Foreign Universities in Oman: Collaboration in Higher Education

This thesis provides a comprehensive analysis of collaboration in higher education, focusing on the Omani third-level education market and the role of foreign universities. It investigates the challenges and opportunities faced by these institutions, including language and cultural barriers, governmental regulations, and financial hurdles. The research employs both primary and secondary data collection methods, utilizing research philosophies such as interpretivism and positivism, and research designs like descriptive research. The study identifies effective tools for market analysis, such as PESTLE, and explores strategies for recruiting students from Oman, including scholarship facilities, high-tech education, and enhanced course offerings. Recommendations are provided to increase the preference of Omani students towards foreign universities, emphasizing the importance of adapting to the local context and enhancing campus facilities. The thesis concludes by highlighting the need for foreign universities to understand and navigate the unique challenges and opportunities present in the Omani higher education landscape.

Collaboration in Higher Education,
Cyprus & Oman

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
 With change in time, there is different type of changes that has taken place in relation
with teaching to students.
 Higher education enables individuals to find out a suitable carrier on which they can
develop and contribute towards their development.
 Main focus of this research is made on analysing the market of Omani third level
education services and challenges and opportunities for the foreign universities to
operate in Oman and to recruit students from Oman

Aim & Objective
Aim: Market analysis of the Omani third level education services and the challenges and
opportunities for foreign universities to operate in Oman and recruit students from Oman
Objectives:
 To determine the tools that can be used for analysing the market.
 To analyse the challenges and opportunities for foreign universities to operate in Oman.
 To consider the ways to recruit students from Oman.
 To recommend way to increase preferences of students towards foreign universities at
Oman.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
 What are the tools that can be used for analysing the market?
 What are the challenges and opportunities for foreign universities to operate in
Oman?
 What are the ways to recruit students from Oman?

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
 As per Amundsen and Wilson, (2012) there are different type of tools that can be used
with the help of which educational system that are being carried out by individuals of
Oman are identified.
 Lozano, Ceulemans and Hugé, (2015) elucidated that in order to analyse the market,
marketers needs to first conduct external environmental analysis.
 Moran, Seaman and Tinti-Kane, (2011) said that through collaborative or partnership
approach, universities can establish their colleges in different or destined country.

CONT.
 Gikas and Grant, (2013) said that distance education is the recent trends and most
efficient tool which are used by universities to provide education and degrees
globally.
 As per Korbel, Lucia and Anderson, (2011) the rate of education that are provided
by institutes are now through online.
 The type of system that would have been followed by companies will be different
and when there are conditions of collaborations take place, then it affects the growth
in positive manner

THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES
 Frequent changes: There are many changes that take place in relation with the in terms of
internal organization and institutions.
 Effective teaching staff: For students to get effective support, it is important to have teachers
who are able to understand the requirements and take up initiatives so that they are able to
make individuals grow in positive direction
 Change in educational model: The educational systems that are carried out differ at different
institutes.
 No placements: These are considered to be the risks that are faced by students when they are
not able to get job for themselves.

WAYS TO RECRUIT STUDENTS FROM
HOME COUNTRY
Oman’s higher education system has expanded dramatically over the past two
decades, from a single college in 1995 to a field of nearly 30 institutions today. There
were roughly 90,000 students enrolled in Omani higher education in 2011,
representing just over 28% of the 18-to-24-year-old cohort. This reflects a much
lower level of higher education participation than is seen in many developed
countries, where participation within this age cohort can run as high as 60-70%.

CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
 Research philosophy: There are two different type of research philosophies which are
interpretivism and positivism. Among these the research will make use of both these
philosophies. It will enable to focus on the aim and objectives that are set by the investigator.
 Research design: The researcher will make use of descriptive research and this enables to
focus on the theories related with the research topic.
 Data collection: For the current research, the investigator has made use of both
primary and secondary methods. Primary with the help of questionnaire and secondary
through books, journals, online sources, etc.
 Data analysis: The researcher will make use of quantitative method in which thematic tool
will be used.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATION
Consent from the participants is crucial because they possess the right to participate
in the research procedure. At the same time, researcher has also given right of
withdrawal to the participants under which they can withdraw from the research
process anytime when they wish. Researcher took consideration of all rights and
obligations of participants as emphasizing on the same prospect helped researcher in
reducing all research issues and challenges.

RESEARCH LIMITATION
 Formulation of research aims and objectives: Researcher have formulated
research aims and objectives were too broad.
 Implementation of data collection method: In order to collate data in effective and
efficient manner, researcher must possess extensive experience in collecting primary
data.
 Sample Size: Sample size depends on the nature of research problem. If the sample
size is too small, statistical tests would not be able to identify any significant
relationship within the data set. The importance of sample size is greater in
quantitative studies compared to qualitative studies.