DUQM : HE Qais Al Yousef, Chairman, Public Authority for Special Economic Zones & Free Zones (OPAZ) was briefed by 18 Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) students on their internship projects and experiences working inside businesses in Duqm during a breakfast gathering this week. The students are taking part in the inaugural SEZAD – SQU Summer Internship with placements in eight organizations operating on the Special Economic Zone at Duqm.

The discussion reached beyond the students’ immediate assignments. Employers are placing greater value on graduates who understand how workplaces function before they apply for their first full-time role. Technical knowledge still counts, though so does the ability to listen carefully, communicate clearly and respond well when plans change.

Over two weeks, students are working with OQ8, ASYAD Drydock, Oman Tank Terminal Company (OTTCO), SIMAK, Port of Duqm, ASYAD Ports, Renaissance Services and Crowne Plaza Duqm.

Hanan Al Siyabi, Section Head, Tourism Development & Lifestyle, SEZAD and organizer of the internship program said: “What’s stood out has been how quickly the students have found their feet. They have moved from listening and observing to making a useful contribution. They are asking better questions because they’re beginning to understand how their host organizations work from the inside.” She added: “This kind of experience gives students something they can’t get in a lecture. They begin to understand how workplaces operate and what employers expect from young graduates. That confidence can make a real difference when they start thinking about their first job.”

Rahma Al Hadidi, an SQU Media student undertaking her internship with SEZAD, commented: “Before coming to Duqm, I knew about many of the projects here through news reports and social media. Being here has given me a much clearer picture. I’ve met people working in different roles, seen how ideas become projects and learned more about what’s expected in a professional environment. This experience will certainly help shape how I think about my own future.”

The breakfast meeting formed part of a wider schedule of workplace assignments and conversations with professionals working across Duqm.

The internship reflects growing international recognition of the value of connecting education with the workplace. OECD research has highlighted the growing importance of career readiness as technological change reshapes labour markets, particularly for young people moving from higher education into work. The ILO has also identified work-based learning as an effective way of helping students build practical experience before they enter the labour market.

As Duqm attracts investment into new industries, employers will need young Omanis who understand how businesses work before they enter full-time employment. Early exposure to real workplaces helps students build that understanding while giving companies a closer connection to the talent they’ll need in the years ahead.

The inaugural SEZAD – SQU Summer Internship runs until 18 June and involves 18 undergraduate students from Sultan Qaboos University.