Muscat – Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) on Wednesday organised the launch forum of the awareness campaign ‘Our Values, Our Digital Identity’.

The event was held under the auspices of H H Sayyid Dr Fahd Al Julanda Al Said, Vice-Chancellor of SQU.

The campaign aims to strengthen Omani values and identity in the digital environment, promote a culture of digital citizenship, and raise awareness of the safe and responsible use of technology. It also seeks to protect privacy and digital identity, raise awareness of the risks of cyberbullying, extortion and harmful content, and promote critical thinking in dealing with digital news and information.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Ali Al Shehhi, Wali of Seeb, said the campaign comes in response to the challenges posed by rapid digital transformation. He noted that building an aware and responsible individual and promoting digital citizenship are shared responsibilities of the family, school, university, and cultural, media and community institutions.

Dr Wafa bint Said Al Maamari, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Sociology and Social Work at SQU, highlighted the importance of strengthening values and ethics among students to safeguard their psychological and intellectual wellbeing and preserve their cultural identity and religious and national values.

She emphasised the importance of building a generation guided by knowledge and protected by values, capable of distinguishing between beneficial and harmful content in the digital world.

The campaign is based on a set of values, including belonging, safety, credibility, respect, responsibility, dialogue and balance. It emphasises that digital citizenship goes beyond the proper use of technology, making an individual’s presence in the digital world an extension of their values, identity and responsible behaviour in society.

The six-month campaign will initially be implemented in four schools, targeting 500 students and 140 parents through awareness, interactive, school-based and community activities.