Business class travel only for college deans

The new Ministry of Higher Education decision will be applicable to all colleges of applied science and comes into effect this month

MUSCAT: Only college deans will be allowed to fly business class from now on, while other staff members will have to travel in economy class, according to a new ministerial decision announced by the Ministry of Higher Education.

The new law will be applicable to all colleges of Applied Science and comes into effect this month., the statement said.

According to the new law, to receive a travel allowance for an official work mission, the travel location must be no less than 250 kilometres away from the original work location; 75 per cent of the travel allowance is given for any official work mission or training, if a non-Omani entity pays for the accommodation and the location is outside of Oman, 50 per cent of the travel allowance is given for any official work mission or training, if the location is in Oman.

The law also stated that each academic programme shall have a director, assisted by an assistant director, who shall be chosen from among the faculty members of the colleges. They shall be appointed by a decision of the Minister on the proposal of the Academic Council for a period of two years renewable for one similar term. The expiry of the period specified for it, will be as required by public interest.

The Academic Programme Director, who will be administratively supervised by the Dean of the College shall undertake tasks, including supervising the implementation of the academic programme, proposing ways to develop performance in it, and participating in the development of training programmes for faculty members, develop and implement the annual plan of the academic programme, in cooperation with the Department of Academic Programmes at the Directorate in coordination with faculties, and the universities associated with them academically on the academic programme.

The Programme Director also assumes responsibilities related to developing tools and standards to measure the evaluation process of the academic programme, coordinating with local and international academic institutions to exchange information and develop the programme, preparing an annual report on the progress of the academic programme and submit it to the Assistant Director General for Academic Affairs and any other tasks assigned by the Assistant Director General for Academic Affairs. The Academic Programme Director may delegate his assistant in some of his duties stipulated in this article.