Oman

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Omans System of Quality Management for Higher
Education

• S. Razvi, M. Carroll, T. Goodliffe, A. Al-Hasnawi
  F. Al-Habsi
• For the Roundtable Meeting
• Malaysia 2009

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Session Outline

1. About the Sultanate of Oman
2. Higher Education in Oman
3. Entities with Quality Assurance Responsibilities
4. Oman Accreditation Council
5. National Quality Management System
6. Conclusions

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1. About theSultanate of Oman
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Where in the world is Oman?
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2. Higher Educationin Oman
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Higher Ed History of Oman

• 1970s 1980s Government colleges established,
  offering cert and diploma programs in the
  national priorities of health, teaching and
  technical skills.
• 1986 Sultan Qaboos University established, the
  first (and only) comprehensive university.
• 1990s Oman started importing higher education
  in earnest. 23 Private HEIs.
• 2006-9 Entering into a new phase the
  establishment of a comprehensive system of
  quality assurance and quality enhancement.

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Higher Ed Sector in Oman

• SQU (established by Royal Directives)
• Public HEIs (supervised by MoHE)
• Public Colleges of Technology (supervised by
  MoMP)
• Public Health Institutes (supervised by MoH)
• Defence Institutes (supervised by MoD).
• Private Universities and Colleges (supervised by
  MoHE)

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3. Entities with Quality Assurance
Responsibilities

• Higher Education Council
• Oman Accreditation Council
• Supervising Ministries
• Directorate General of Private Universities
  Colleges
• Higher Education Institutes (HEIs)
• Affiliate Institutes

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4. Oman Accreditation Council
A governmental independent entity established to
provide confidence to the public that the quality
of higher education in Oman meets international
standards, and to encourage continuous
improvement in the management of the quality of
higher education.
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Oman Accreditation Council

• Established by Royal Decree in 2001.
• Responsible for
• developing academic standards
• accrediting higher education institutions (HEIs)
  and programs
• maintaining the national qualifications framework
  (OQF)
• Led by a 10 member Board (all Omani), chaired by
  Dr Hamed Al-Dhahab.
• Supported by a (growing) staff nested within the
  Ministry of Higher Education

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5. National Quality Management System
A comprehensive and integrated system of quality
assurance and quality enhancement designed to
bring Oman towards international practice.
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Quality Plan

• First iteration of standards and accreditation
  process was ROSQA, introduced 2004.
• In 2006, Draft Quality Plan developed (available
  at www.oac.gov.om).
• It proposes a significant overhaul of ROSQA,
  setting out a comprehensive system, OSQA, to
  align Omans HE sector with international best
  practice.
• Places equal emphasis on quality assurance and
  quality enhancement.

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Elements of the Quality System

• Oman Qualifications Framework
• Oman Standard Classification for Education
  Framework (OSCED)
• Oman Institutional Classification Framework
• HEI Standards
• HEI Licensing
• HEI Quality Audit (Accreditation Stage 1)
• HEI Standards Assessment (Accreditation Stage 2)
• Program Standards
• Program Licensing
• Program Accreditation and Recognition
• Appeals

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Provider QA Processes
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Provider QA Processes
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Provider QA Processes
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Quality Audit

1. Quality Audit is the first step in the
   Accreditation Process.
2. A method of public accountability.
3. A formative evaluation, which can be usedto help
   set a Quality Improvement Plan forthe HEI.
4. Two Pilot Quality Audits took place 2008. Ten
   Quality Audits are currently under way. Twelve
   will be every year.
5. The first cycle of HEI Quality Audits will be
   completed in 2013.

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Program QA Processes
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External Reviewers Register
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Oman Quality Network Training Program
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Oman Quality Network

• Launched under patronage of H.E. Dr Rawya Saud Al
  Busaidia, Minister of Higher Education, on 20
  September 2006.
• Controlled by an Executive Committee of Members
  which meets regularly.
• Supported by OAC and MOHE staff.

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Oman Quality Network

• Responsible for
• Organizing quality-related training for the
  sector based on the train the trainer approach
• Training resources are available at
  www.oac.gov.om/enhancement/training
• Providing networking opportunities
• First National Quality Conference on Quality
  Management and Enhancement in Higher Education
  held in October 2008

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Some Training Program Topics

1. ADRI A QA model for self reviews and external
   reviews
2. A Conceptual Framework for Standards
3. KPI Managing data for knowledge
4. Using Statistics in Reporting
5. Good Documentation policies, procedures and
   guidelines
6. Preparing a Self Study Portfolio
7. Good Teaching
8. Process Mapping a tool for quality improvement
9. Benchmarking
10. Strategic Planning
11. Consulting Stakeholders
12. Risk Management
13. Getting the Most from Student Evaluations
14. Maximising Student Learning Outcomes
15. Quality Audits
16. Curriculum Development
17. Moderation of Assessment

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6. Conclusions

• A new national quality management system has
  been developed. It is comprehensive and aligns
  Omans higher education system with international
  best practice. The new system places equal
  emphasis on quality assurance and quality
  enhancement.