Three new private higher education institutes soon

MUSCAT: Three private higher educational institutions will come up in the Sultanate, for which approvals have already been obtained.

Al Nahdha Engineering College LLC, which recently obtained approval from the Higher Education Council, will start providing educational services in the near future.

“The college expects to meet the demand for specialist engineering jobs, especially civil and mechanical,” Jawkha bint Abdullah al Shekailiyah, Director-General of Private Colleges and Universities, told Oman Arabic, the sister publication of the Observer.

Another college offering diverse specialisations is also coming up.

The National Automotive Higher Institute will be transformed into an automotive college with a view to providing the labour market with qualified national cadres.

Al Shekailiyah said the government provides 50 per cent subsidy to the private universities, which comes to about RO 3 million.

In addition, some private universities get RO 17 million each as Royal grant of His Majesty the Sultan. Other privileges for the private higher education institutions include tax and Customs exemption and funding of scholarships.

A total of 7,662 students received fully funded scholarships during academic year 2016-17.

Most of the private higher educational institutions are committed to their licensed academic programmes and education plans, said Al Shekailiyah.

“Some institutions have changed their academic plans without obtaining approval from the Ministry of Higher Education, violating the conditions set by the ministry for admissions.”