Sultan Qaboos University

Sultan Qaboos University is the realization of the promise announced by His. Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said during the 10th anniversary of Oman’s National Day in 1980. Construction started in 1982 and the first Sultan Qaboos University students were enrolled in 1986. In accordance with the Royal Directives of His Majesty, The University commenced with five colleges; namely Medicine, Engineering, Agriculture, Education, and Science. Furthermore, the College of Arts was established in 1987, following the College of Commerce and Economics which was developed in1993. The College of Law joined the University in 2006 and finally, the College of Nursing was established in 2008.

The design and construction of the campus were carried out with great attention to the fulfillment of these objectives, with the overall appearance of the buildings carefully planned to accommodate the physical, intellectual, and spiritual needs of students, faculty, and staff.

Set in a valley beneath the stark panorama of the nearby foothills of the Oman Mountains, the University is a tasteful array of buildings designed with arches and courtyards and constructed in white and pink sandstone in a manner that reflects traditional Omani and Islamic architecture. The University was constructed on an axis in the valley with one end aligned toward Mecca.

This axis line starts at the gates of entrance to the University, runs through the Administration Building with its massive Omani doors, and extends uninterrupted through the middle of the academic buildings to the University Mosque at the western end of the campus. The Mosque, with its large dome and minarets, is situated on the higher ground of the campus and is visible from many points within and around the University.

SQU’s vision is to continue its national leading role in higher education and community service and also to be internationally recognized for innovative research, quality of its graduates, and strategic partnerships. To excel in teaching and learning, research and innovation, and community service by promoting the principles of scientific analysis and creative thinking in a collegial and stimulating environment and to participate in the production, development and dissemination of knowledge and interact with national and international communities.

During the design period, the University landscaping was carefully considered and the original plantings have since become verdant gardens and flower beds. The plantings include species, native to Oman and other Gulf regions, that grow and flourish in an arid environment. The landscaping provides shade from the sun, shelter against the wind, and splendid display of color from flowers and foliage throughout the year.

The traditional Islamic separation of the genders is maintained in the architecture of the University. There is separate access to buildings through lower and upper walkways for men and women and separate seating in the classrooms. Altogether, the campus portrays the rich heritage of Oman and Islam while incorporating all the efficiencies of modern life. The result is an educational and living environment which is both functional and attractive.

The ranking is a process or system of classifying international higher education providers such as universities and research centers based on their performance in research and teaching activities. There are many rankings or rankings systems present internationally. The frameworks under which the different ranking systems measure the performance varies. One ranking system may give more importance to the quality of education another may only look at research activity. It is hence important that results from different ranking systems are viewed and understood separately.

It is also important to note that most of the universities that are participating in the ranking worldwide are privately funded universities and a centered around the business of providing higher education and through their research output to feed the industrial sector. But different universities have different goals and it is important to first view the main activity of an institution before its position in ranking can be comprehended. Sultan Qaboos University has a noble national goal for its country to provide quality education and produce skilled human resources for the country. It does not, for instance, accept international undergraduate students into the university as it does coincide with its policy. But the number of international students is an indicator that is widely used in many ranking schemes.

Over the past decade, a new phenomenon has grasped the higher education world. Famous universities of the world and especially from the developed world have enjoyed an unchallenged reputation for quite some time now. With the relative new shift in the international economic balance towards the east, countries here are investing heavily into universities to enhance education and research; this has led to the creation of very strong worldwide competition. Soon it became evident that reputation and history cannot be the basis of the evaluating the quality of education that a university provides. This prompted the international community to rethink of the factors that defined a world class university.