The Department of Natural Resource Economics (NRE) educates Omani professionals in the areas of economics and management applied to agriculture, fisheries, water and food industry. The Department offers a Bachelor degree in Natural Resource Economics and a minor in Natural Resource Economics for students from other Departments at the College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences (CAMS). NRE offers a Master of Science on Natural Resource Economics and a PhD program. The PhD program started in September 2014.
The Bachelor degree in Natural Resource Economics applies economic principles and decision-making theory to the optimal use of renewable natural resources such as fish, food and water. The sustainability and enhancement of the productivity of the fishery sector and maximization of the economic rent of the wild fish products, sea services and amenities are important policy goals. The Sultanate is a water-scarce nation whose agricultural sector heavily depends on groundwater quantity and quality. Furthermore, the allocation of water should be economically efficient among the agricultural, urban and industrial sectors with emphasis on sustainability and a circular economy. Environmental policies in the agricultural and marine sectors are important complements to courses of science and technology offered in marine and food resources at CAMS.
The combination of economic theory, biology and environmental laws and policies prepare students for productive careers in the public and private sectors. The major objective of the department is to produce Human Capital and build capacity by equipping students with coherent and complementary sets of scientific and social-science theoretical and applied methods. Students will have integrated use of economic concepts, modelling skills, and problem-solving capabilities, scientific and technological knowledge and teamwork to ensure sustainable use of the renewable natural resources of Oman and its environment.
Our graduates have the following skills:
Demonstrate in-depth knowledge on theory and analytical methods in natural resource economics and business
The ability to think critically and address problems especially in a team context
The ability to identify, formulate, analyze and solve economics and business problems
The ability to communicate orally and in writing
The ability to engage in life-long learning
Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary issues
The skills graduates learn in the Department of NRE at SQU are applicable across all economic sectors. The courses offered to ensure that graduates will have particular strengths in jobs where commercial and economic analysis is required. Thus they can be expected to make valuable contributions in government and other public sector institutions as well as in the private sector, as applied economists, business analysts, market researchers and planners. Our students are equipped with a myriad of quantitative tools such as statistics for economics, optimization, econometrics and cost-benefit analysis.
Based on the Standard Arab Gulf Directory for Occupational Classification and specification of employment categories by the Ministry of Manpower of the Sultanate of Oman and a survey done among NRE graduates on employment profile three major clusters of career opportunities in which NRE graduates excel are identified. These career clusters in both public and Private sectors are:
Management
Policy Analysis and Research
Teaching and Extension
Dr. Lokman Zaibet
Associate Professor and Head