic value. He proposed the establishment of targeted training programmes aimed at equipping researchers and postgraduate students with the skills to market their knowledge and transform research outputs into innovative, value-added products and services.
The conference concluded on a high note, reaffirming the vital role of scientific research in driving sustainable development and calling for stronger integration between academia and society in meeting shared global challenges.