MUSCAT: The Sultanate encourages higher education institutes to have academic affiliation with elite foreign universities, including for study programmes and quality assurance. As a result, many Omani students studying at Oman’s higher education institutions get their university qualifications from foreign universities. Speaking about the Sultanate coming second at the Arab level and 22nd at the world level on Sustainable Development Policies Index of the British Council report titled ‘The Shape of Global Higher Education’, Oman Academic Accreditation Authority (OAAA) said these foreign qualifications are approved by the Ministry of Higher Education as in the case of qualifications granted locally.
These qualifications are appreciated by local employers in both public and private sectors.
The report said that contrary to some countries, Oman makes academic affiliation agreement between higher education institutions and foreign universities subject to quality assurance process under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education and OAAA.
While the academic accreditation by OAAA ensures accreditation of quality systems of foreign universities, it also takes into account the national priorities such as employability and Omanisation.
The statement said OAAA encourages higher education institutions to establish cooperation with other higher education institutions for specific purposes such as research, benchmarking and sharing resources as well as student and staff exchange.
It said the higher education institutions are receiving a growing number of foreign students.
OAAA encourages provision of effective services to attract more foreign students to the Sultanate.
The statement said OAAA promotes international efforts to enhance excellence in higher education.
The academic accreditation enhances international participation and augments national efforts made to increase the percentage of Omani academics at the local higher education institutions.
The statement affirmed that the Omani establishments reap considerable benefit from its international cadres.
OAAA said the Ministry of Higher Education along with OAAA seek to enhance international participation by implementing mechanisms that help in ensuring quality of the staff and the supportive services provided to them. — ONA
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