The sixth edition of the career event AVENIR 2023 was organised by Indian School Darsait under the aegis of the Board of Directors, Indian Schools, Sultanate of Oman, on 7, 8 and 9 December 2023.
The mega event with the tagline, ‘Be Future Ready’, was inaugurated by Sheikh Yaqoob Saif Al Shehami, Director General, Career Guidance and Counselling Students Centre, Ministry of Education, Oman. Dr. Sivakumar Manickam, Chairman, Board of Directors, Indian Schools, Oman, presided over the function while Dr. Fatin Al Zadjali, Head of Learning and Development, Bank Dhofar, and Mr. Abdul Hameed Al Balushi, Counsellor, Foreign Ministry, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, graced the occasion as the Guests of Honour. Mrs. Salony Priya Ummeed, Counselling and Consulting Services, Kolkata, India, was the keynote speaker on the occasion.
The function began with the Royal Anthem of Oman, followed by the National Anthem of India, lighting of the Ceremonial Lamp, and a prayer song. In his welcome address, Mr. Vijaya Saravanan Sankaran, President, School Management Committee, called upon the students to embark on the journey of self-discovery, exploration, and enlightenment. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Sivakumar Manickam said, “Exploring the realms of humanities, science, or commerce unveils a landscape of equal opportunities. Choosing a career that resonates with personal interests is a commendable decision”.
Dr. Fatin Al Zadjali shared her views on various career options. She said, ‘It’s imperative not only to base career decisions on personal preferences but also to take into account the well-being of the environment, community, and the people around us’. Mr. Vinod Kumar K., Vice Chairperson, AVENIR 2023, proposed the vote of thanks.
In the keynote address of the day, Mrs. Salony Priya called upon the students to discover their distinct talents. Further, she emphasized the significance of deciding whether one envisions oneself as a job creator or someone seeking employment.
AVENIR 2023 came to an end on 9 December, 2023 with a valedictory function. Dr. G.R. Kiran Former Dean, Middle East College, Muscat, was the Chief Guest while Madam Hanan Al Balushi Senior Supervisor, English Language Supervisory Unit, Muscat General Directorate, was the Guest of Honour. Mr. Shalimar Moideen, Chairperson, AVENIR 2023 welcomed the guests.
Dr. G.R. Kiran shared his invaluable thoughts on the essential skills required by today’s youth for an unchartered future where ‘amazing professions are emerging in an ever changing world’. He advised the students to prepare themselves for an ambiguous and uncertain future, and further urged them to develop skills that will enable them to leave a meaningful impact on the hearts and lives of people.
Dr. Sivakumar Manickam congratulated ‘Team ISD’ for organising the event that brought together resource persons from a broad range of careers and expertise, in both offline and online sessions. Mr. Amar Srivastava, Principal, ISD, proposed the vote of thanks and conveyed his profound gratitude to all for making the event a grand success.
Dr. Sangeeth Ibrahim, the Inspirational Speaker for the day, discussed a thought-provoking strategy through an engaging presentation to overcome some of the likely challenges faced by students. His skillful explanation of the journey from possessing multiple personalities to tips on staying focused to achieve success left an indelible impression on the audience.
Alongside the varied career talks in the school auditoriums, a Career Expo, held at Al-Falaj Hotel on 8th and 9th December 2023, attracted a large number of students and parents.
AVENIR 2023, which will be remembered as an overwhelming success in terms of participation, media coverage and outreach to the Indian diaspora, was attended by the distinguished members of the Board of Directors, Indian Schools, Oman, officials from the Ministry of Education, members of the School Management Committee, principals, teachers, parents and students of various Indian schools in Oman, sponsors of the event and well-wishers of the Indian schooling system.