Mazoon College does not meet accreditation requirements: OAQA

The Oman Authority for Quality Assurance of Education (OAQA) has announced the outcome of the exceptional review (Review of Accreditation Status) conducted for Mazoon College. The review was undertaken as part of the Authority’s mandate to assure the quality of public and private higher education institutions and their programs in the Sultanate of Oman, the official statement said. 

The exceptional review was conducted in accordance with approved standards, policies, and procedures. The OAQA clarified that an exceptional review (Review of Accreditation Status) differs from a periodic review. It is conducted when major changes occur within an institution that may affect its continued fulfillment of institutional accreditation requirements, whereas periodic reviews are conducted according to the approved cycle for institutional accreditation activities. This review assessed the impact of the major changes at the college on the institutional accreditation status granted to it in October 2022. 

The outcome of the review concluded that the college no longer meets the institutional accreditation requirements and standards established by the Authority. 

The Authority added that the formal approval of the review outcome was announced only after the completion of all approved phases, including a comprehensive consideration of the review findings and related processes to ensure their accuracy and integrity. 

Accordingly, the OAQA revoked the institutional accreditation status granted to Mazoon College in accordance with the Authority’s policies and procedures. The Authority emphasized that revoking institutional accreditation falls within its mandate to assure the quality of higher education institutions. The relevant government entities are responsible for taking any measures that may arise from this decision, each within its respective mandate. The Authority also confirmed that the college will undergo an Institutional Standards Assessment in 2027, as part of the current institutional accreditation cycle, to assess the extent to which it meets the requirements and standards for institutional accreditation. The Authority reaffirmed that its mission is to strengthen quality assurance in higher education by conducting external quality assurance reviews in accordance with approved frameworks, standards, and policies. This supports higher education institutions in their efforts to continuously improve and enhance their performance."