The Colleges of Applied Sciences (OMAN)
There are six colleges of applied sciences in the Sultanate of Oman under the management of the Ministry of Higher education (Directorate General of the Colleges of Applied Sciences). These colleges are:
- College of Applied Sciences, Sohar
- College of Applied Sciences, Ibri
- College of Applied Sciences, Nizwa
- College of Applied Sciences, Salalah
- College of Applied Sciences, Sur
- Rustaq College of Education
These six colleges are located in major cities in the Sultanate with the aim of bringing higher education provision closer to young Omanis in these areas.
Historically, the colleges have evolved from being teacher training institutes in mid-seventies of the previous century to intermediate teacher training colleges offering 2 year diploma in 1984, to Colleges of Education offering 4 year Bachelor of Education Degree in 1994.
In 2005, the colleges were transformed to Colleges of Applied Sciences in response to the development in the labour market needs in the country. Currently the colleges offer the Bachelor Degrees in the following programmes and majors:
- Engineering: Mechanical Engineering; Electrical Engineering & Chemical Engineering
- Information Technology: IT Security; Computer Networks; Software Applications Development & Data Management
- Business Administration: Business Administration; Tourism Management; Accounting; Hospitality Management; Supply Chain Management; Marketing; Insurance & Banking and Financial Services
- Mass Communication: Public Relations; Journalism; Digital Media; Media Management & Advertising
- Design: Multimedia Design; Graphic Design & Interior Design
- Applied Bio-Technology: Applied Marine Biotechnology; Applied Environmental Biotechnology & Applied Food and Agriculture Biotechnology
- Education: ELT, Mathematics & Sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics)