Oman education: Ministry to announce scholarships at Ghedex

Muscat: A number of scholarships from the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) will be announced at the Global Higher Education Exhibition (Ghedex) and Omanisation Career Fair (OCF).
Presentations on the internal and external scholarships for diploma and bachelor degrees will also be made.
The events kick-off on Tuesday at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre under the auspices of Dr. Said bin Hamad Al Rubai’ee, secretary general of the Education Council. More than 200 universities and colleges representing 20 countries, besides Oman are taking part in the exhibition and fair.
OCF will host about 50 leading public and private firms. The fair provides opportunities for meetings among recruitment experts, employers and jobseekers to review the available opportunities for graduates of higher education institutions.
It will also provide training opportunities in Omani colleges and training centres.
Seminars will be held on the sidelines of the two exhibitions to raise their value and give participants an overview about the important aspects of training and higher education. The exhibitions will also provide a platform for sharing knowledge and experience with visitors.
The last Ghedex had attracted more than 25,000 visitors and more than 200 top-notch universities and colleges from over 25 countries had participated.
with 170 educational bodies and institutions, accounting for international participation and 30 for local participation.
Omani and expatriate students seeking quality education and opportunities for involvement through internships and related career planning programmes will find Ghedex to be a lucrative opportunity to pursue their higher education goals.
In its 2015 budget, the government had allocated a significant budget for the education sector. According to the latest report, “Allocation of OMR3 billion for the education sector will be a shot in the arm for the education field. It will improve education in different ways, especially in terms of quality. With the funds allocated, focus should be more on improving the quality and bringing the education system at par with global standards.”
According to an Oxford Business Group (OBG) 2016 report, “Despite a drop in oil and gas revenues, the Sultanate maintained its commitment to education spending in its 2015 budget, with the sector retaining a major share of state expenditure.”
The fact that the government has maintained a high level of expenditure on education, despite the decline in oil prices, is a testament to how important it considers the sector to be to Oman’s future. This level of funding is likely to be sustained, even if the price of oil continues to drop, as there is a clear recognition in Muscat that education and training are fundamental to the success of the Sultanate’s wider economic, political and social aspirations.
The exhibitions will run until April 20. Timings are 9.30am to 1pm and 4.30pm to 9pm.