On Thursday, December 8, 2022, “The National Register Committee for Recognized International Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education Institutions in the Sultanate of Oman” held its first meeting presided over by H.E. Dr. Jokha Abdullah Al-Shukaili, CEO of the the Oman Authority for Academic Accreditation and Quality Assurance of Education (OAAAQA).
The agenda of the first meeting included a number of items; Committee Terms of Reference, the International Quality Assurance Agencies Register under development, matters concerning international agencies nominated by the higher education sector, and the Policy On International External Quality Assurance Activities.
The committee is chaired by H.E. Dr Jokha Abdullah Al Shukaili, CEO of OAAAQA and it involves key members from the higher education sector including Dr Nasser Said Al Hinai, Deputy Chair of the committee and Acting Director General of the Centre for Higher Education Quality Assurance (CHEQA-OAAAQA), Dr Muna Ahmed Ali Al Saadon - Dean of College of Medicine & Health Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Dr Khalid Musallam Al Mashikhi - Dean of The College of Arts and Applied Sciences at Dhofar University (DU), Ms Nabila Mohammed Al Macki - Deputy Dean (Academics) at Majan University College, Dr Khalid Zayed Al Muharmi - Consultant in higher education, Dr Aisha Salim Ali Al Harthi - Head of Department of Faculty of Educational Foundation and Administration Department at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Dr Sadiq Abdul Husein Al Muscati - Co-Founder of the Omani Association of Professional Engineers and Country Representative for Oman - Institution of Civil Engineers, UK, Mr Al Nasr Nasser Al Ruqeishi - Director in Charge of the Recognition & Qualifications Equivalency Department at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MoHERI), Dr Reem Abdullah Al Alawi - Quality Assurance Expert at OAAAQA and Mr Salim Hamed Al Kindi - Quality Assurance Expert at OAAAQA.
It is worth noting that the committee's primary responsibilities are to review and examine all matters pertaining to activities performed by international quality assurance agencies that the Centre for Higher Education Quality Assurance at OAAAQA receives through an endorsement application stipulated on the Policy On International External Quality Assurance Activities. This is to assure quality in Higher Education Institutions in the Sultanate of Oman. Additionally, the committee strives to establish a national register of international quality assurance agencies in order to ensure existence of a systematic mechanism that governs the external accreditation process of HEIs in the Sultanate of Oman. Furthermore, the committee examines OAAAQA recommendations with regard reviewing the listed agencies within the timeframe specified in the policy.