Virginia Tech – Oman Program
Virginia Tech partnership with OTE Group to establish science and technology-based university in Oman
Year: 2008 - [Open-ended]
Private Sponsorship: OTE Group
Location: Muscat, Oman
Virginia Tech is partnering with the OTE Group of Companies—a consortium of companies selling commercial vehicles, special equipment, electronics, and home appliances—to establish a university in Oman with a science and technology-based curriculum for undergraduate and graduate studies.
A formal partnership with the OTE Group began in October 2007, when six Virginia Tech faculty visited Oman. The six Tech representatives were: John Dooley, vice president for Outreach and International Affairs; Lance Matheson, associate professor of Business Information Technology and director of International Programs at the Pamplin School of Business; Anne Moore, associate vice president of Learning Technologies; Vinod Lohani, associate professor of engineering; Jerry Via, assistant dean of Biological Sciences; and Patrick Guilbaud, program director of IT for OIRED and contact person for this venture.
Two-year partnership
Under the partnership arrangement, which is expected to last at least two years, Virginia Tech will designate faculty and staff to assist with establishing educational programs as well as cooperative relationships with other educational institutions. They will also help secure the necessary government and accreditation approvals.
The new university will offer three major areas of study: engineering, business, and science. Within each of these disciplines, students will be able to specialize.
Endeavor opens up educational opportunities
“This new endeavor will provide Omani youth with wider educational opportunities to generate the scientists and engineers Oman needs,” says S.K. De Datta, associate provost for international affairs and director of OIRED. “Through this partnership, Virginia Tech can expand its global reach and forge an educational partnership that will mutually benefit both universities and their host countries.”
While Dooley is providing overall leadership for this program, De Datta is serving as its administrative PI.
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Vinod Lohani and Patrick Guilbaud meet with a member of the engineering faculty at Sultan Qaboos University. |
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Anne Moore receives a present from Professor Amer Ali Al-Rawas, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Post Graduate Studies and Research at Sultan Qaboos University. |
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John Dooley and Lance Matheson speak with Mr. Zaher Sulaiman Al-Zakwani, Director of the Office of International Relations at Sultan Qaboos University, and Mr. Abdullah Mohamed Al-Hakmani of the OTE group. |
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The group that went to Oman in the fall of 2007, left to right: Jerry Via, Patrick Guilbaud, John Dooley, Anne Moore, Vinod Lohani, and Lance Matheson. |
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Members of the Virginia Tech team meet with His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Sarmi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education of the Sultanate of Oman and representatives of the OTE Group. |