University of Nizwa Showcases Teaching Innovation and Scholarship at ICMAR2026

By Dr. Aishah Abu Bakar

Faculty Development Officer, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL)

The Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), University of Nizwa, proudly contributed to the success of the International Conference of Multidisciplinary in Action Research 2026 (ICMAR2026) held on 11–12 June 2026 through a strategic collaboration with Kolej Poly-Tech MARA (KPTM) Kuantan, Malaysia. The international conference brought together 54 presenters from 27 institutions representing both local and international higher education communities. Reflecting the growing global interest in action research and educational innovation, the conference adopted a hybrid format, featuring 21 face-to-face presentations at the KPTM Kuantan campus on the first day, followed by 33 virtual presentations streamed internationally on the second day. The event also attracted more than 100 participants, who actively engaged in scholarly discussions, knowledge exchange, and professional networking throughout the conference.

The participation of the University of Nizwa at ICMAR2026 is the culmination of a purposeful faculty development journey initiated by CETL through its Researching Teaching and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Project, launched on 24 February 2026. This initiative complements the university's Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning (CHETL) 2025–2026 Programme, reinforcing CETL's commitment to cultivating reflective practitioners and scholarly educators. The Researching Teaching/SoTL Project was designed to guide faculty members through a structured action research process, enabling them to transform everyday teaching challenges into opportunities for systematic inquiry, innovation, and scholarly dissemination. Through this initiative, faculty members are encouraged to investigate classroom issues using evidence-based approaches, implement meaningful interventions, and contribute to the continuous enhancement of teaching quality and student learning outcomes. The project aligns closely with the university's commitment to Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and the development of a vibrant culture of teaching excellence.

A key feature of the initiative was the collaboration between the University of Nizwa and KPTM Kuantan, which provided participants with an international platform to present and publish their work. Faculty participants were selected from the CHETL cohort, creating a clear developmental pathway from professional learning to educational scholarship. This progression enables participants to apply the pedagogical principles learned through CHETL to teaching innovation, reflective practice, and research-informed decision-making. To support participants throughout their scholarly journey, CETL facilitated a series of workshops and consultation sessions covering essential stages of action research, including:

• Introduction to Researching Teaching

• Reflective Practice

• Planning Action Research

• Developing an Action Research Proposal

• Action Research Methodology

• Individual Consultation Sessions on Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting

As a result of these efforts, four University of Nizwa faculty members successfully presented their action research projects at ICMAR2026:

• Malaysia–Oman Action Research Experiences and New to Researching Teaching – Seeing the Problem, Finding the Lens – Dr. Aishah Abu Bakar (CETL)

• Beyond the Books: Leveraging “Think-Aloud” Protocols to Bridge the Pharmacy Theory–Practice Gap – Dr. Zainab Abdullah Al Tobi (College of Health Sciences)

• Mind Over Meaning: Reducing Cognitive Load in Culture-Specific Translation – Prof. Dr. Hassan Obaid Alfadly (College of Arts and Sciences)

• Bridging the Jarring Transition in EMI Higher Education: A Scaffolded Social Annotation and Assessment-Linked Reading Intervention in Undergraduate Finance – Dr. Anju Ravi (College of Economics, Management and Information Systems)

These presentations demonstrated the breadth of teaching innovation taking place across the University of Nizwa and highlighted how action research can generate meaningful improvements in student learning while contributing to the wider body of educational knowledge.

Beyond conference participation, the initiative represents an important milestone in advancing the University's international visibility in teaching and learning innovation. More significantly, it reflects CETL's vision of empowering faculty members to become scholars of teaching and learning—professionals who not only excel in the classroom but also contribute to educational research, evidence-based practice, and scholarly publication.

As the University of Nizwa continues to strengthen its culture of excellence in teaching and learning, initiatives such as the Researching Teaching/SoTL Project demonstrate how strategic faculty development can transform classroom practice into impactful scholarship, foster international collaboration, and enhance the University's reputation as a leading institution committed to educational innovation and academic excellence.