University-­‐  Industry  Linkage:  Sohar  University  Experience  with  Case  Study  on  Cisco  Event  as  Experience  for  Learning  in  

Developing  Local  Talent  in  Sultanate  of  Oman  

Dr.  Wail  M.  Omar  

Dean-­‐CompuFng  and  IT  

Sohar  University  

w.omar@soharuni.edu.om      www.soharuni..edu.om    

10/18/10   Wail  M.  Omar   1  

MIT  LINC  Conference-­‐2010  

•  IntroducFon-­‐Sohar  University  •  Strategic  posiFon  •  Sohar  University  Model  

•  Challenges  Facing  Higher  EducaFon  in  Emerging  NaFons  •  NaFonal  Strategy-­‐ICT  •  Sohar  University  IniFaFves  •  Case-­‐Study:  Sohar-­‐Cisco  program  •  Conclusion  

10/18/10   Wail  M.  Omar   2  

•  First  Private  university  in  Oman  

•  Started  as  a  college  in  1998  •  Transferred  to  University  in  2001  •  Four  faculFes  •  In  strategic  posiFon    

–  Near  Sohar  Industrial  Zone    –  In  the  middle  distance  between  Dubai  and  Muscat  

–  In  highly  populated  area  

10/18/10   Wail  M.  Omar   3  

10/18/10   Wail  M.  Omar   4  

Sohar  University  Model  

10/18/10   Wail  M.  Omar   5  

•  Limited  resources  •  Limited  fund  

•  Lack  of  local  experFse  •  Limited  university-­‐local  industrial  linkage  

10/18/10   Wail  M.  Omar   6  

•  Promote  for  e-­‐government  

•  Promote  for  ICT  Market  •  Prepare  human  resources  •  SupporFng  educaFon  and  research  •  How?  

–  Forming  InformaFon  Technology  Authority  (ITA)    –  Proving  fund  through  Research  Council  of  Oman  

–  A]racFng  internaFonal  and  leader  IT  companies    

10/18/10   Wail  M.  Omar   7  

•  Research  and  Post  Graduate:  Linkage  with  internaFonal  university  for  applying  for  research  fund.    

•  Industrial  CollaboraFon  –  offering  students  training  in  campus  –  Offering  students  placement  

–  Offering  industrial  scholarship  •  Community  Engagement    

10/18/10   Wail  M.  Omar   8  

•  ObjecFves:  Developing  local  talents    •  Train  over  120  students  •  Volunteer  trainers  •  4  tracks  

– Wireless  –  IP  telephony  –  Green  iniFaFves  –  Professional  development  

10/18/10   Wail  M.  Omar   10  

10/18/10   Wail  M.  Omar   11  

•  EducaFon  – Market  driven  program  

–  InternaFonal  collaboraFon  •  Research:  industrial  driven  research  •  Community  services:  encourage  students  iniFaFves    

10/18/10   Wail  M.  Omar   12  

ANY  QUESTION?  

Thank  You