London: The Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in the United Kingdom, through the Cultural Attach©, organized the annual Omani Graduates Forum in central London at the Royal Geographical Society, in partnership and collaboration with Oman Investment Authority.
According to Oman News Agency, the forum aimed to support graduates during the transitional phase between the completion of their studies and their preparation to enter the professional and employment sphere. The event also featured a recognition ceremony honoring outstanding students from the class of 2026 in appreciation of their academic excellence, alongside a tribute to the presidents of student associations.
The event was held under the patronage of Badr Mohammed Al Manthri, Oman's Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The inaugural edition of the Omani Graduates Forum carried particular significance, as it marked the launch of the "Omani UK and Europe Alumni Network Community" initiative. This initiative seeks to foster stronger connections and integration among Omani graduates and the broader academic and knowledge community in the countries of study, while maintaining their engagement with the Cultural Attach© beyond graduation.
The initiative is designed to enhance the development of competitive Omani competencies by establishing an official platform that connects graduates with Omani students currently pursuing their studies. It supports joint activities and involves graduates in training, mentoring, and professional events, enabling them to share their professional and academic expertise with their peers. This contributes to improving the readiness of Omani graduates for both local and international labour markets, while promoting a culture of volunteer work and scientific and cultural cooperation between graduates and their universities and academic institutions in the host countries.
The Cultural Attach© is currently developing the appropriate governance framework for this initiative. In its initial phases, the initiative aims to establish an up-to-date and comprehensive database of Omani graduates from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and European universities. This database is intended to be a dynamic resource that highlights graduates' expertise, achievements, capabilities, and experiences both during their scholarship period and after their entry into the workforce. This will enable the assessment of the contribution made by young Omani talents emerging from the scholarship program to the national development process.
The initiative also focuses on establishing formal channels with universities and colleges in the host countries to encourage research and innovation initiatives and activities among graduates, while raising the level of Omani graduates' intellectual contribution on the international stage.