MUSCAT, Nov 5 - Al Sharqiyah University (ASU), operating in collaboration with the Texas Tech University and Oklahoma State University, will be able to accommodate 7,000 Omani and expatriate students at its sprawling campus in Ibra in the next five years, it was announced.
As part of its ambitious plans to be a top university in the country, ASU announced the launch of the Faculty of Law and Faculty of Arts and Humanities along with its existing Business Administration, Engineering and Applied Sciences streams on Sunday.
The university has also introduced new disciplines such as the Management of Archives and Documents at the Diploma and Bachelor’s levels.
All these colleges and academic programmes have been approved by the Ministry of Higher Education.
“We will be able to take 1,500 students for different programmes with international universities each every year; in five years, we will be able to accommodate 7,000 students meeting the increasing demands of the local as well as international job market,” Dr Aboud bin Hamad al Suwafi, President of the Committee, told the Observer.
The university, which boasts of having the ‘Team Entrepreneurship’ programme, a first of its kind in the region, will soon have the 3:2 or 4:1 programme in which students can spend the rest of the duration of the course in UK and secure their graduation from there.
“Further, we are in talks with acclaimed varsities like the Birmingham University, Canterbury University and Manchester to collaborate for various academic programmes,” Dr Al Suwafi added.
The senior administrative representatives added that aside from the regular academic courses, the university offers part-time and evening classes that suits professionals in the region.
“We have two different schemes for professionals,” said Dr Fuad Shedid, Vice-President of Academic Affairs, Al Sharqiyah University.
“The first one is a two-week off programme, while the other enables both Omanis and foreigners to secure business and engineering qualifications by devoting themselves to studies in the evening batches.”
Besides, the Professional Development Continuous (PDC) Education programme will identify the true potential of professionals in students and nurture it.
In addition, the College of Arts and Humanities will launch all its specialisations in response to the needs of the labour market in the Sultanate.
These include psychological guidance and the Diploma of Educational Qualification, which fits the disciplines of science curricula (Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Earth Sciences and the Environment), Mathematics, Arabic and English, Social Studies, Computer (Information Technology) and general teaching methods such as artistic and sports education, first and second field teachers, and musical education.
KABEER YOUSUF
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
