About
Introduction
Dhofar University (DU) is one of the leading Universities in the Sultanate of Oman. It is a not-for-profit private institution of higher education established by the Ministerial Decree No. 5/2004 issued in January 2004. The University formally commenced its operations in September 2004.
Location
The University is located in the city of Salalah in the Dhofar Governorate, which is known for its geographical beauty, blessed with lush green mountains, pristine beaches, and moderate weather throughout the year, particularly in the Summer, which is locally known as Khareef Season. The University campus is spread over an area of 450,000 square meters encompassing a blend of both modern and traditional Omani architecture. It can accommodate up to 10,000 students.
Institutional Accreditation
Ever since its establishment, DU has pursued its aspirations of occupying a recognized position among the institutions of quality higher education sincerely and enthusiastically. This ongoing journey is driven by our determination and commitment to meet the expectations of stakeholders for quality higher education. This has produced tangible results and DU has the honour and privilege of being the first University in Oman to be accredited nationally by Oman Academic Accreditation Authority (OAAA) in December 2018 and also internationally by Accreditation Services for International Schools Colleges and Universities (ASIC) from UK in April 2019. DU is also honoured with “ASIC Chairman’s Award for the Development of Outstanding Student Centered Education”. ASIC is an independent government approved accreditation body in UK.
Colleges and Programs
DU is mission-driven University and pursues excellence in teaching and learning, research, and community outreach in an open learning environment conducive to creativity and innovation. The four colleges that constitute the University are - College of Arts & Applied Sciences (CAAS), College of Commerce & Business Administration (CCBA), College of Engineering (CE), and College of Law (CL). Currently (2019-20), DU offers 39 programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels through its four colleges. The medium of instruction is mostly English with some programs offered in Arabic.
Students
The number of students enrolled in DU during 2019-20 is around 3800. The University provides its students with cutting-edge learning experience which equips them to become competent professionals, able leaders, successful entrepreneurs, effective community servers and active nation builders. In addition, the students at DU have ample opportunities to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities and events organized throughout the year. DU also offers free in-house accommodation to its female students with the objective of supporting the cause of educational empowerment of women. As a result, the University has excellent reputation among its external stakeholders, be it industry & employers, government establishments, or community at large, and its graduates enjoy a favorable employability among local industries and business enterprises.
Faculty
The academic excellence of the University is led by a team of erudite faculty members consisting of 157 full-time and 17 part-time faculty drawn from 26 different nationalities, who continuously endeavor to deliver international standard education, with an emphasis on innovative pedagogical tools and student centered education, which stimulates the students to be critical, creative and innovative, both inside and outside the classrooms.
Research Profile
DU recognizes research as one of the main pillars of academic excellence as explicitly stated in its mission statement. Accordingly, it continuously encourages its faculty and students to engage in research activities, provides them with necessary facilities and financial support and also acknowledges their research excellence through various rewards and incentives.
DU has continuously facilitated impactful research benefiting the local community, the region, and the nation, which is evidenced by 733 Scopus indexed publications, more than 700 publications in Web of Science and around 50 research projects funded from external agencies including “The Research Council” (TRC) of Oman. DU also has a dedicated Research Center that focuses on few niche areas of regional importance, especially investigating and exploring the potential benefits from frankincense and other flora and fauna found exclusively in the Dhofar Region. As a result, DU is deservedly ranked 2nd in the field of Research among all private Universities in Oman by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) based on ResearchGate score.
In future, DU aims to be a research hub for research activities in the Dhofar region producing impactful research with special focus on the national priorities for research and development. To achieve this, DU has an independent Department of Research (DR) fully dedicated to create a favorable research environment within DU by encouraging, motivating, facilitating and rewarding research activities across and beyond the University.
Quality Assurance
DU has an independent Department of Quality Assurance (QAD), which is responsible for maintaining and enhancing the quality of teaching, research, and support services to its students, staff, and the DU community at large by suggesting new needed policies and reviewing existing DU policies relating to academic, academic support and non-academic services. The QAD develops appropriate qualitative and quantitative measures of teaching and service performance taking into account local, regional and international recommended practices, including standards set by OAAA and other international accreditation bodies.
University of Preferred Choice
Embracing above mentioned favourable curricular and extra-curricular aspects, students find campus life at DU stimulating, vibrant, and full of opportunities for self-development, healthy interaction and ethical grooming, which makes DU a preferred choice of study for them.
Introduction
Dhofar University (DU) is located in the city of Salalah in the Dhofar Governorate of Sultanate of Oman, which is well-known for its geographical beauty, blessed with lush green mountains, pristine beaches, and moderate weather throughout the year. It is the only University in the Dhofar Region of Sultanate of Oman offering Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programs.
DU is also the first University in Oman to be accredited nationally by Oman Academic Accreditation Authority (OAAA) and internationally by Accreditation Services for International Schools Colleges and Universities (ASIC) from UK. ASIC is an independent government approved accreditation body in UK.
Campus
The University moved to its new campus in November 2010, which is spread over an area of 450,000 square meters and encompasses a blend of both modern and traditional Omani architecture. The campus is nicely landscaped and there is plenty of open space, with adequate provision for parking and waiting areas for female students. All the buildings on campus are constructed in compliance with Omani Health and Safety Laws.
The campus includes an administration building, separate buildings for colleges, a common classroom building, a library building, engineering workshop, a student activities center, a Mosque, female student hostel consisting of four blocks and housing for the senior administrative personnel.
Common classroom building, consisting of four wings, is centrally located providing easy access from all Colleges. In addition, DU has a well-equipped big multipurpose hall with a seating capacity of more than 1000 which is used for extracurricular, social, recreational and religious activities.
High speed WIFI facility is available 24/7 in all the buildings and the campus.
The campus can accommodate up to 10,000 students.
For ensuring compliance with Omani Health and Safety Laws, DU conducts regular inspections of its facilities, equipment and work areas. In addition, regular safety checks are also carried out by external regulatory agencies such as: Dhofar Municipality, Public Authority of Civil Defense and Royal Oman Police.
Students with Special Needs
DU has taken the utmost care in designing its physical facilities to ensure that students with special needs face no problems in moving from one place to another. All buildings have ramps and specifically designed and designated toilets apart from separate parking spaces; and all classrooms and labs are wheel-chair compliant for easy movement of such students.
Facilities for Religious Activities
There is a centrally located Mosque to serve the religious needs of staff and students. Apart from that, there are prayer rooms for students in all College buildings. The Department of Student Affairs (DSA) arranges religious lectures by eminent guest speakers and also provides opportunities for students’ religious observance consistent with Islamic beliefs and traditions.
Cafeterias and Coffee Shops
DU has two exclusive cafeterias for male and female students in the main classroom building. There is also a coffee shop located in the courtyard of each College to serve snacks, sandwiches and beverages. In addition, there is a large restaurant in the ladies’ hostel with kitchen facility to cater to the requirements of meals and snacks. The hostel also has a mini supermarket to satisfy students’ daily needs.
DU Clinic
DU has an on-campus clinic that serves the basic health needs of its students and staff, where a nurse is available for clinical consultation and service during day time. The clinic provides basic medical assistance for minor physical injury and sickness. Urgent and emergency cases are transferred to the nearby Medical Complex or to the City Hospitals. This medical assistance is also made available to female students in the DU hostel on a 24/7 basis.
Security and Safety
There is adequate provision for security services within the campus. The security guards are on duty 24/7 and are responsible for patrolling the University campus. DU has provided them with a patrol vehicle.
The entire DU campus is covered by surveillance cameras which are installed in all the buildings as well as on the open grounds. The surveillance cameras are regularly monitored by the security department through its control room.
The University also ensures safety of its students, staff and visitors on the campus. For that purpose, it conducts mock drills for fire safety on a regular basis. It has provided assembly points at a number of places on the campus in case of emergencies.
Other Support Services
The University provides a number of support services to its students and staff through its various centers. These centers include: Centre for Entrepreneurship, Computer & Networking Centre (CNC), Community Service & Continuing Education Centre (CSCEC), Centre for Teaching & Learning (CTL) and Learning Support Centre (LSC).
Hostel for Female Students
DU provides free furnished accommodation for its female students on-campus and local transportation facilities for them. The hostel has four buildings which can accommodate up to 1000 students. There are 12 supervisors to oversee the hostel, working in three shifts, under the leadership of Director of Hostel Services. There is adequate security arrangement on a 24X7 basis provided by 12 security guards who work in three shifts. Other facilities available inside the hostel include: restaurant, supermarket, study hall, gymnasium and recreation rooms.
Learning Support Center
DU has a LSC, for providing personalised assistance in a supportive atmosphere to the students who are academically weak and also the students with special learning needs. This is accomplished through peer-assisted learning scheme using the services of outstanding senior-level students. The LSC provides its services free of charge to all DU underperforming students and there is a provision of monetary incentive for peer tutors.
Community Service and Continuing Education Center
The CSCEC at DU links the University resources and expertise in catering to the needs of the community. It partners with public and private sector organisations to launch various initiatives for the local community.
The CSCEC also offers training programs to meet professional and personal needs of community at large. It provides on-campus and off-campus offerings that include certificate programs, workshops, seminars, conferences, and customised training programs both in English or Arabic.
About
Introduction
Dhofar University (DU) is one of the leading Universities in the Sultanate of Oman. It is a not-for-profit private institution of higher education established by the Ministerial Decree No. 5/2004 issued in January 2004. The University formally commenced its operations in September 2004.
Location
The University is located in the city of Salalah in the Dhofar Governorate, which is known for its geographical beauty, blessed with lush green mountains, pristine beaches, and moderate weather throughout the year, particularly in the Summer, which is locally known as Khareef Season. The University campus is spread over an area of 450,000 square meters encompassing a blend of both modern and traditional Omani architecture. It can accommodate up to 10,000 students.
Institutional Accreditation
Ever since its establishment, DU has pursued its aspirations of occupying a recognized position among the institutions of quality higher education sincerely and enthusiastically. This ongoing journey is driven by our determination and commitment to meet the expectations of stakeholders for quality higher education. This has produced tangible results and DU has the honour and privilege of being the first University in Oman to be accredited nationally by Oman Academic Accreditation Authority (OAAA) in December 2018 and also internationally by Accreditation Services for International Schools Colleges and Universities (ASIC) from UK in April 2019. DU is also honoured with “ASIC Chairman’s Award for the Development of Outstanding Student Centered Education”. ASIC is an independent government approved accreditation body in UK.
Colleges and Programs
DU is mission-driven University and pursues excellence in teaching and learning, research, and community outreach in an open learning environment conducive to creativity and innovation. The four colleges that constitute the University are - College of Arts & Applied Sciences (CAAS), College of Commerce & Business Administration (CCBA), College of Engineering (CE), and College of Law (CL). Currently (2019-20), DU offers 39 programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels through its four colleges. The medium of instruction is mostly English with some programs offered in Arabic.
Students
The number of students enrolled in DU during 2019-20 is around 3800. The University provides its students with cutting-edge learning experience which equips them to become competent professionals, able leaders, successful entrepreneurs, effective community servers and active nation builders. In addition, the students at DU have ample opportunities to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities and events organized throughout the year. DU also offers free in-house accommodation to its female students with the objective of supporting the cause of educational empowerment of women. As a result, the University has excellent reputation among its external stakeholders, be it industry & employers, government establishments, or community at large, and its graduates enjoy a favorable employability among local industries and business enterprises.
Faculty
The academic excellence of the University is led by a team of erudite faculty members consisting of 157 full-time and 17 part-time faculty drawn from 26 different nationalities, who continuously endeavor to deliver international standard education, with an emphasis on innovative pedagogical tools and student centered education, which stimulates the students to be critical, creative and innovative, both inside and outside the classrooms.
Research Profile
DU recognizes research as one of the main pillars of academic excellence as explicitly stated in its mission statement. Accordingly, it continuously encourages its faculty and students to engage in research activities, provides them with necessary facilities and financial support and also acknowledges their research excellence through various rewards and incentives.
DU has continuously facilitated impactful research benefiting the local community, the region, and the nation, which is evidenced by 733 Scopus indexed publications, more than 700 publications in Web of Science and around 50 research projects funded from external agencies including “The Research Council” (TRC) of Oman. DU also has a dedicated Research Center that focuses on few niche areas of regional importance, especially investigating and exploring the potential benefits from frankincense and other flora and fauna found exclusively in the Dhofar Region. As a result, DU is deservedly ranked 2nd in the field of Research among all private Universities in Oman by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) based on ResearchGate score.
In future, DU aims to be a research hub for research activities in the Dhofar region producing impactful research with special focus on the national priorities for research and development. To achieve this, DU has an independent Department of Research (DR) fully dedicated to create a favorable research environment within DU by encouraging, motivating, facilitating and rewarding research activities across and beyond the University.
Quality Assurance
DU has an independent Department of Quality Assurance (QAD), which is responsible for maintaining and enhancing the quality of teaching, research, and support services to its students, staff, and the DU community at large by suggesting new needed policies and reviewing existing DU policies relating to academic, academic support and non-academic services. The QAD develops appropriate qualitative and quantitative measures of teaching and service performance taking into account local, regional and international recommended practices, including standards set by OAAA and other international accreditation bodies.
University of Preferred Choice
Embracing above mentioned favourable curricular and extra-curricular aspects, students find campus life at DU stimulating, vibrant, and full of opportunities for self-development, healthy interaction and ethical grooming, which makes DU a preferred choice of study for them.
Introduction
Dhofar University (DU) is located in the city of Salalah in the Dhofar Governorate of Sultanate of Oman, which is well-known for its geographical beauty, blessed with lush green mountains, pristine beaches, and moderate weather throughout the year. It is the only University in the Dhofar Region of Sultanate of Oman offering Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programs.
DU is also the first University in Oman to be accredited nationally by Oman Academic Accreditation Authority (OAAA) and internationally by Accreditation Services for International Schools Colleges and Universities (ASIC) from UK. ASIC is an independent government approved accreditation body in UK.
Campus
The University moved to its new campus in November 2010, which is spread over an area of 450,000 square meters and encompasses a blend of both modern and traditional Omani architecture. The campus is nicely landscaped and there is plenty of open space, with adequate provision for parking and waiting areas for female students. All the buildings on campus are constructed in compliance with Omani Health and Safety Laws.
The campus includes an administration building, separate buildings for colleges, a common classroom building, a library building, engineering workshop, a student activities center, a Mosque, female student hostel consisting of four blocks and housing for the senior administrative personnel.
Common classroom building, consisting of four wings, is centrally located providing easy access from all Colleges. In addition, DU has a well-equipped big multipurpose hall with a seating capacity of more than 1000 which is used for extracurricular, social, recreational and religious activities.
High speed WIFI facility is available 24/7 in all the buildings and the campus.
The campus can accommodate up to 10,000 students.
For ensuring compliance with Omani Health and Safety Laws, DU conducts regular inspections of its facilities, equipment and work areas. In addition, regular safety checks are also carried out by external regulatory agencies such as: Dhofar Municipality, Public Authority of Civil Defense and Royal Oman Police.
Students with Special Needs
DU has taken the utmost care in designing its physical facilities to ensure that students with special needs face no problems in moving from one place to another. All buildings have ramps and specifically designed and designated toilets apart from separate parking spaces; and all classrooms and labs are wheel-chair compliant for easy movement of such students.
Facilities for Religious Activities
There is a centrally located Mosque to serve the religious needs of staff and students. Apart from that, there are prayer rooms for students in all College buildings. The Department of Student Affairs (DSA) arranges religious lectures by eminent guest speakers and also provides opportunities for students’ religious observance consistent with Islamic beliefs and traditions.
Cafeterias and Coffee Shops
DU has two exclusive cafeterias for male and female students in the main classroom building. There is also a coffee shop located in the courtyard of each College to serve snacks, sandwiches and beverages. In addition, there is a large restaurant in the ladies’ hostel with kitchen facility to cater to the requirements of meals and snacks. The hostel also has a mini supermarket to satisfy students’ daily needs.
DU Clinic
DU has an on-campus clinic that serves the basic health needs of its students and staff, where a nurse is available for clinical consultation and service during day time. The clinic provides basic medical assistance for minor physical injury and sickness. Urgent and emergency cases are transferred to the nearby Medical Complex or to the City Hospitals. This medical assistance is also made available to female students in the DU hostel on a 24/7 basis.
Security and Safety
There is adequate provision for security services within the campus. The security guards are on duty 24/7 and are responsible for patrolling the University campus. DU has provided them with a patrol vehicle.
The entire DU campus is covered by surveillance cameras which are installed in all the buildings as well as on the open grounds. The surveillance cameras are regularly monitored by the security department through its control room.
The University also ensures safety of its students, staff and visitors on the campus. For that purpose, it conducts mock drills for fire safety on a regular basis. It has provided assembly points at a number of places on the campus in case of emergencies.
Other Support Services
The University provides a number of support services to its students and staff through its various centers. These centers include: Centre for Entrepreneurship, Computer & Networking Centre (CNC), Community Service & Continuing Education Centre (CSCEC), Centre for Teaching & Learning (CTL) and Learning Support Centre (LSC).
Hostel for Female Students
DU provides free furnished accommodation for its female students on-campus and local transportation facilities for them. The hostel has four buildings which can accommodate up to 1000 students. There are 12 supervisors to oversee the hostel, working in three shifts, under the leadership of Director of Hostel Services. There is adequate security arrangement on a 24X7 basis provided by 12 security guards who work in three shifts. Other facilities available inside the hostel include: restaurant, supermarket, study hall, gymnasium and recreation rooms.
Learning Support Center
DU has a LSC, for providing personalised assistance in a supportive atmosphere to the students who are academically weak and also the students with special learning needs. This is accomplished through peer-assisted learning scheme using the services of outstanding senior-level students. The LSC provides its services free of charge to all DU underperforming students and there is a provision of monetary incentive for peer tutors.
Community Service and Continuing Education Center
The CSCEC at DU links the University resources and expertise in catering to the needs of the community. It partners with public and private sector organisations to launch various initiatives for the local community.
The CSCEC also offers training programs to meet professional and personal needs of community at large. It provides on-campus and off-campus offerings that include certificate programs, workshops, seminars, conferences, and customised training programs both in English or Arabic.