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

Vision
To be a center of excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement for the sustainable management of natural resources in Oman.

Mission
Providing high-quality education in natural resource, agriculture and food economics, preparing students to contribute to long lasting development in Oman and beyond, and engaging in innovative research to provide impactful solutions in the context of Oman’s unique natural and marine ecosystems. Through interdisciplinary approaches and collaboration with national and international organizations, the department aims to develop students’ skills which contribute to achieving the sustainable development goals in Oman.

Admission criteria
Students completed a minimum of 24 credit hours, passed CAMS2004 (Introduction to Agricultural and Marine Sciences) course and completed at least one course offered by the college of Science (Biology, Chemistry, or Physics) are eligible to be admitted to a major in the Department of Natural Resource Economics. The availability of seats for each cohort is fixed by the College.

Transfer criteria

For transfer to and from the major follow the link

Program Learning Outcomes

The Department offers three programs as follow: 

• Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Economics
• Master of Science in Natural Resource Economics
• PhD in Natural Resource Economics

The faculty in the NRE Department are actively engaged in research activities highly relevant to Oman and to the region.  Research topics deal with food security and WTO Multilateral trading system and market-oriented policies; Institutional, economic and technical aspects of groundwater monitoring as a common resource pool; Small-scale dairy farmer’s participation in alternative marketing channels; Adding value to local products: Jabel Akhdar rose water; Market potential for organic food in the GCC countries; Agricultural sustainability and the role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and agricultural cooperatives in rural development and food security; Fish market integration and price variation. Several multidisciplinary projects are undertaken within the college as well as in collaboration with other colleges or international universities.  Furthermore, Our faculty are engaged in consultancies with local institutions and ministries as well as international institutions such as FAO and WB to be in touch with real world problems and to divulgate the research results.

WTO Chair

Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) was awarded a WTO Chair  in 2014 along with six other universities in a highly competitive process. The chair is hosted at the Department of Natural Resource Economics. The aim of the chair program is to enhance knowledge and understanding of WTO and the trading system among academicians, students and policy makers through research in trade related issues, curriculum development and outreach activities

The degree in agricultural economics is intended to augment basic education in the science and technology of agricultural and marine sciences with the fundamentals of economics and business. Fundamental knowledge of economic and business principles is essential for a graduate to be effective in any private sector enterprise involving the production, processing, transport, and marketing of the products of the land and the sea. Knowledge of economic principles is also essential for public sector employment involving planning and natural resource conservation, management and policy. The agricultural economics major emphasizes coursework in fundamental principles of business and economics.  Specialized courses apply these principles to production, marketing, management, and agricultural, food, and natural resource policy. The internship is intended to expose the student to real-world economic and business situations involving agricultural and marine products. It is anticipated that internships will be mainly oriented toward the private sector.

Specific Internship Objectives:

• To become acquainted with real business practice and situations.
• To apply academic knowledge to practical economic and business problems, thus bridging the gap between theory and practice.
• To hasten the preparation of the student for productive employment in the private sector.
• To become familiar with, and get involved in, small business administration: record keeping, budgeting, and planning.
• To learn the different types of business organization.
• To learn how to develop a business plan: marketing, financial management, and daily operation.
• To learn the various steps in development planning: project, sectoral and macro-economics. (For students taking internships in Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries).
• To participate in the design and implementation of firm/farm surveys.
• To become familiar with the public measures to promote rural development.  (Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries).
• To become familiar with public measures to promote export and competition. (Ministry of National Economy).
• Any other activities requested by the private or public organizations.

Department of NRE

NRE Internship Coordinator:

Phone: +968-24141244

Fax: +968-24413418

Courses Description