H.E. Dr. Dr. Rawya bint Saud Al Busaidiah, Minister of Higher Education and Chairperson of SQU Council presided over the first meeting of Sultan Qaboos University Council for the academic year 2018-2019 that was held on 25 October 2018. During the meeting of the Council, SQU launched a book entitled "Oman: The State and Citizen", a university textbook aimed at consolidating the concepts of identity, citizenship and belonging in the students. This book seeks to promote awareness of the students about the values of the Omani society and its national, social and cultural aspects and about what brings the people of Oman together in the modern Omani state. The book includes aspects related to intellectual security, contemporary challenges, the thought of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and the roles played by state institutions to serve the nation. The book was written faculty members from the College of Arts and Social Sciences at the university as a textbook to be taught in a compulsory course that all university students must study from the current academic year.

Meanwhile, the Council approved in principle the activation of the course option adopted within the academic system for postgraduate studies in the master's programs offered by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction the College of Education with the obligation of student research work and the allocation of a course concerned with scientific research methods. The college hopes that this step will diversify the options presented to the students based on the contemporary trends of the educational process adopted by the college according to the requirements of the Omani society. The Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the College of Education offers six master's programs: Curriculum and Teaching Methods: Science, Mathematics, English, Arabic, Islamic Education, Social Studies.

The Council also reviewed the services and facilities offered to students such as transportation, nutrition, high-speed wireless network and housing. The housing system includes important facilities such as gym, recreation hall and other services that provide the ideal environment for university students. The practical steps taken by the university administration to enhance the nutrition level of university students were reviewed, taking into account the students' observations on this aspect.

On the sidelines of the meeting, an open meeting was held between the University Council and the Student Advisory Council for the academic year 2018/2019, in the presence of the Vice Chancellor the University, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs & Community Service and the Dean of Student Affairs. The Vice Chancellor thanked the members of the previous session of the Advisory Council. During the meeting, the students presented some suggestions and initiatives concerning the educational, research and service aspects. The University Council thanked the students for these initiatives and urged them to proceed with the pace of achievement and excellence as expected.