The Sultanate of Oman represented by the Higher Education Ministry signed an agreement with the UK based Cambridge University for establishing
H.M. Sultan Qaboos Chair for Ibrahimi Religions and Common Values.
The agreement was signed by Dr. Rawiyah bint Saud al Busaidiyah, Higher Education Minister in the presence of Sayyid Taimour bin As'ad al Said, Assistant Secretary General for International Cooperation at the Scientific Research Council (TRC), Habib bin Mohammed al Riyami, Secretary General of Sultan Qaboos Centre for Islamic Culture, Dr. Ali bin Saud al Bimani, Vice Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University and Dr. Mohammed bin Said al Ma'amari, Scientific Advisor at the Awqaf and Religious Affairs Ministry.
From the University side, the agreement was signed by Professor Sir L. Christophe Borisioz, Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University in the presence of a number of officials, academicians and diplomats from both sides.
After signing the agreement, the Higher Education Minister said that the establishment of H.M. Sultan Qaboos Chair for Ibrahimi Religions and Common Values is a new addition to the scientific chairs established by the Sultanate in the different parts of the world to increase the number of chairs in the different continents to 15. Besides the Gulf Region, Sultan Qaboos Chairs are also established in a number of countries in four continents namely Asia, Australia, Europe and North America.
She added that ‘realizing its responsibilities as a member of the international community towards promoting human knowledge and understanding, the Sultanate's government seeks to encourage and support the studies and scientific researches. It also provides researchers with the opportunities to enhance and expand its cultural heritage and achieve the aims of the public interests'. She pointed out that in a bid to materialize these aims, the Sultanate seeks to provide the practical support to the study of the Ibrahimi religion, Judaism, Christianity and Islam by focusing on the shared values among these religions and their relations with the societies and the other religions.
She also pointed out that the establishment of the chair at Cambridge University aims at ensuring active participation in the development of culture and mutual cooperation in the religious studies field. The Chair will also be a symbol for permanent friendship and joint cooperation between the Sultanate and Cambridge University. She affirmed that the establishment of the Chair is a new step by the Sultanate to enhance the friendship bonds and mutual cooperation between the two countries, as well as, developing the understanding concepts among religions. It also reflects the wise leadership of His Majesty within the framework of the wise directives to maintain the historic heritage of Oman and play an active role in the international community.
She also pointed out that the scientific symposium which was recently held at Sultan Qaboos University on H.M. Sultan Qaboos Scientific Chairs and their Contribution had a role in enriching the goals and roles of these chairs. The symposium has been a good opportunity to the supervisors of His Majesty the Sultan chairs to meet their counterparts and exchange views and experiences that help in developing and promoting the scientific chairs they are supervising.
The articles of the agreement include the frameworks and work procedures between the Sultanate represented by the Higher Education Ministry and the U.K based Cambridge University with relation to the scientific chair. As per the agreement, Cambridge University will take the required action to appoint a professor of high caliber in the field of religious studies to manage the tasks of the chair. The chair's supervisor appointment, roles and the responsibilities should be in line with the rules and regulations in force at Cambridge University with relations to academicians in the level of professors.
As per the terms of the agreement, Cambridge University will take whatever action required to ensure the liberty and the ability of the chair supervisor to practice recognized academic liberties with relation to teaching, publication, selection of researches, maintaining intellectual property rights for those appointed at the grade of professors at Cambridge University.
The agreement also states that Cambridge University will provide the Sultanate with copies of the books and publications published by the supervisor of H.M. Sultan Qaboos Chair for Ibrahimi Religions and Common Values
(ONA)
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