Is higher education in Oman sustainable ?

Higher education in the Gulf countries is developing fast. But contrary to the general view, these countries face different issues and constraints and are not a homogeneous block. Oman has the critical mass of potential students to develop a sustainable higher education system while many other arab countries need foreign students.

Even though Oman has the requisite potential number of local students, while comparing to the other Oil-rich gulf countries, its financial resources are little lower.

In the case of Oman, the authorities have favoured three models: the first is the free education model, represented by the only public university, Sultan Qaboos University, and a few colleges. The second model is the development of private colleges where fees are capped (at around a maximum of EUR6,000 a year for any type of degree). These institutions are obliged to twin with foreign institutions, which are mainly second- or third-tier small-scale UK and US universities or colleges that ask for a percentage and-or lump sum in exchange for delivering double degrees. The equation of capped fees plus royalties leads to an uncertain return on investment unless low-paid teaching-only academics are hired and little investment is made in educational infrastructure.

The third model is giving grants to the best students to study abroad, which does nothing to strengthen local institutions. Oman is making a real effort to improve academic quality, but its approach does not solve the problem of long-term financial sustainability.

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