MUSCAT: After nearly 17-years, Oman’s first female minister Dr Rawya bint Saud Al Busaidi has stepped down from the post of Minister of Higher Education (MOHE).
Dr. Rawiya, who was appointed as minister by the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said in 2004, was the first woman to head any ministry.
A “resolute minister” as described by Omanis, Dr. Rawiya was instrumental in bringing sweeping changes to the country’s education policies.
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In 2005, she was also appointed Deputy Chair of Oman’s Research Council. Other governmental appointments include membership on the Supreme Planning Council, Chair of the Executive Committee of the project to establish the University of Oman, as well as membership on the Supreme Committee for that project. Before her appointment as Minister, she served successively as Director General of two different Directorates within the Ministry of Higher Education and then as Undersecretary.
Dr. Rawya who took her PHD from Oxford University is also the recipient of several awards. She won the Arab Woman Award for the third time in 2006 and has also received the honorary Doctor of Law from the University of Glasgow.
On August 18, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik appointed Dr. Rahma bint Ibrahim Al Mahrooqi as the new minister of higher education.
