QUALITY ASSURANCE
Focusing on higher education institutional accreditation, program accreditation, and the updating and maintaining of the Oman Qualifications Framework, OAAA is helping further advance higher education in the Sultanate.
BIOGRAPHY
Salim Razvi has been CEO of OAAA since 2012. He is currently a board member of the Arab Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education. He has had experience working in the higher education sector in Oman, the UAE, and Canada at management, quality assurance, curriculum development, teaching, and research levels of responsibility. His previous positions include quality assurance expert and acting CEO of OAAA, acting head at the Technical Secretariat of OAC, assistant dean for academic affairs at Musanna College of Technology, assistant professor at UAE University, and part-time professor at the University of Ottawa, among many others. Razvi holds a MSc in engineering, a PhD in engineering, and a master of system science. He has been a member of the Association of Professional Engineers Ontario since 1999 and a consultant of Oman Society of Engineers since 2010.
How does OAAA ensure that higher education institutions (HEI) meet international benchmarks, and to what extent do you collaborate with foreign partners to do so?
OAAA's three main activities cover HEI accreditation, program accreditation, and the updating and maintaining of the Oman Qualifications Framework. Institutional accreditation involves assessing HEIs against national standards that have been developed through benchmarking standards and processes, regionally and internationally, with those of over 40 quality assurance agencies. Extensive consultation took place with international consultants, either through feedback on draft standards, or through the contribution of keynote speakers in the symposium OAAA held to consult on standards. These standards have also been revised through extensive consultation with the local higher education sector to ensure that they are suitably contextualized for Oman. International collaboration continues to inform our work at OAAA with at least 60% of each of our review panels generally consisting of regional and international external reviewers. A similar approach in terms of harnessing international collaboration has been employed for the development of standards for program accreditation, and we have worked with the Scottish Qualifications Authority to develop the comprehensive Oman Qualifications Framework covering all types and levels of education.
How do you expect Omani HEIs to remain ahead of the curve regarding the world of work?
It is the responsibility of the higher education sector to monitor market needs, and we ensure, through our review activities, that HEIs remain in continuous collaboration with industry. This is important so that programs are developed by HEIs that are relevant to the current and future needs of industry and that these programs are periodically reviewed to ascertain their suitability for meeting the rapidly changing needs of the labor market. Each new program requires a feasibility study that is designed to check that it embraces national priorities as reflected through Vision 2040. While the Ministry of Higher Education is responsible for licensing these new programs, OAAA plays a role in ensuring that HEIs remain current and relevant in their provision. A number of the criteria of our accreditation standards reflect the onus on HEIs to maintain a healthy relationship with the industries and stakeholders they serve, with only those HEIs meeting all standards being accredited.
How do you project the provision of academic learning and vocational training by private and public sectors to evolve in the future, and what role do you expect each side to play?
OAAA supports the growing emphasis on vocational training through the listing of vocational and professional qualifications on the Oman Qualifications Framework; this allows for a productive articulation from one pathway to another, complementing the contemporary need for lifelong learning and flexible career patterns. The private higher education sector has a role to play in broadening the opportunities for individuals to develop their skills in all areas of learning. Approximately 50% of HE students are currently studying in the private sector, and the government encourages this through a generous sponsorship program. OAAA supports the diversification of the economy by ensuring that these private institutions are fit for purpose, and that they deliver a sound return on the national investment in HE. This is accomplished through delivering a strong graduate output that, in turn, contributes effectively to the sustainable further development of the country.
What are your strategic priorities for 2020, and what factors are driving them?
OAAA has many priorities for the future, focusing on each of the three core areas of our work. In Institutional Accreditation, our priority is to continue working on this second stage of the process to ensure that all HEIs currently scheduled for accreditation undergo standards assessment on time. In terms of program accreditation, our priority is to finalize the newly-developed standards for implementation; to this end, pilot program standards assessments (PSA) will take place in selected accredited HEIs at the end of 2020 with expected commencement of officially launched PSA in 2021. Our other notable project currently under development is the Oman Qualifications Framework.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Focus: Future foreign policy
Friends to all, enemy to none
In championing the late Sultan Qaboos' non-interference foreign policy, the new ruler of Oman, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, is determined to work for friendship and peace, justice and harmony, and coexistence and positive constructive dialogue.
read articleInterview
David Kalife, CEO, Oman Oil Marketing Company (OOMCO)
Despite Oman's fuel market slowing down, OOMCO increased its sales volume of lubricants by 36% in 2019 and is constructing a greenfield bunker terminal at the Port of Duqm. The company has transformed while growing its expertise in Marketing and Digital.
read articleInterview
Azzan Al Busaidi, CEO, Ithraa
Azzan Al Busaidi is an expert in competitiveness and economic growth. He was appointed CEO of Ithraa in 2019 after 17 years spent covering managerial roles in the organization. Al Busaidi was previously Ithraa's director general of planning and studies and is a strong advocate of the potential of digitization. He holds an MBA from the University of Strathclyde and a BSc in Economics from Sultan Qaboos University.
read articleInterview
Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry & Investment Promotion & Former Chairman, Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Private Omani companies will be able to benefit greatly from the Fourth Industrial Revolution by enhancing their local value-added strategies and upskilling the workforce.
read articleInterview
Tahir Bin Salim Bin Abdullah Al Amri, Executive President, Central Bank of Oman (CBO)
The Central Bank of Oman's job is to ensure there is adequate liquidity in the system and that banks remain robust and resilient to meet the credit requirements of all segments without undermining financial stability.
read articleB2B
Capital markets
CMA and MSM are supporting Vision 2040 by providing financing to government companies that intend to go public, financing expansion of existing and new IPOs, and widening the investors base in Oman by enhancing and developing the investment funds and insurance industries.
read articleInterview
Khalid Al Balushi, CEO, Khazaen Economic City
International investors and business owners can benefit from Khazaen Economic City's strategic location and its close proximity to the main gateways of the country to import, process, manufacture, distribute locally, and export their goods and services.
read articleFocus: Port 4.0
Destined for greatness
Investments in world-class infrastructure have generated huge rewards for Oman. The goal now is to leverage technology as a disruptive enabler, build human capacity across the public and private logistics sectors, and drive operational efficiencies to build an integrated logistics business environment that is benchmarked against the world's best.
read articleFocus: Gap in tourism services
All bases covered
An amalgamation of local companies and unique experiences in Oman has created an original flavor that is further differentiating Oman's tourism offering from other countries and in the process attracting scores of tourists from all across the world.
read articleB2B
Engineering design
Renardet Engineering Consultants and Design Unit Engineering are recognized experts in their fields. While the former is an international company strongly committed to excellent engineering consultancy services and environmental practices, the latter is an Oman-based team of architects and engineers that incorporates local culture and traditions.
read articleB2B
Construction materials
Oman's construction sector is facing a host of challenges, but Hempel Paints and Al Maha Ceramics are confident that a mix of forward-thinking business models, unique products, and strong government initiatives will help them through turbulent times and generate positive returns in the long run.
read articleInterview
Salim Razvi, CEO, Oman Academic Accreditation Authority (OAAA)
Focusing on higher education institutional accreditation, program accreditation, and the updating and maintaining of the Oman Qualifications Framework, OAAA is helping further advance higher education in the Sultanate.
read article