H.E Yahya bin Mahfoudh Al-Manthri
H.E. Dr. Yahya bin Mahfoudh Al Manthri – Chairman of the State Council, is an active
personality involved in the development progression of the Sultanate of Oman since the
early seventies. H.E. has held many positions in his career; starting from the Ministry of
Education and the Ministry of Economy, after that H.E served in the Omani Embassy in
Washington D.C. for six years. In 1977, H.E. left the Diplomatic Service and held the
position of Dhofar's Vice-Governor Undersecretary in Salalah. In 1979, H.E. was
appointed Minister of Education, as well as acting Minister of Social Affairs; in addition
to this he was appointed Assistant to the Vice-Chairman of the Supreme Council for
Youth Welfare, and Chairman of the Sultan Qaboos University Project in 1981,
furthermore he stood as Chairman of the Sultan Qaboos University, and it's Council. In
1994, H.E. was appointed Minister of Higher Education and Vice-Chairman of the
Higher Education Council; and has been till this date the Chairman of the State Council,
since 2004.
H.E. Dr. Yahya bin Mahfoudh Al Manthri, holds a Bachelor of Science from the
University of Damascus, as well as a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Indiana,
United States of America; and a Master of Education from the University of Oklahoma,
United States of America. H.E. also, has a PhD in Educational Philosophy from the
University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, as well as an Honorary Doctorate from the
University of Reading, United Kingdom. He is married with three sons, and two
daughters.
H.E. Dr. Yahya bin Mahfoudh Al Manthri, participated in many conferences as Head of
the Omani Delegation, and represented the Sultanate as Minister of Education, Minister
of Higher Education, and Chairman of the Sultan Qaboos University in a number of
regional and International Organizations such as UNESCO, ILESCO and ISESCO. H.E.
participated in the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States, and the International
Authority of University Presidents, and the Union of Arab and International Universities.
Highlights of achievements during his term:







The establishment of the College of Arts (present College of Arts and Social
Sciences)
The establishment of the College of Commerce and Economics
The graduation of the first cohort of University students under the patronage of
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said
The graduation of the second cohort of University students under the patronage
of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said
The official opening/inauguration of the College of Commerce and Economics
The graduation of the first cohort of the College of Medicine (presently College of
Medicine and Health Sciences) under the patronage of His Majesty Sultan
Qaboos Bin Said
The visit of the Ex-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher paid to the University