The Shura Council recently held its 10th regular session of the first annual convening during the 10th term, where Dr. Rahma Ibrahim Al Mahrouqi, the Minister of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, was hosted to discuss the Ministry’s statement regarding policies, programs, strategies, and five-year plans for developing higher education, vocational training, research, and innovation. Dr. Rahma highlighted the rise in enrollment rates in higher education institutions in Oman and the stronger ties of cooperation with corresponding institutions in Arab and friendly countries, resulting in the allocation of scholarships for Omani students to study abroad.
The session saw the allocation of 206 annual scholarships for study in Saudi Arabia, 50 annual scholarships for study in Hungary, and 22 annual scholarships for Omani students to study in France. Additionally, three private higher education institutions in Oman received scholarships funded by the “Erasmus Plus” student exchange program for European Union countries for the first time. Dr. Rahma also mentioned the expansion of the education-based training program (Eidad) to benefit students in the penultimate year of graduation, as well as the formation of a joint team to review curricula for educational institutions in Oman.
The joint team, consisting of members from the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Education, Sultan Qaboos University, and the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, is tasked with identifying areas that need changes and priorities. Once the team completes its mission, a charter framing all education programs in Oman will be devised. Dr. Rahma also highlighted the increase in the number of scholarships for study abroad, with 535 scholarships available for the academic year 2023-2024 compared to 312 in the previous year.
The Ministry is also working on enacting laws to punish holders of forged educational qualifications and criminalize obtaining certificates from fake universities. Dr. Rahma mentioned a decrease in the number of fake qualifications to 10 in 2023 from 44 in 2019. Furthermore, 18 private universities and colleges in Oman have obtained institutional accreditation from the Omani Authority for Academic Accreditation and Educational Quality Assurance. The Ministry aims to ensure the quality and integrity of educational qualifications in Oman.
Overall, the session at the Shura Council highlighted the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation’s efforts to enhance higher education, vocational training, research, and innovation in Oman. Through collaboration with international institutions and the provision of scholarships for Omani students, the Ministry is working towards providing quality education and opportunities for students in the country. The review of curricula and the development of new programs demonstrate the commitment to improving education standards and ensuring the validity of qualifications obtained by students in Oman.
