Student Placements and Careers
In an increasingly competitive world, Oman depends progressively more on the competence of its own people to maintain its extraordinarily successful growth. To aid this dependence, the Ministry of Higher Education launched the six Colleges of Applied Sciences in 2006. the aim was to align Higher Education with the needs of businesses and ensure Omani student employability.
In preparation for achieving this alignment, the Ministry of Higher Education has appointed a Programme Director for Industrial Liaison, as well as Careers Guidance Advisers within each college. During 2009 these advisers have been aiding the process of student placements and in 2010 will assist the first tranche of students who graduate in finding employment.
The key objective is to create work-ready and competent graduates who are of benefit to employers as quickly as possible after graduation.
In order to achieve this, during 2009, the Centres took steps to promote the benefits of placements to students and employers. They established relationships with large numbers of companies near their colleges to secure student placements, they showed students how to create their own CVs, and offered interview technique training.
In 2009 all Colleges were extremely successful in finding very large numbers of placements, and it is anticipated that this success will continue into 2010 as the Centres become known to more employers, and as students feel more comfortable to face the world of work.
While undertaking work placements, students will carry out a series of training activities. These vocational activities will have been specifically designed to enable them to understand the company in which they work and to seek out business experiences. Such activities will also help the company in its operation and they will provide companies with the necessary knowledge of students' abilities to help them in the selection of their future employees. You will shortly be able to view these activities under Student Training Plans.
When the first students graduate in 2010, graduate employment will become the main focus, although the Centres will continue to support students to secure placements.
