This is however not to say that efforts to provide sufficient educational opportunities within the Sultanate are slow. “At present”, the minister said, “in addition to Sultan Qaboos University, there are five private universities in operation (Sohar University; the University of Dhofar; the University of Nizwa; GUtech; and the Arab Open University). Moreover, three new Oman-based private universities are presently in the planning stages — Muscat University, Buraimi University and a university in the Sharqiyah Region”.
Dr Rawya said there are currently six Colleges of Applied Sciences (CAS) enrolling approximately 7,000 students. There are also six Colleges of Technology under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Manpower with an enrolment of about 6,000; and 16 Institutes of Health Science enrolling over 700 students.
For the coming academic year 2009/10, there are more than 60 higher education institutions providing post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree programmes, two-thirds of which are public institutions, operated through various ministries or agencies. Oman’s system of higher education has proved to be flexible and responsive in meeting the changing demands of the economy and society. Providing access to virtually all qualified applicants under circumstances of a high and growing demand for seats is an important achievement, but it is equally important to strive for, and achieve, high standards of quality.
The ministry recognises the critical importance of quality at this stage in the development of Higher Education in the Sultanate; and, as the system continues to grow, the emphasis is on quality at international standards and on student outcomes that are fit for purpose in preparing students for the job market or for continued studies in Higher Education.
A key initiative in assuring quality came with the establishment of the Accreditation Board eight years ago as an independent body reporting to the Council of Higher Education. Asked about the Masters in Business Administration programmes in Oman, she said, Sultan Qaboos University is the only Omani university currently offering the MBA degree, in addition to Waljat Colleges of Applied Sciences (WCAS) which offers an MBA.
Certain international universities, such as the University of Hull, the University of Bedfordshire and Coventry University, also offer the MBA degree through Omani higher education institutes, including Gulf College, Majan College, and The Middle East College of Information Technology respectively.
