Higher Education: Going Private

As Omanisation gathers pace and the demand for skilled workforce grows, it is imperative to have more institutes offering higher education.

Availability of a skilled workforce is a major determinant in attracting foreign investment and in giving the Sultanate a comparative advantage in the global economy.

Demand for skilled labour has been on the rise, as visible in the employment trends of the expatriate workforce. The university educated segment of expatriate labour has grown by 20.4 per cent in the first eight months of the year, a total increase of 8000.

As Omanisation quotas keep increasing, it is necessary for the government to ensure that the appropriate workforce is available. The demand for higher education institutes is expected to keep growing rapidly in the coming years, providing a good opportunity for private investment.
HE Rawya al Busaidi, Minister of Higher Education, told OBG that, “the balance is shifting from a predominantly state funded, governed and operated system to an increasing emphasis on the private sector.”

The newest private institution to be launched in autumn 2007, the Oman-German University of Technology (OGTech), submitted its proposed curriculum to the ministry of higher education (MoHE) in October.

The University, a joint partnership of local investors and Germany’s University of Aachen, will focus on vocational training initially offering courses in five technical disciplines including Mechanical Engineering and Tourism Management. These might be expanded to other subjects depending on technical needs of the market, said Christopher Hilgers, OGTech Project Manager.

Private higher education has been picking up pace in recent years. Currently there are 22 private higher education institutes (HEIs) with estimated 17,000 new entrants per year, according to the MoHE. The HEIs encompass three universities and 19 colleges.

Out of a total higher education student population of 50,000 the private sector thus represents a large number. Private education has played an important role in “allowing thousands more student access to higher education,” said HE al Busaidi.

Another development in higher education has been the shift in the variety of degrees offered. Higher education is now more focused towards job orientated programs. HE al Busaidi told OBG that the emphasis had changed from “education for education’s sake to a diverse system with a good balance in academic and vocational orientation.”

However, an issue of concern is the actual quality of the education offered by the private institutions.

To address this, the MoHE set up the Oman Accreditation Board (OAB). Despite being founded in 2001, its activities have thus far been quite limited. To date, they have released a document outlining the general requirements for accreditation and only two private colleges have been reviewed.

The activity is set to increase as this summer, the MoHE announced the completion of the draft strategic plan and programmes to train the secretariat staff.

Another important development in the sector in developing a more employable graduate workforce is developing partnerships with the private sector to enable work placements for students to gain the practical experience. HE al Busaidi told OBG that this would be one of the areas of concentration for the MoHE in 2007. She went on to say that a liaison position would be established within the MoHE to promote partnerships between higher education establishments and the private sector. This will include the development of job placement centres and industry support in research and development programmes.

The educational level of students prior to entering higher education is placing another hurdle for HEIs.

HE al Busaidi told OBG that students currently graduating from Oman’s school system tend to be weak in English and in generic skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking. This results in most institutes providing a one or two-year foundation course before receiving students in specialised programmes of study.

This has been addressed with the new school education programme entitled the Basic and Post Basic Education launched recently, which will have its first batch of graduates in 2009.

Oxford Business Group (OBG) is one of the UK’s foremost consulting, research, and publishing companies - with a focus on the world’s emerging markets. It’s flagship - Emerging Market Series of Country Investment Research - provides in-depth political and economic coverage (in English) on more than 24 countries around the world. For the third consecutive year in Muscat, OBG is currently based with the Omani Centre for Investment Promotion and Export Development (OCIPED), their national strategic partner.

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