Oman IT Authority (ITA) has taken a key step forward in its drive to promote free software by partnering with the leading three higher education institutions in the country. The partnership outlines the levels of co-operation to develop and strengthen a culture of free software in the society.
In partnership with the ITA, SMCE has delivered on this initiative a series of LPI programs to raise awareness about the importance of free software and its applications, and present free software as a convincing option available alongside proprietary ones.

Program Objectives:

1. To spread awareness about the national initiative for free software.
2. To spread awareness on the free software philosophy and its global movement.
3. To present the Arab-world experience with respect to using free software.
4. To present the Omani experience with respect to using free software
5. To participate spreading awareness about intellectual property and help to decrease the illegal usage of proprietary software through the usage of the free software.
6. To encourage research and development of free software in Oman.
7. To empower the region with Linux and Open source skills and capabilities
8. To set standards in for the regional Linux and FOSS programs