As part of its strategy to strengthen its institutional presence and reinforce its position among national higher education institutions, the College of Arts and Social Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University has organised an extensive coordination meeting with career guidance and student counselling specialists from schools in ad-Dakhliyyah Governorate. The meeting, held on 21 May 2025, was attended by several officials from the Governorate’s Directorate General of Education.

This initiative aligns with one of the key pillars of SQU’s strategic plan, enhancing integration between higher education and general education institutions to build flexible learning pathways that respond to national development priorities. It also resonates with the core principles of the Oman Vision 2040, which emphasises the importance of aligning educational outcomes with labour market needs and empowering students to make informed academic and career decisions.

During the meeting, the College presented a comprehensive overview of its academic mission, departments, and diverse specialisations, which combine academic knowledge with practical skills to meet the aspirations of General Education Diploma graduates. The College also showcased its new academic programmes, particularly those with an international dimension, such as Chinese language education, which support the Ministry of Education’s efforts to expand global language offerings and foster cultural exchange.

The meeting further highlighted the College’s role in nurturing university students through an integrated system of extracurricular and community service programmes designed to develop leadership, research, and practical skills, in line with the principles of holistic and lifelong learning.

In its address, the College administration reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to updating its academic programmes and enhancing their content in line with the latest scientific and technological developments, and in accordance with quality assurance and academic accreditation standards. It was emphasised that this development process is undertaken in coordination with relevant national bodies, ensuring alignment with Oman’s strategic directions in areas such as the knowledge economy and sustainable human development.

This meeting forms part of the College’s broader strategic approach to strengthening ties with the general education sector across various governorates in the Sultanate of Oman. The College recognises the importance of early guidance in shaping students’ future educational and professional pathways. Accordingly, it confirmed plans to continue organising similar meetings and field visits in other governorates in the near future, reinforcing its community engagement and its role as an active academic institution in building a collaborative educational system, one in which institutional roles are integrated to achieve the national aspirations of the Oman Vision 2040 for a prosperous and sustainable knowledge-based society.

At the conclusion of the meeting, an open discussion was held, during which the attending specialists shared their expectations and inquiries regarding admission procedures, college transfer mechanisms, and entry requirements for various specialisations. They also sought clarification on how best to support students in their transition from school to university. College representatives responded thoroughly and outlined potential avenues for collaboration aimed at supporting Omani students and enhancing their educational journeys.

The meeting was attended by Mohammed bin Saif Al-Maawali, Director of Career Guidance and Student Counselling at the Directorate General of Education in ad-Dakhliyyah Governorate, along with a number of teachers overseeing guidance and counselling programmes in the governorate’s schools.

This initiative embodies the College of Arts and Social Sciences’ commitment to its social responsibility and underscores the importance of institutional partnership in achieving national priority goals. Foremost among these is the development of an education system grounded in informed guidance and a strong linkage between education, knowledge, and the labour market, ensuring the preparation of generations capable of contributing effectively to Oman’s comprehensive development journey, in line with the aspirations and Oman Vision 2040.