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Factors Affecting the Future of the Colleges of Applied Sciences in Oman Dr. Halima Al-Badwawi Ministry of Higher Education Sultanate of Oman

Outline Higher Education Landscape in Oman Colleges of Applied Sciences (CAS) Factors Affecting the future of the Colleges of Applied Sciences

The Sultanate of Oman

Higher Education In Oman 1 Number of Higher Education Institutions 63 HEI’s  36 government HEI’s 27 private HEI’s

Higher Education in Oman 2 Governance of Public HEI’s Sultan Qaboos University Ministry of Higher Education Ministry of Manpower Ministry of Health Central Bank of Oman Ministry of Defense

Higher Education in Oman 3 Academic Year 2013/2014  Total number of new students enrolled  Government HEI’s

17,097

 Internal scholarships & grants

14,462

 External scholarships & grants

1,440

32,999

Colleges of Applied Sciences Established in 2005 6 regional campuses  IT, Design, Communication Studies, IBA, Engineering and Applied Biotechnology English is the medium of Instruction Current Number of students is about 8,000

CAS Mission The provision of targeted high-quality programmes that are responsive to labor market needs and that prepare graduates for employment in accordance with national plans and contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.

Factors Influencing CAS 1) Demand for Higher Education 2) CAS Positioning within HEI’s in Oman 3) Quality of higher education provision 4) Job-oriented programmes 5) Graduates’ employability 6) Sustainable development

(1) Demand for Higher Education  Population: locals about 1.8 million  under 20 yrs about 48%  Secondary School graduates to increase by threefold in 2020  Education Strategy 2040 aims to accommodate

50% of the age group 18-24 yrs

(2) CAS positioning within HEI’s in Oman competitiveness mainly with Sultan Qaboos University and the Colleges of Technology Number of applicants location programmes offered

(3) Quality of HE provision The Education Council Oman Academic Accreditation Authority (OAAA) Oman Quality Network in Higher Education International Accreditation authorities

(4) job-oriented Programmes Vision for Oman Economy 2020 Education provision that works towards satisfying renewable needs of professions and technical skills for the labour market

(5) Graduates’ Employability Estimated more than a million job seeking individuals in 2025 Currently 3 new graduates for each new job created Recent graduate survey showed that 46.6% are unemployed

(6) Sustainable Development Oman’s GDP: about 88% is from oil revenue almost all funding for HE ( both public & private) comes from the government Inevitable need for cost-sharing policies in higher education

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