National Defence College Organizes Symposium on Role of Youth in National Decision-Making
Muscat, 9 Feb 2026 (ONA) --- The National Defence College is organizing a 4-day symposium on the role of youth in national decision-making. The symposium discusses key steps “from empowerment to influencing”. It kicked off today at the Academy of Strategic and Defence Studies under the auspices of Rear Admiral Saif Nasser Al Rahbi, Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman.
The symposium, which runs until 12 February 2026, forms part of the curriculum of the National Defence College’s 13th session attended by representatives of government departments. It covers the themes of participation in decision-making, citizenship and belonging, innovation and sustainable digital empowerment.
The symposium aims to affirm the central role of youth in forging national initiatives and integrating their visions and aspirations into a national decision-making process. It touches on measures of consolidating the values of belonging and active citizenship by engaging youth in tackling strategic national issues.
In addition, the symposium elaborates on methods of enhancing the sustainability of national decisions and policies by integrating the voice of youth in designing future policies in a manner that responds to the aspirations of future generations.
The symposium also seeks ways of harnessing young people’s energies of innovation in devising practical solutions and generating innovative initiatives that promote sustainable national development. It deals with prospects of empowering youth technically and intellectually in areas of digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) applications so that youth could become an active force in the national economy.
--- Ends/Bishara
