German University of Technology in Oman

German University of Technology
Type Private university
Established 2007
Rector Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Modigell
Administrative staff
150
Students Approx. 1100
Location Muscat, Oman
Affiliations RWTH Aachen University,
Germany
Website http://www.gutech.edu.om

The German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech) is a private university in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, and was established in 2007 in collaboration with RWTH Aachen University in Germany, one of the leading universities of technology in Europe.

GUtech is the only German university on the Arabian Peninsula and the first private university in Oman to receive international accreditation for all its BSc programs. In the Academic Year 2013/2014 approximately 1100 students were enrolled in GUtech’s programs.[1]

History

On 27 December 2006, a collaborative agreement was signed between Oman Educational Services LLC (OES) and RWTH Aachen University to establish the German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech). GUtech was established ab initio, without building on any previously existing structure, with the support of RWTH Aachen.

In September 2012, Gutech moved to its new, custom built and state-of-the art campus in Halban, which comprises a total area of 500,000 m².[2]

Affiliation with RWTH Aachen University

All private higher education institutions in the Sultanate are required to have an academic affiliation with reputable international universities and colleges. GUtech is affiliated to RWTH Aachen University in Germany.

Academic programs

Besides the GUtech Foundation Program the university offers full-time Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) programs as well as a part-time Master of Science.

The Foundation Program, consisting of the Core Studies Program and the Academic Studies Program, has been designed to equip students with the skills required to succeed in the Bachelor programs. Whereas the Core Studies Program mainly provides students with the necessary English language skills, the Academic Studies Program is made up of different modules including economics, mathematics, information technology, sciences and creative design.[3]

Bachelor of science programs

Bachelor of engineering programs[8]

Master of Science Programs

The MSc in Petroleum Geoscience focuses on the exploration and production of oil and gas as well as the supply and sale of energy. During the two and a half year program, students will take the majority of their courses in Oman, including field-based training with outdoor activities in Oman's world class outcrops.[9]

The language of tuition at GUtech is English, German is taught as an additional foreign language.

Students

In the Academic Year 2013/2014 approx. 1100 students were enrolled in the different programs at GUtech, about 25 per cent of them are international students. Each year students receive financial aid and scholarships from different sources either from industry or government like Occidental Petroleum Corporation (Oxy), German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Ministry of Higher Education, Oman International Fertilizer Company (OMIFCO), OMRAN and Oman Educational Services (OES).[10]

The entry requirements depend on the program and the level of entrance. For example, to enter directly into one of the Bachelor programs, students need to submit IELTS results of at least 6.0, or equivalent TOEFL results. The applicant may also need to pass a GUtech entrance examination.

International accreditation

GUtech was the first private university in the Sultanate that received international accreditation for all Bachelor of Science programs by the Accreditation, Certification and Quality Assurance Institute (ACQUIN) in June 2009. ACQUIN is a non-profit agency committed to supporting the enhancement of quality standards for teaching and learning in higher education worldwide. It is a full member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education and operates in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Middle and Eastern Europe, North Africa, Near and Middle East.[11]

For students the international accreditation of GUtech is a further assurance that students are receiving a world-class higher education in Oman. It also means that graduates have the possibility to continue their studies at RWTH Aachen University in Germany or at any other university of their choice - depending on the individual entry requirements of the respective university.[12]

Organizational structure

GUtech is owned by private Omani shareholders (OES), who are represented by the Board of Directors (BoD). The managing board of GUtech is the Board of Governors (BoG). Members of the Board of Governors are representatives of the shareholders, of RWTH Aachen University as well as of the governmental sector of both Oman and Germany.[13]

The Rectorate, which is chaired by Professor Dr.-Ing. Michael Modigell - the Rector of GUtech - manages the university.

In January 2014, a total of 150 academic and administrative employees were employed at GUtech. The majority of the academic staff - around 70 per cent - comes from European universities.

At the moment GUtech comprises four faculties:

References

Coordinates: 23°38′11″N 58°02′46″E / 23.63625°N 58.046°E / 23.63625; 58.046

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/15/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.