Background Dhofar University (DU) is a private, not-for-profit institution of higher education in Salalah, Sultanate of Oman, established by Ministerial Decree No. 5/2004, issued in January 2004.  It has a Board of Trustees that represents its highest policy making body.  DU formally commenced its operations in September 2004 on the premises of the National College for Science and Technology, which was then officially incorporated into DU. Students enrolled at that college, were following the curriculum of Yarmouk University in Jordan. These students were allowed to continue their studies under the umbrella of Dhofar University; their program of study became known as the Yarmouk University Program (YUP) in order to distinguish it from the new curriculum known as Dhofar University Program (DUP). The YUP was phased out in 2007.

Since its inception, DU has received academic and administrative support from AUB which will oversee its academic programs until the year 2010 to ensure quality standards and help DU build its own administrative human resources.

The role of AUB covers three functions:

(a)    management of DU through secondment of senior staff,

(b)   design of academic programs and systems and procedures, and

(c)    monitoring quality assurance.

DU is a young university where campus life is brimming with social and cultural events that reflect the rich heritage of Oman and that of Dhofar (art exhibits, performances, poetry readings, environmental awareness presentations, etc).  Its student enrollment has grown steadily from 1347 students (at YUP and DUP combined) in 2004, to 2151 students in 2008.

Academic Programs

DU is the first private university in the Sultanate modeled after the American system of higher education. It offers two-year diploma and four-year bachelor degrees that follow the credit hour system and uses English as the medium of instruction.  DU grants a diploma to those who complete the first two years of study for most majors with a cumulative average of 65 percent or above.  Students qualify for a Bachelor Degree at the end of the fourth academic year if they meet the graduation requirements in their major.

The university also offers a Foundation Program (FP) for students who are not sufficiently prepared to join the university programs.  Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements for the regular academic programs are required to sit for placement tests in English, mathematics, and information technology in order to determine if they need to join the FP. 

There are currently three colleges at DU: College of Arts and Applied Sciences (CAAS), College of Commerce and Business Administration (CCBA) and College of Engineering (CE). These colleges offer 25 academic programs in different fields of specialization, representing 17 diploma programs, 20 bachelor degree programs and one master degree program.

 In addition, DU has the Continuing Education Center (CEC) that offers a variety of courses and training programs for executives and employees of government agencies and commercial firms and for adult learners in the local community.