Chair’s Welcome Address

 

Education has taken a great position as a civilized necessity throughout history, by which nations are differentiated, and development is achieved by providing it equally among their peoples, insuring their effective contribution to human civilization. Even though humanity has gone a long way in the right of “education for all”, countries, nowadays, are acting firmly to improve their educational institutions performance to ensure achieving the highest quality standards. Since education is an essential pillar of development, the plans of these countries cannot be achieved without it, as it is the most effective investment in human capital, which ensures sustainable development and consolidates the ability of countries to global competitiveness.
 

Thus, undoubtedly, paying attention to education and improving it is a priority of various countries around the world. It defines countries’ civilization and excellence, and it is the profitable investment for achieving prosperity and stimulating national economy. As quality is no longer an optional matter in educational institutions, it has become one of the urgent necessities imposed by scientific and technological development and the rapid changes in human societies. Therefore, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq - may God protect and preserve him – has given a great attention to education at its various levels, by providing a supportive and stimulating environment for it.
 

Accordingly, on January 13, 2021 His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq - may God protect and preserve him – issued the Royal Decree No. 9/2021 to expand the competencies of Oman Authority for Academic Accreditation and Quality Assurance of Education (the Authority) to include school education quality assurance as well as higher education. Consequently, the authority's subordination was moved to the Council of Ministers, as the authority is responsible for all aspects of ensuring the quality of school and higher education.
 

The authority is working to implement the competencies entrusted to it in order to support the education sector. This aims at rising to the level that achieves international standards, and enabling graduates to compete in the local and international labor markets, and actively contribute to the national development process, completing two decades in the field of Higher Education quality assurance. Accordingly, it is benefiting from the efforts initiated by the Ministry of Education in developing a national system to ensure school education quality and its implementation.
 

The authority believes that one of the conditions for raising the level of education quality is the establishment of strong and constructive relations with all concerned parties, based on transparency and credibility. Upgrading the education sector at its various levels, in both school and higher education sectors, requires the development of clear and solid policies and strategic plans that derive its features from Oman 2040 National Vision. It also requires attracting the best international and national competencies to contribute to implementing the requirements of the next stage, while continuing to build national capacities specialized in the field of quality assurance. We, in the Authority have put these requirements in mind, guided by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq - may God protect him- and we rely on God, the guardian of all success.