HIGHER EDUCATION: MINISTER SEEKS MORE U.S. TIES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001204 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARP SSTEINGER, NEA/PD DBENZE, NEA/PI, ECA/A/S E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KPAO OEXC SCUL PREL KMPI MU SUBJECT: HIGHER EDUCATION: MINISTER SEEKS MORE U.S. TIES -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. The Ambassador called on the Minister of Higher Education to discuss the Embassy's work in higher education, in promoting U.S. education, and in helping facilitate ties between U.S. and Omani institutions. In return, the Minister was forthright in asking for more cooperation and additional programming, laying out some of the challenges she faces in meeting Omani needs in higher education and presenting ideas that will prove useful in developing Public Affairs programming in the coming year. End summary. -------------- -------------- EDUCATION LOOKING ABROAD FOR MODELS AND OPPORTUNITIES -------------- -------------- ¶2. On August 7, the Ambassador paid an introductory call on Minister of Higher Education Dr. Rawya bint Saud al-Busaidi. Herself a product of British institutions, al-Busaidi is a dynamic and forceful voice for American educational models. She pointed out that while other destinations have made gains since 2001, the U.S. remains Omanis' most highly regarded choice for higher education and that, as memories of the visa and entry difficulties of 2001-2002 recede, U.S. education is again the first choice for many. She added that, in order to benefit those not traveling, one of her aims is to bring American-style educational opportunities to the Sultanate. She said that the sector is experiencing an "infitah," an opening, to international models, responding to the Sultanate's need to promote economically viable fields of study and stir up entrepreneurial spirit among an increasingly youthful population that can no longer rely on public-sector sinecures. -------------- -------------- RAPID GROWTH, NEW DIRECTIONS, AND A GAP IN EXPERTISE -------------- -------------- ¶3. A major challenge facing the Ministry is the current reorganization of the five public colleges it operates, which is turning them from educational colleges devoted only to training elementary and secondary teachers into diversified schools of applied sciences, offering programs in information technology, international business administration, tourism, communications, and design. Whenever possible, existing faculty are being retrained rather than replaced, and the Ministry has contracted with a consortium of New Zealand colleges and universities to support this process. In addition, the Ministry regulates and accredits Oman's private-sector higher institutions, which has grown rapidly in recent years and now includes three universities and 18 colleges, most less than five years old. It also has supervisory authority over the public Sultan Qaboos University and administers funding that annually supports 13,000 scholarships for undergraduate- and graduate-level study at both local and international institutions. ¶4. This combination of growth and change is requiring ever greater expertise in management and strategic planning, both at the institutions and within the Ministry. Al-Busaidi said that she was eager for more cooperation with the Embassy in creating local programming to provide capacity-building for ministry officials and college/university administration. An alumna of a 2001 Voluntary Visitor program (one that helped shape Oman's accreditation and nascent student-loan policies),she would like to combine increased exchange-opportunities for her staff with local workshop/seminar programming. ¶5. Al-Busaidi also expressed strong interest in furthering partnerships between Omani and U.S. colleges and universities. Two areas of specific interest would be in design and in tourism/travel management in connection with the new schools of applied science; both are both fields in which Oman is developing local skills to further its economic goals. (Comment: These are also areas in which the Ministry's New Zealand-based partner consortium may be lacking substance and that especially lend themselves to American influence. End comment.) -------------- AN "IN" FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY -------------- ¶6. The Minister's call for closer cooperation in higher education represents an opportunity for the Embassy to use public-diplomacy and MEPI programming in ways clearly of strong interest in Oman. The areas in which she seeks support echo those expressed by private college/university administration and faculty and parallel those expressed by contacts in primary and secondary education. Muscat's Public Affairs section will continue to develop programming that responds to these needs; these may include requesting a FY07 VolVis for ministry and college administrators in academic strategic planning and a follow-up speaker/specialist program to facilitate a workshop/conference on issues in academic management. We will also explore possible university partnerships with Omani institutions. GRAPPO