Over the past several years, in view of the declining demand for teachers, a number of studies with international consulting groups were initiated by the Ministry of Higher Education to plan a new role for the Colleges of Applied Sciences (CAS) as institutions focused on practical education in core technologies and applied sciences of the global era.
The result was the Colleges of Applied Sciences with degree programs in fields directly related to areas in the diversifying economy of Oman. The disciplines include: International Business Administration (encompassing Tourism and Hospitality Management); Information Technology; Communication Studies, and Design.
The Colleges of Applied Sciences (CAS), currently six in number, are in their fourth year of operation and are located in the regions of the Sultanate, at Sur, Sohar, Nizwa, Ibri, Salalah; and Rustaq. Each of the six CAS is a centre of specialization for at least one of the four degree areas. Designed to have both a regional and international focus, the CAS have the potential to play a critical role in human resource development for Oman's continuing economic diversification.
After the initial stages of implementation, it was decided to expand the program repertoire of the CAS to include new fields related to Oman's rapidly expanding economy, beginning with Engineering. While a New Zealand consortium of universities is currently supplying the curriculum for the four original degree programs, an agreement will soon be formalized for the provision of the new Engineering program by Aachen University of Applied Sciences in Germany. There is also a plan to introduce German language studies in keeping with the original concept for the CAS which included the study of foreign languages such as German and Mandarin.
The implementation of a new degree program in Engineering is now underway at the Sohar College of Applied Sciences where it is well placed in view of the establishment of the multi-billion rial industrial port project and recent industrial and commercial development of the area.
The first intake of Engineering students is scheduled for September 2009 and the program will begin with courses in the basic fields of Mechanical, Electrical and Chemical Engineering. These three interrelated fields allow majors in Process Control as required by industry in Oman's rapidly diversifying economy. Graduates will have a Bachelor of Engineering in one of the three disciplines, with a designated major in Process Control.
The Sohar CAS was already established as a centre of specialisation in IT, thus allowing for synergy and collaborative offerings between IT and Engineering. The new Program Director for Engineering, Professor Elia Kastoun, comes from Aachen University of Applied Sciences (AUAC) as does the Consultant for the establishment of the program, former AUAC Rector, Professor Hermann Buchkremer who is responsible for supplying the curriculum and advising on all aspects of the development of the program, including physical facilities, instructional and learning resources and the recruitment and training of academic staff.
In the initial years, to help ensure student success in this demanding field, the Engineering program will be comprised of six years. A basic Foundation Program in English, Math and IT will be followed by an Engineering Foundation Year and four years of degree studies in Chemical, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, with an annual intake of fifty students in each of the three degree streams. Preparations are in place for the first intake of 150 students this coming September.
