Oman Seeks to Promote Free Software, Inks Collaboration Deals with Three Education Institutions

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Mar 13 2010
MUSCAT - Oman has taken a key step forward in its drive to promote free software by signing collaboration agreements with three leading higher education institutions in the country.

The memorandums of understanding (MoUs), signed by the Information Technology Authority (ITA) with the Sultan Qaboos University, the Nizwa University and the Higher College of Technology, outline levels of co-operation to develop and strengthen a culture of free software in the society.

“Through this initiative, ITA seeks to raise awareness about the importance of free software and its applications, and present free software as a convincing option available alongside proprietary ones,” Dr Salim Al Ruzaiqi, CEO of ITA, said after signing the agreements. “We greatly appreciate the support from higher education institutions as they can actively encourage students to use free software readily available. It is crucial we develop the skills and knowledge necessary for the use and development and to support these applications which will help to encourage future research and innovation in the field of free software,” he added.

The deals were inked on the sidelines of the first symposium on free software, inaugurated by Mohammed bin Nasser Al Khusaibi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of National Economy and Chairman of ITA. Source