New private varsity to admit 680 students
National University of Science and Technology has been formed by merging Oman Medical College and Caledonian College of Engineering
MADIHA ASIF madiha@timesofoman.com
MUSCAT: Operating as a multicampus institution, Oman’s newest private university will admit 680 students in engineering, medicine and pharmacy for its first group of students in September, according to a senior university official.
The National University of Science and Technology (NUST), formed by the merger of Oman Medical College and Caledonian College of Engineering, is the seventh private university in the Sultanate of Oman and was granted permission for the merger by the Ministry of Higher Education.
The new university is offering three programmes, which include engineering, medicine and pharmacy.
“For our first group, the intake for the faculty of engineering is 500 and for the faculty of medicine it is 120 students. Whereas 60 students will be admitted to the faculty of pharmacy this year,” said Khulood Al Araimi, Member, Board of Directors and Executive University Board, NUST.
“However, in the future, as we expand, we have planned to increase the number of faculties and facilities, which will gradually increase the number of students,” she added.
The university is going to operate as a multi-campus university and will provide accommodations to students who wish to live on campus.
Engineering
“Students planning to study engineering will be admitted to the campus in Al Hail, and those in the faculty of pharmacy will be admitted at the campus in Bausher. However, medical students will be enrolled at the campus in Sohar,” said Al Araimi.
Talking to the Times of Oman, Dr P Mohamed Ali, Chairman, University Executive Board, NUST said, “We have always envisioned forming a university, and have been working day and night for over ten years to accomplish this mission.
“We can now proudly say that the hard work has finally paid off and students will be graduating with a professional degree that is not only recognised, but has numerous global partners,” noted Ali.
The launch of NUST is a significant milestone in the social commitment of Sheikh Salim bin Said Al Fannah Al Araimi, Dr. P. Mohamed Ali, and the family of the late Mohamed bin Rasheed Al Fannah Al Araimi, who have founded Caledonian College of Engineering, Oman Medical College and College of Pharmacy.
The patrons of NUST foresee the university becoming internationally recognised and renowned for its excellence in education and research, driven by social values.
“The university will endeavour to carry on its mission of transforming students into global citizens, with a quest for knowledge and its application for the betterment of society.
“NUST is destined to reach new vistas of excellence in science and technology, and it will remain to be seen as an icon of higher education and research in the Sultanate of Oman,” said Ali.