Education & Training
From The Report: Oman 2015
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Oman has witnessed a dramatic improvement in enrolment and the duration spent in full-time education thanks in large part to reforms introduced in 1995 and 1998, which required 10 years of basic education and extended the number of school days from 160 to 180. In 1996 the government launched a programme to promote the development of private higher education institutions in the country, providing subsidies in the form of low-interest loans, land, and tax breaks. By 2012 there were 19 private colleges of higher education and seven private universities in the country. Meanwhile, a national research council was established in 2005 as part of the sultanate’s aim to move towards a knowledge-based economy with the target for research and development spending set at 2% of GDP by 2020. Moving forward, higher learning institutes and industry leaders are cooperating more closely to match training and technical skills with future industry needs. This chapter contains interviews with Rawiyah bint Saud Al Busaidiyah, Minister of Higher Education; and Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, Chairman, The Research Council.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

With enrolment on the rise, the new focus is reforming standards, improving assessment and involving the private sector
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Since the 1970s, Oman has shown a strong commitment to developing the capacity of its citizens through a robust education system. The progress it has made in 44 years has been dramatic: enrolment in schools rose sharply from less than 1000 boys before 1970 to nearly 600,000 male and female students in 2012, and the country has invested heavily in opening new schools and hiring teachers. The impact of these investments is captured in the UN’s human development index (HDI), which shows Oman’s…

Interview

Rawiyah bint Saud Al Busaidiyah, Minister of Higher Education: Interview
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Interview: Rawiyah bint Saud Al Busaidiyah How is the Ministry of Higher Education working to respond to the needs of local industry? RAWIYAH BINT SAUD AL BUSAIDIYAH: Local industries and higher education institutions (HEIs) are working together to further economic development through a range of new initiatives. Indeed, many of Oman’s HEIs are already involved in mutually beneficial cooperative arrangements with the local business community. The Colleges of Applied Sciences (CAS) have programme…

Interview

Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, Chairman, The Research Council (TRC): Interview
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Interview: Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said How are you measuring the economic benefits of enhancing research and development capabilities? SAYYID SHIHAB BIN TARIQ AL SAID: In the pursuit of Oman’s becoming a regional centre for innovation and a leader in producing new ideas, products and services, TRC was established by Royal Decree in June 2005. We have since strived to ensure that the sultanate has the largest research capacity in the region, and are a working towards establishing a research…

Analysis

A snapshot of vocational education in the country
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A focus on educating and training the population has been enshrined in Oman’s national development strategies. In 1995 the government ensured that education would remain central to the country’s growth path under Oman Vision 2020, the national development plan. This document placed an emphasis on upgrading education services to meet international standards, and included quantitative goals for developing human resources. The need to diversify the country’s output base and the national vision…

Analysis

Higher learning institutes and businesses are cooperating more closely to match training with industry needs
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Several advisory agencies have been set up in Oman with the task of creating avenues of exchange between academia and the commercial world. “Educational institutions are in continuous dialogue with industry,” Mona Fahad Al Said, assistant vice-chancellor for external cooperation at Sultan Qaboos University, told OBG. “A joint committee is working to address how the university can supply industry with the workforce and technical skills it requires in the short to medium term.” This will help…