Licencing of first programme at PhD level for private college approved

Muscat: The Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, represented by the Institutions and Programmes Licencing Committee, has approved licencing of the first programme at the PhD level for a private college which is the University of Nizwa, under the name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemistry.

Fadia bint Saif Al Ma’ani, director of the programmes supervision department at the Directorate General of Private Universities and Colleges said that the Ministry has agreed for the private universities, as a first step, to apply for licencing programmes at the PhD level as part of the Ministry’s belief on the significance of PhD programmes for achievement of comprehensive development and for creation of scientific and research environment that contribute to the country’s development.

She said that the  PhD programme in Chemistry, designed by the University of Nizwa is aimed to provide quality educational services to PhD students in the main fields of chemistry and to develop the skills of students in the field of research.

The programme also aimed to prepare the graduates for positions at the reputed industrial, academic and research institutions.  

The Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation has received an application from the University of Sohar for licencing a PhD programme in Engineering, which is expected to be submitted to the  Institutions and Programmes Licencing Committee to consider in its next meeting.