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.

Comments

Why You Should Not Opt For IIT Bombay

This article is written by IITians in the blog Actors Imran and Anushka during a cultural program at IIT Bombay If asked to compare IIT Bombay to IIT Delhi, most students say that the difference is negligible. Both are in metropolitan cities with good options for hostels, PG accommodations, food and entertainment. Cultural activities are equally good as is the faculty and study methodology. Even placements at the two IITS are amongst the best in the country. Yet figures indicate that the top JEE rank holders prefer Computer Science Engineering at IIT Mumbai rather than IIT Delhi. But, we are here to tell you when and why you can avoid IIT Mumbai. Mumbai IIT was earlier placed in the suburbs, away from the crowds, giving IITians the space and peace to pursue their career goals. Today the area in Powai is surrounded by high rise building, malls and traffic snarls, bringing with it all the clatter and patter of a metropolitan hub. Just like the population and popular...

Second Pakistani University opens in UAE

Abasyn University RAS AL KHAIMAH, (UAE): One more Pakistani University has started its operations in Ras Al Khaimah with a mission to provide good quality affordable education for Pakistani families living in UAE. Name as “Abasyn University ”, the new educational platform will offer degree courses to the 800 to 1,000 pupils who comes out of Pakistani high schools in the UAE every year. Previously Szabist University in Dubai was the only Pakistani university in the emirates. Abasyn’s Ras Al Khaimah centre is its overseas branch campus. As a famed brand in Pakistan, the Abasyn University has campuses in Peshawar and Islamabad. Abasyn University is considered to be more affordable as it charges only Dh1,200 a month. This makes it more affordable than Szabist which charges Dh1,900, and Abasyn is significantly cheaper than other institutions. On average, university fees in the UAE start at about Dh25,000 a year. However, for anything science or engineering based, costs can rise ...

AUS helps rebuild Iraq’s higher education

War-torn Iraq Sharjah: The World Bank and American University of Sharjah (AUS), will host tomorrow, Thursday, May 24, at Lecture Hall A, in the ground floor of the AUs main building, a training course for about 40 senior Iraqi education leaders, on strategic planning and quality assurance in higher education institutions. The nine-day training course is designed to equip Iraqi university representatives involved in strategic planning and quality assurance with the required skills to improve the quality of education offered by higher learning institutions in Iraq as the country works on rebuilding itself as a unified nation. The training is in line with AUS’s strategic goal of becoming the leader in higher education in the Middle East by being able to share its expertise with other countries in the region, especially helping its Arab neighbors such as Iraq achieve its potential. The course will touch on important subjects that include: A Framework for Strategic Pl...

Edubeanz

Search This Blog