The national Quality Plan 2006 highlighted the particular importance of General Foundation Programmes (GFPs) in Oman in preparing students for effective engagement in higher education. In response to this, a comprehensive project led to the development of the Oman Academic Standards for General Foundation Programme. These were approved in June 2008 (former Higher Education Council decision No.13/2008). A requirement for these to be adopted by all public and private higher education institutions in Oman in the academic year 2009-2010 was stated in Ministerial Decision No. 72/2008.
The Oman Academic Standards for General Foundation Programmes can be downloaded here.
The OAAAQA Strategic Plan 2016 - 2020 includes Goal 5 which aims to 'develop and implement a robust internationally-benchmarked external review process for General Foundation Programmes which helps ensure that students are adequately prepared for their higher education studies'. A three-phase approach to the accreditation of GFPs was approved by the OAAAQA Board in January 2015. The first phase of this is GFP Quality Audit. This phase commenced in February 2017 when the first two HEIs submitted their GFP Quality Audit Portfolios.
The OAAAQA has developed a process for GFP Quality Audit and the GFP Quality Audit Manual can be downloaded below. For further information please contact Dr Jenny Walker, jenny@oaaaqa.gov.om.