More Omani students may be expected

KUCHING – An increase in the number of Omani students at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus could be a possibility in the near future.

This was disclosed by His Excellency Dr Abdullah Mohammed Al-Sarmi, Undersecretary of the Omani Ministry of Higher Education, when he visited the Australian university branch campus recently.

“Our students are happy here and our visit today is to say thank you. We hope to have more students studying here,” he said during a meeting with Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Professor Anthony Cahalan and his team of senior academic and student affairs staff.

There are currently about 30 Omani students pursuing English language courses as well as foundation and degree programs at the university.

Abdullah said that Sarawak is becoming better known among students in Oman as there have been cases where students requested to be sent to the state, adding that besides Kuching being an attractive city, there are many other factors that suit international students. 

Abdullah said the Omani government sponsors more than 1,600 students each year and sends them to Europe, the UK and the US, to further their studies.

Among the issues discussed was the academic performance of Omani students at Swinburne Sarawak.

Abdullah and his delegation, which included Cultural Attache Dr Khamis Saleh Al-Bulushi from the Embassy of Oman in Kuala Lumpur, were informed that the students are adapting well both on and off campus. They later met with some of the students.

Abdullah also called onTan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Morshidi Bin Abdul Ghani, State Secretary of Sarawak, at his office in Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Petra Jaya.

Morshidi, who is also the chairman of the board of directors at Swinburne Sarawak, assured Abdullah that the university will look after the interests and welfare of Omani students.