DVC Academic Affairs and Community Service

DVC ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

Prof. Salim Hamoud Al Harthi

Prof. Salim Hamoud Al Harthi

Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Community Services

I am delighted to welcome visitors to our website, including students, staff, researchers, and all members of the community.

With the grace and guidance of Allah, we are dedicated to realizing the university's vision and mission concerning academic policies, overseeing the development and implementation of strategic plans, and monitoring the progress of work in colleges, service centers, libraries, and the university hospital.

We are committed to creating an outstanding educational environment and producing high-quality graduates who make the Omani community proud. This is achieved through offering distinguished and advanced academic programs aligned with the requirements of sustainable development and societal needs. Additionally, we aim to disseminate knowledge and strengthen the bond between the university and the community.

I am pleased to receive your feedback and suggestions via the office email at dvcaacs@squ.edu.om. May Allah grant us success in achieving our aspirations for the prosperity and honor of the university and our generous nation under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, may Allah protect and preserve him.

Vision:
Towards a distinguished educational environment that will be a source of Omani pride.

Mission:

To contribute to the realization of the University`s educational and research environment in order to achieve excellence and respond effectively to the socio-economic development requirements, adapt to the regional and international changes, disseminate knowledge and strengthen engagement with community.

Objectives:

To develop the University`s educational environment in order to ensure that academic programs are committed to excellence.
To attract and retain distinguished academic staff.
To improve students` language skills.
To develop field training and internship programs for students.
To adhere to quality standards in the educational process.
To enhance academic program responsiveness to the demands of national, regional and international development.
To adopt a systematic approach to disseminating knowledge and organizing continuing education, training programs and other community services.
To highlight through the media the University`s role in community service and development.
To enhance communication channels with alumni.

Project: Education Based on Active Learning and Learning Outcomes

Project Goal:

Enhance the application of active learning methods.

Project Initiatives:

Develop a comprehensive framework for implementing, measuring, and improving active learning to ensure its sustainability and suitability for various disciplines.
Promote the culture of active learning and demonstrate its benefits among students and faculty.
Intensify professional development programs for faculty members to enhance their skills in using and assessing active learning methods.
Secure stable funding sources to cover the necessities of active learning and its implementation requirements.
Activate partnerships with the public and private sectors and international institutions to implement active learning.

Project: Revising Academic Programs to Meet Future Technology Requirements

Project Goal:

Enhance cognitive and practical skills related to future technology requirements.

Project Initiatives:

Strengthen collaboration and coordination between departments and colleges related to future technologies.
Integrate appropriate technology into existing and new academic programs.
Coordinate teaching schedules for environmental programs and future sub-specialties.
Develop a system for the exchange and updating of courses among faculty members.
Enhance research projects for graduate and undergraduate students related to future technology and its applications.
Improve the competencies of faculty and technical staff in the field of technology and its use.
Provide special care for outstanding students in academic programs that meet future technology requirements.

Project: Enhancing University Students' Skills to Match the Job Market

Project Goal:

Align academic programs with job market requirements.

Project Initiatives:

Unite efforts and programs that enhance students' skills across the university's colleges and units for integration and coordination.
Develop a methodology or plan to increase internship opportunities for students in market institutions and improve the quality of training.
Develop a methodology or plan to include, apply, and evaluate the skills required by the job market in specialized programs and mandatory university or college courses based on future skills outlined in the Omani National Framework for Future Skills and Entrepreneurial Thinking.
Improve the competencies of faculty members to enhance students' job market skills.
Develop various methods and incentives to encourage students to participate in extracurricular activities that enhance their acquisition of job market skills.

Project: Applied and Interdisciplinary Research

Project Goal:

Stimulate research potential and establish a culture of scientific research. –

Project Initiatives:

Include a base of regulations that organize and enable applied scientific research.
Prioritize scientific research in strategic agendas.
Secure sustainable funding sources for applied research.
Enhance and motivate staff involved in applied research.
Support and develop research centers and link them with applied research.

Project: Developing the Academic Innovation System

Project Goal:

Develop an effective innovation system that transforms knowledge into value for economic and social development.

Project Initiatives:

Promote the culture of innovation, market it, and foster collaboration among stakeholders.
Review laws and regulations governing innovation.
Develop the university's technical infrastructure to meet the basic requirements of the innovation system.
Direct academic programs, curricula, and research towards innovation and entrepreneurial thinking.
Increase moral and financial incentives for innovators. 6. Enhance the human resources managing the innovation system.

Project: Student Activities in Community Service to Enhance Identity, Citizenship, and Solidarity

Project Goal:

Promote the culture of civic duty among employees and students

Project Initiatives:

Develop systems and frameworks that organize student activities directed towards community service and their assessment methods.
Activate and improve the current electronic system for managing and evaluating student activities.
Develop an incentive system to enhance student and employee participation in community service and volunteer activities.
Diversify funding sources for student activities.
Develop a methodology to market student activities for community service and enhance community partnerships.
Train and qualify those involved in student activities for community service to enrich their experiences and expertise.

Project: Revising Community Programs in Terms of Their Diversity, Content Quality, and Design and Marketing Methods

Project Goal:

Expand community service and continuing education programs.

Project Initiatives:

Develop comprehensive legislative frameworks for community service procedures.
Enhance the infrastructure and modern technologies that provide logistical support for community service programs.
Create incentive programs for employees and students participating in community service programs.
Assess community needs for programs, training courses, activities, and community services and disseminate this information to the university community.
Enhance financial support for community activities and services.
Strengthen human resources in the Community Service and Continuing Education Center and the offices of the Assistant Deans for Training and Community Service to supervise community programs.
Develop a comprehensive database to store and exchange information related to community service.
Establish key performance indicators to assess community engagement.
Expand the participation of stakeholders in community service from within and outside the university

SQU Teaching Philosophy

Sultan Qaboos University promotes active learning approach and encourages a student-centered learning environment in which effective and life-long learning is encouraged to help students develop the skills required for success in the 21^st century.

Attributes and Competencies of Undergraduate Graduates at Sultan Qaboos University

The University Council, in its fourth meeting of the academic year 2023/2024 held on June 26, 2024, approved the attributes and competencies of undergraduate graduates at Sultan Qaboos University. The table below summarizes the general attributes and core competencies expected of undergraduate graduates.

Graduate Attributes	Graduate competencies for Undergraduate Studies
A. Cognitive Capabilities: The graduate has sufficient general and specialized theoretical knowledge that enables him/her to deal well with his/her specialty and other related fields.	1. Demonstrates familiarity and works with advanced specialized knowledge in the area of specialization.
2. Demonstrates a general understanding of the relationship of advanced specialized knowledge with knowledge in other relevant professional fields and aspects.
3. Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the theories, principles, and methods used in his/her specialty, and how to create and apply new knowledge.
4. Demonstrates general knowledge of the legal environment and necessary relevant regulatory frameworks.
5. Shows awareness of contemporary literature and research.
B. Skill and professional capability: The graduate has sufficient skill and practical experience that enables him/her to perform all tasks related to the specialization and other related fields.	1. Applies concepts, theories, and investigative methods to synthesize and interpret information to evaluate conclusions.
2. Applies appropriate research methods and techniques and employs digital knowledge
3. Evaluates and critiques information independently
4. Uses cognitive and technical skills to analyze complex issues and develop appropriate solutions.
5. Initiates new ideas or processes in the professional, educational or research context.
C. Effective communication: The graduate has the ability to communicate effectively with others to achieve the desired results	1. Explains, presents, and adapts information to suit the recipients.
2. Employs appropriate information and communication technology to collect and analyze information.
D. Autonomy & leadership: The graduate has the ability to lead, make decisions and take responsibility for decisions.	1. Performs advanced professional activities independently.
2. Demonstrates leadership skills.
3. Takes professional responsibility.
4. Assumes full accountability for the tasks and their output.
E. Responsibility & commitment: The graduate appreciates the importance of available resources and deals with them effectively and is committed to the ethics of the profession and society.	1. Manages time and other resources assigned to accomplishing tasks effectively and responsibly.
2. Demonstrates effective practices when working in teams.
3. Demonstrates advanced levels of understanding of values and ethics relevant to the specialization, profession and local and international society and promotes them among others.
4. Works within the professional, institutional, and specialization guiding frameworks and strategic plans.
5. Interacts with community affairs positively and preserves national identity.
F. Development & innovation: The graduate has a passion for development and innovation in the field of specialization.	1. Demonstrates the ability to independently manage learning tasks, with an awareness of how to develop and apply new knowledge.
2. Utilizes specialized knowledge and skills for entrepreneurship.
3. Utilizes creative and innovative skills in the field of specialization.

Graduate Attributes

Graduate competencies for Undergraduate Studies

A. Cognitive Capabilities:

The graduate has sufficient general and specialized theoretical knowledge that enables him/her to deal well with his/her specialty and other related fields.

1. Demonstrates familiarity and works with advanced specialized knowledge in the area of specialization.

2. Demonstrates a general understanding of the relationship of advanced specialized knowledge with knowledge in other relevant professional fields and aspects.

3. Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the theories, principles, and methods used in his/her specialty, and how to create and apply new knowledge.

4. Demonstrates general knowledge of the legal environment and necessary relevant regulatory frameworks.

5. Shows awareness of contemporary literature and research.

B. Skill and professional capability:

The graduate has sufficient skill and practical experience that enables him/her to perform all tasks related to the specialization and other related fields.

1. Applies concepts, theories, and investigative methods to synthesize and interpret information to evaluate conclusions.

2. Applies appropriate research methods and techniques and employs digital knowledge

3. Evaluates and critiques information independently

4. Uses cognitive and technical skills to analyze complex issues and develop appropriate solutions.

5. Initiates new ideas or processes in the professional, educational or research context.

C. Effective communication:

The graduate has the ability to communicate effectively with others to achieve the desired results

1. Explains, presents, and adapts information to suit the recipients.

2. Employs appropriate information and communication technology to collect and analyze information.

D. Autonomy & leadership:

The graduate has the ability to lead, make decisions and take responsibility for decisions.

1. Performs advanced professional activities independently.

2. Demonstrates leadership skills.

3. Takes professional responsibility.

4. Assumes full accountability for the tasks and their output.

E. Responsibility & commitment:

The graduate appreciates the importance of available resources and deals with them effectively and is committed to the ethics of the profession and society.

1. Manages time and other resources assigned to accomplishing tasks effectively and responsibly.

2. Demonstrates effective practices when working in teams.

3. Demonstrates advanced levels of understanding of values and ethics relevant to the specialization, profession and local and international society and promotes them among others.

4. Works within the professional, institutional, and specialization guiding frameworks and strategic plans.

5. Interacts with community affairs positively and preserves national identity.

F. Development & innovation:

The graduate has a passion for development and innovation in the field of specialization.

1. Demonstrates the ability to independently manage learning tasks, with an awareness of how to develop and apply new knowledge.

2. Utilizes specialized knowledge and skills for entrepreneurship.

3. Utilizes creative and innovative skills in the field of specialization.

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