Sultan Qaboos University
Deanship of
Postgraduate Studies
Annual
Report
2009
DOPS
Contents
Introduction
1
Academic Programs
2
Skills Programs
2
Students
3
Scholarships
6
Other Issues
7
Conclusion
9
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1.
Introduction
The Deanship of Postgraduate Studies was established by executive order in
2007 and a dean appointed in January 2008. It was temporarily housed in offices in the
Centres Building until it moved in January 2009 to other temporary facilities in Villa 9.
Over this period the staff increased from 7 to 10.
The role of the Deanship is to take overall responsibility for the administration and
support of postgraduate diploma, masters and doctoral programs at SQU. This includes
orientation, administering the regulations, revising and updating the regulations,
clearance for graduation, dealing with requests for extension, postponement and
withdrawal, administration of scholarships, and coordination of meetings of the
Postgraduate Studies and Research Board. The Deanship also presents a range of skill
enrichment courses and coordinates the marketing of postgraduate programs.
The 2008/09 academic year was the first for the Deanship and by the summer of
2009 most structures and procedures had been set up. This report therefore covers the
first full year of operation of the Deanship and is partly a record of what has been done
and partly an account of establishment of the Deanship as a viable and functioning
unit.
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2.
Academic Programs
The number of postgraduate programs offered across the nine colleges at SQU in the 2008/09 academic year is listed
below.
College/ Arts Education
programs
law
Commerce
& Eco.
Science Agriculture
& Marine
Science
Engineering Medicine Total
& Health
Science
Diploma
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
Masters
6
8
4
1
8
8
6
7
48
Doctoral
-
-
-
-
7
4
5
-
16
3.
Skills Programs
The Deanship of Postgraduate Studies initiated a series of skills enhancement programs for postgraduate students,
faculty and researchers. The programs were offered in the form of presentations and workshops. The aim of the
programs is to improve the participants’ general skills in research and in the professional environment.
In Spring 2009 the Deanship offered the following skills programs:
1.
Effective Supervision of Postgraduate Research (English)
2.
Academic Paper Writing (Arabic)
3.
Scientific Paper Writing (English)
4.
Basic Safety Training (English)
5.
Skills Enrichment (English)
6.
Skills Enrichment (Arabic)
The participants’ evaluations of the programs showed that they were very useful and will henceforth be offered every
semester.
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4.
Students
4.1
New Admissions
The total postgraduate intake in 2008 was 445 and is broken down below by gender, level (masters/doctoral) and college.
2008 INTAKE
Masters/Unconditional Masters/Conditional
College
Female
Admission & Registration
Arts & Social Sciences
Commerce & Economics
Education
Law
Medicine & Health Sciences
Science
Agricultural & Marine Science
Engineering
Total
4.2










Male










Total










Female
Male
Total






























Non-Matriculate
Doctoral
Female Male Total Female Male Total Total




































































 
Total Enrolment by College and Status
The total enrolment was 754 and is broken down below by college.










  




 




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4.3
Extensions and Probation
The number of students granted extension in the 2008/09 academic year is illustrated below and totalled 152 over both
semesters. Probation cases totalled 113 and are also illustrated on a college basis.













   























    









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3.4
Graduation
A total of 108 students graduated in November 2008, 107 with masters degrees and one with a PhD.
/
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5.
Scholarships
5.1
Masters
The table below summarizes the allocation of scholarships in the 2008/09 academic year by college.
2008 Masters Scholarships
Approved
Awarded
Remaining
Exe* Teach* Re* Total Exe Teach Re Total Exe Teach Re Total
Colleges
5
0
1
6
5
0
1
6
0
0
0
0
Education
7
0
0
7
7
0
0
7
0
0
0
0
Arts & social Sciences
5
0
0
5
5
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
Law
5
0
1
6
5
0
1
6
0
0
0
0
Commerce & Economics
8
4
2
14
4
4
0
8
4
0
2
6
Medicine & Health Sciences
10
2
2
14
10
0
0
10
0
2
2
4
Engineering
11
3
2
16
6
2
0
8
5
1
2
8
Science
4
3
2
9
1
2
0
3
3
1
2
6
Agriculture & Marine Sciences
55
12
10
77
43
8
2
53
12
4
8
24
Total
* Exe. =exemption from tuition fees scholarships * Teach. = Full teaching scholarships
5.2
* Re. = Full research scholarships
New Scholarship Regulations
New postgraduate scholarship regulations were drafted by the Deanship and were applied in 2009.
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6.
Other Issues
6.1 Marketing the SQU Postgraduate Academic Programs
Four media were used by the Deanship to market SQU’s postgraduate programs.
(i) Newspapers
The local and regional newspapers were used for postgraduate announcements and other activities offered by the
Deanship, such as the orientation and skills programs.
(ii) E-mail
E-mails were used to communicate with postgraduate students and faculty.
(iii) Publications
The following publications were produced in the 2008/09 academic year.
1. Postgraduate Academic Regulations – Fall 2008
2. Postgraduate Catalogue 2007- 2008
3. Abstract of Master Theses 2005
4. Pamphlet for PhD in Agricultural and Marine Science and Engineering
5. Pamphlets for Skills Enhancement Programs ( English and Arabic)
6. Booklet of Admission requirements for Postgraduate programs 2008
7. Posters for postgraduate programs
8. Trade Directory 2008, one page poster.
(iv) Exhibitions
The Deanship participated in the following exhibitions:
1. Education Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, October 2008.
2. Book exhibition in Muscat, 24 February – 6 March 2009. ‫‏‬
3. High Education Exhibition in Muscat, July 2009
6.2 Orientation
The Deanship of Postgraduate Studies at SQU organized an orientation program for new PhD, masters and
postgraduate diploma students under the patronage of Prof. Amer Al Rawas, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Postgraduate
Studies & Research. The students were given an outline of postgraduate programs, skills enrichment courses,
academic matters and scholarships offered by SQU.
Prof. Anton McLachlan, the Dean of Postgraduate Studies gave an overview of the role of the Deanship in terms of
postgraduate admissions, scholarships and implementation of regulations. Mr. Hussain Al Khayit, Director of the
Deanship spoke about various postgraduate programs and skills courses offered at SQU. Ms. Nawal Al Bulushi, Head
of Student Matters, spoke about academic matters, and Mr. Mahmoud Al Rahbi briefed the new postgraduate students
about postgraduate scholarships offered by the University.
After the presentations, a question and answer session was also held to clarify the doubts of students regarding
postgraduate admissions and programs. Brochures and leaflets on postgraduate programs, scholarships, skill courses
and academic regulations were also distributed to the participants.
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6.3 New Regulations
The 2001 Postgraduate Academic Regulations were revised and new sections on joint programs and doctoral
programs added. These regulations were approved and implemented from Fall 2008. Two thousand copies were
produced in the first printing and these were distributed around the University. An electronic copy was placed on the
University website.
6.4 PSR Board Meetings
The University Postgraduate Studies and Research Board, convened by the Deanship, met four times during this
academic year. Major postgraduate issues considered were: standardising masters and doctoral thesis codes,
introducing the skills enhancement program and a proposal for a new MA in Mass Communication.
6.5 Staff
The staff of the Deanship increased by two over the 2008/09 academic year. The staff complement as at the end of the
year is listed below:
Name
Position
Anton McLachlan
Dean
Mohammed Salim Al-Rawahi
Director of Administration
Hussain Juma Al-Khayit
Director
Nawal Mohammed Al-Balushi
Head of Masters & PhD Programs
Mahmood Salem Al-Rabhi
Scholarships
Nasser Shanoon Al-Subhi
Head of Coordination & Follow-up
Mazin Hamid Al-Sulaimani
Clerk
Abdullah Mohammed Al-Busaidi
Clerk
Abdullah Nasir Al-Hosni
Clerk
Naeema Said AbdulBaqi
Clerk
Oliya Said Al-Nofli
Clerk
Abdullah Khamis Al-Sinaidi
Messenger
Aen Covarrubias Manlongat
Coordinator
6.6 Evaluation of Research Supervision
The Deanship initiated assessment of the quality of supervision of research students by means of a pilot study using a
questionnaire to graduating students. A report on the results was presented to the PSR Board. This showed generally
satisfactory supervision of research masters students and some small differences between the science-based and the
humanities colleges. The survey will henceforth be done annually on all graduating research students and a detailed
report will be produced for each cohort.
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7.
Conclusion
The Deanship completed its first academic year in good heath with a full staff
complement and all activities and procedures running smoothly. The major issues
facing the Deanship in the coming academic year are the move to new premises and
taking over the admission and registration procedures for all postgraduate students.
The Deanship is well positioned to play a key role in administering all postgraduate
programs as the University expands these programs under its strategic objective of
research capacity building.
9
Deanship of Postgraduate Studies
2009