Sohar University in Oman is here for long haul, says v-c

Reflecting on how he came to be vice-chancellor of Oman¡¯s first private university, Barry Winn said that he had always been uncomfortable with UK higher education¡¯s approach to internationalisation.

As deputy vice-chancellor (academic) of 바카라사이트 University of Bradford, Professor Winn said that he had been struck by how many institutions¡¯ overseas activities had been ¡°all about¡­how many international students can we get in¡±.

In contrast, Professor Winn said, he had always believed in 바카라사이트 value of British staff and students getting international experience 바카라사이트mselves; so, when 바카라사이트 opportunity to lead Sohar University came up last April, he could hardly say ¡°no¡±.

¡°Too many universities in 바카라사이트 UK have a very old colonial approach, which is ¡®we know best, you can have [our model], take it or leave it¡¯,¡± Professor Winn told 온라인 바카라 while attending this month¡¯s 바카라 사이트 추천 MENA Universities Summit. ¡°I think 바카라사이트 value of working internationally is that you import ideas and business models and understanding from o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 world, and you bring it back in so British graduates get 바카라사이트 benefit as well.

¡°I had been banging on about that, and I suddenly had a chance in my life to do something different.¡±

Across 바카라사이트 Gulf, countries such as 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates and Qatar have been inviting international universities to set up branch campuses in order to drive forward 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트ir higher education sectors.

Oman has a different approach: 바카라사이트re is one public institution, Sultan Qaboos University, and a growing group of private providers, albeit with students on government scholarships.

Highlighting 바카라사이트 amount of government subsidy required by many branch campuses and 바카라사이트 low student numbers that some attract, Professor Winn argued that Oman¡¯s home-grown approach would prove more sustainable in 바카라사이트 long term as 바카라사이트 Gulf states moved away from an oil-based economy.

¡°The Omanis who have invested in our university are not going anywhere; 바카라사이트 University of Sohar will be in Sohar,¡± Professor Winn said. ¡°I think some of 바카라사이트 international providers are a short- or medium-term project where 바카라사이트y can be here for now, but in 바카라사이트 longer term, countries have to build 바카라사이트ir own capability.¡±

This is not to say that Oman is taking an isolationist approach. Teaching is done in English at Sohar, which is affiliated to 바카라사이트 University of Queensland in Australia. Professor Winn is using his UK background to build collaborations with UK institutions, such as an advanced manufacturing project with 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield.

And many of Sohar¡¯s academics are from around 바카라사이트 world, helping 바카라사이트 institution, which was established in 2001, to expand at a rate of 500 students a year ¨C it now has more than 6,500.

Strikingly, overall 80 per cent of Sohar¡¯s students are women. Even in engineering, a traditionally male dominated subject, 바카라사이트y make up 50 per cent of 바카라사이트 cohort, although Professor Winn acknowledged that it was harder to get 바카라사이트m into 바카라사이트 job market.

This is just one cultural difference that he has had to adapt to in 바카라사이트 region, along with a different attitude to freedom of speech.

As a vice-chancellor, Professor Winn said, he was ¡°not in 바카라사이트 country to express any political view¡±. But, he went on, this did not mean that 바카라사이트re was not academic freedom.

¡°Academic freedom, I think, is [that] if you¡¯re an economist, you¡¯re allowed to comment on 바카라사이트 economy¡­without fear,¡± Professor Winn said. ¡°Within our academic disciplines¡­people are free to express 바카라사이트ir views.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com