Accreditation Board to have new role

On the occasion of an exhibition of private universities and colleges, Dr Rawya bint Saud Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, has said the newly-formed Accreditation Board would assume a greater role.

The exhibition is starting today at the Seeb Novotel Hotel. Al Busaidi said currently the private higher education institutions are operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education.

The senior Omani educationalist told Oman News Agency (ONA): "To date, all private colleges operating in Oman have their programmes of study accredited by an external university. We expect that private colleges will continue to work closely with overseas partners."

However, she hoped that the Accreditation Board will shortly assume its role of accrediting private higher education institutions that meet standards of quality, which are equal to those of leading international institutions.

It will do this through quality audits using panels of local and international experts.

She added: "The emphasis will be on quality improvement. In today's highly competitive world no institution, no matter how prestigious, can afford to merely maintain current standards."

Al Busaidi pointed out that there has been tremendous growth in private higher education since the first private college opened at the start of the 1995-96 academic year with 81 students.

"At the end of the last academic year there were 5,572 students studying in 13 private higher education institutions." That represents an annual growth of 42 per cent in the number of students in private higher education in Oman.

Private colleges now operate in Muscat, Sohar, Sur and Salalah and, "new colleges will soon open in other regions," she announced.

Al Busaidi added the government has been actively supporting private higher education since its introduction seven years ago.

It provides incentives to the private sector to invest in private higher education and offers a large number of scholarships to students to study in these institutions.

On the different types of private higher education institutions currently operating in Oman, she said, "There are three categories of private higher education institutions: private colleges, private university colleges and private universities."

Most of the private colleges currently offer programmes of study up to the diploma level, in partnership with an external university and students have the opportunity of completing their studies till this level in the partner university. Students in the private university colleges and in Oman's only private university can gain a bachelor's degree here.

These institutions also work closely with external universities to ensure their programmes match international standards.

Private higher education institutions in Oman have affiliation agreements with universities in the UK, U.S., Australia, Jordan and India, she added.

Replying to a question about the significant developments which have taken place recently in private higher education in Oman, the Undersecretary noted the establishment of Oman's first private university in Sohar in September 2001 was a very significant step.

Sohar University offers degree programmes in engineering, information technology and business and has an academic affiliation agreement with Queensland University of Australia.

Over 800 students are currently studying at the Sohar University. "This number will increase rapidly in the next few years," she hopes. Founding committees have also been formed for two further private universities, one in Salalah and the other in Nizwa.

In addition, several colleges have been granted 'university colleges' status which means they are now able to offer bachelor's degree programmes, she said.

Regarding the programmes of study currently being offered in private colleges in Oman, Al Busaidi said there is a wide choice of study options offered to students entering private higher education in Oman.

"There are programmes of study leading to either a diploma or a bachelor's degree in such diverse fields as Engineering, Science, Business and Medicine."

On the plans for post-graduate studies in private higher education institutions, she said: "We expect post-graduate programmes to be approved by the Accreditation Board in future.

"Private university colleges will be allowed to offer master's level programmes of study and private universities will be able to offer doctoral degrees, but it may be a number of years before this happens.

In the meantime, she said, "I expect private colleges will be concentrating their efforts on ensuring that their undergraduate degree programmes equip Omani students with the knowledge and skills required by both the public and the private sector employers."