Latest news with #AhmedbinMohammedalAzri
Observer
21-07-2025
- Business
- Observer
You can change higher ed preference from today
MUSCAT: The preference modification phase for registration and admission for the 2025/2026 academic year will begin today and continue until July 31. The results of the initial sorting will be announced on August 19, while accepted students will have the opportunity to complete their procedures starting from August 19 until August 24. Ahmed bin Mohammed al Azri, Director-General of the Higher Education Admission Centre (HEAC) at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, stated that the number of available seats received from government higher education institutions, domestic scholarships, private sector grants for private higher education institutions, and external scholarships and grants from Arab countries for the 2025/2026 academic year has reached 29,252 seats. Of these, 16,884 seats are in various government higher education institutions, 607 are for external scholarships and grants, while the number of domestic scholarships and grants for study at private universities and colleges in the Sultanate of Oman stands at 11,761. He added that the preference modification phase is one of the most critical stages of registration, allowing students to finalise their programme choices in the system for the initial sorting competition. He noted that the updates this year focus on two main aspects, namely admission procedures and academic programmes. As for academic programme updates, he pointed out that higher education institutions (scholarship providers) have aligned programmes with labour market demands. New domestic scholarship programmes for bachelor's degrees include Emergency Medical Services Science, Environmental Management and Practices, and Human Medicine at Dhofar University. Domestic scholarships have also been introduced for students with learning difficulties to study at private higher education institutions. Al Azri further added that new external scholarships have been introduced for specialisations overseen by the External Scholarships Department at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, such as Healthcare, Health Planning, Health Risk Management, Therapeutic Nutrition, Law and Actuarial Studies. He said that the ministry, represented by the Domestic Scholarships Department, has also directed scholarships toward high-demand specialisations in the labour market, including Process Engineering, Production Operations, Occupational Health and Safety, Welding, Mining, Renewable Energy, Quality Control Management, Tourism and Hospitality Management and Legal Assistant Studies. Additionally, new professional diploma scholarships for Air Transport Pilot Licences have been introduced at the Oman Aviation Academy. He noted that government higher education institutions have expanded their programmes and specialisations. The Military Technological College has increased its capacity this year, opening admissions for female students alongside males in various engineering disciplines (bearing in mind that these are not coupled with employment). The University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) has added a new engineering specialisation at its branch in Musandam Governorate. The university has also introduced an advantage for social security family students, allowing them to apply without allocated seats in engineering programmes; upon acceptance, they may choose the nearest branch of the university to their residence. The trial sorting results showed that 1,936 students with an 80 per cent grade or higher did not receive a preliminary programme offer. 76 per cent of them had listed too few preferences, focusing on highly competitive, limited specialisations. Additionally, 247 students with a 90 per cent grade or higher did not receive a preliminary offer, with 84 per cent of them listing fewer than 30 preferences. This highlights the need for students to include more programme options and diversify their choices across institutions and disciplines. Al Azri urged students to maximise their programme selections (meeting admission requirements) and prioritise them by preference to enhance their chances of securing a seat. He also stressed the importance of diversifying choices across institutions and specialisations and encouraged following the centre's website for updates on registration and admission stages.
Observer
13-04-2025
- Health
- Observer
535 programmes await students for 2025-2026
MUSCAT: The first phase of registration for admission into public higher education institutions, as well as internal and external scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year, has officially opened and will remain open until June 1, 2025. Students who have completed their General Education Diploma (or its equivalent) for the academic year 2024-2025 can now register online via the Higher Education Admission Centre's (HEAC) portal at Here, they can explore the wide variety of academic programmes available and select their preferred specialisations. In an effort to improve the student experience and ensure equitable access to higher education opportunities, HEAC has introduced several updates. Ahmed bin Mohammed al Azri, Director-General of HEAC, outlined some key changes, including a streamlined registration interface. The new 'View and Select Eligible Programmes' feature merges two previous screens, simplifying the process and making it easier for students to explore all the programmes they are eligible for, while also allowing them to sequence their preferences. There have also been modifications to the admission process at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS), particularly for the Muscat, Nizwa, and Al Musayfirah branches. Now, students residing in respective governorates can access local programmes, bringing higher education opportunities closer to home. A new personal interview requirement has been introduced for students applying to education-related programmes at UTAS, while the maximum age for admission to the Military Technological College has been raised to 23 years for those seeking academic programmes. This year, HEAC is also focusing on inclusivity, with special initiatives aimed at supporting students with disabilities. A number of seats have been allocated at the Oman College of Health Sciences for students with physical disabilities, specifically in the Health Information Management specialisation. Additionally, a new programme for students with learning difficulties is available, as long as their specific learning challenges are officially recognised by the institution. Among the 535 programmes being offered across various government and private institutions, students can choose from a broad spectrum of disciplines, including health sciences, natural and physical sciences, engineering, business management and more. Scholarships and grants are available to help students finance their education. To help students make informed decisions, HEAC will soon release a Competitive Admission Guide that offers suggested minimum scores for different academic programmes, enabling students to assess their chances of acceptance more realistically. Furthermore, HEAC is running a series of awareness sessions for career guidance specialists from all governorates of Oman, designed to update them on the new admission process and address any challenges from previous years. The centre is also actively sharing information through its social media channels and engaging with participants at the GHEDEX 2025 (Global Higher Education and Training Exhibition). Students and their families are encouraged to thoroughly review the Student Guide for Enrolment to ensure they understand the registration policies and make informed decisions regarding their academic futures.
