MUSCAT : The Academic Council of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) held its sixth meeting for the 2025/2026 academic year today under the chairmanship of His Excellency Dr. Said Hamad Al-Rubaiei, UTAS Vice Chancellor and Chair of the Academic Council, in the presence of Council members at the University Headquarters in Muscat Governorate.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Council reviewed the graduation results for the Spring Semester of the 2025/2026 academic year. It also examined statistical indicators on the number of graduates across the University’s branches and the Rustaq College of Education as part of its ongoing efforts to monitor educational outcomes and assess academic performance indicators. These efforts support the enhancement of education quality and contribute to achieving the University’s objective of preparing qualified national graduates who meet labour market needs.

The Council also discussed a number of student-related matters and took the appropriate decisions in accordance with the applicable academic regulations and bylaws, ensuring students’ interests while maintaining the quality of the educational process and the fairness of academic procedures.

The Council reviewed two Master of Education programs developed by the Rustaq College of Education following the completion of all stages of preparation and development through a four-year academic process. The programs were designed based on comprehensive community and labour market needs assessments, benchmarking studies with local, regional, and international universities, stakeholder consultation workshops, internal reviews, and external evaluations. The final versions of both programs were approved in alignment with the Oman National Qualifications Framework and academic quality standards.

As part of the University’s preparations for the upcoming academic year, the Council approved the General Foundation Program (GFP) Document for the 2026/2027 academic year. The document was prepared by the Centre for Preparatory Studies following a comprehensive review and update based on feedback received from the University’s branches and headquarters. It complies with national and international standards and aims to enhance the effectiveness of the Foundation Program, equip students with essential academic skills, support the continuous development of foundation education, and contribute to meeting future labour market requirements.

The Council also discussed a number of nominations for supervisory positions across the University’s branches as part of efforts to strengthen leadership competencies and support the academic and administrative system. In addition, it approved the schedule of meetings for the University Branch Councils, the Rustaq College of Education Council, and the Academic Council for the 2026/2027 academic year, contributing to enhanced academic governance, effective institutional management, and timely decision-making.

The meeting concluded with a presentation on the University’s Meeting Management System (Agenda), a digital platform enhanced with artificial intelligence and supported by advanced data analytics tools to facilitate decision implementation, manage the work of councils and committees, organize meeting agendas, and prepare minutes. The system is designed to improve institutional efficiency, reinforce governance principles, and support the national digital transformation agenda. The Council also reaffirmed its commitment to the continuous development of the University’s academic and administrative systems in order to enhance the quality of education, scientific research, and innovation, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.