Omanis look to strengthen higher education at home

Omani delegation at KTH

Muscat: Tuesday’s visit to KTH Royal Institute of Technology by Oman’s Ministry of Higher Education was somewhat of a study in contrasts. Seeking to build up its relatively-young public university system, officials from the desert kingdom visited an institution with a two-century tradition of fostering successful companies and research.

But for all their differences, the representatives of Oman’s university system and KTH quickly found common ground in their thirst for collaborations that further internationalise their respective institutions.

For two hours, a delegation led by Oman’s Minister of Higher Education, Rawya Al-Busaidi, discussed possible areas of cooperation with KTH President Peter Gudmundson, Vice Dean of Faculty Per Berglund, Vice President of International Education Ramon Wyss and KTH Senior Advisor International Strategies Tina Murray.

Al-Busaidi said one of the main purposes of the visit was to explore possibilities for exchanges that would enable Oman’s public universities to build up their educational strengths. The discussion revolved around the need for applied sciences and engineering in such areas as sustainable development, energy, transport and health. “Not focused on research as much as excellent teaching to produce job-ready graduates that are practically oriented,” she said.

The Omani visit comes at a time when the country is merging two colleges, of technology and applied science respectively, into one public institution. Oman is also establishing a second government university that will be connected with a newly-constructed technology and science city.

“After that we are going to need partners to look at the programs we are developing to make sure they are cutting edge science and technology, and not science education and engineering education from 15 years ago, which is what happens in many developing countries,” Al-Busaidi said.

The minister also voiced her country’s interest in sending more master’s and doctoral students to Sweden, and she discussed the hope that KTH would find ways to partner with Oman universities on research projects.

Berglund told the group that KTH considers the prospect of more students from Oman appealing. “KTH is the most international university in Sweden, we have always attracted international students and faculty,” he said. “So this is something that we really want to continue.”

The two parties also discussed the possibility of KTH helping Oman develop particular training programs via long-distance, focusing on entrepreneurship, sustainability, sustainable development and energy.

While no formal plans were laid out, the KTH officials were receptive to the ideas the Omani delegation brought up, and they agreed to continue the engagement with the hope of finding specific ways the two parties could work together.