OAF Programme restored at SUZA
The Oman Academic Fellowship Programme (OAFP) for the academic year 2020/2021 has been re-established on Wednesday 26th February, 2020 at Tunguu Campus of the State Unversity of Zanzibar.
The restoration event was launched by Dr. Zakia Mohamed Abubakar, the SUZA Vice Chancellor in presence of His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Hamoud Al Habsy, the Sultanate of Oman Honorary Consul General in Zanzibar an d the officials from the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Higher Education, Mr. Hamad Al Balushi, Advisor to the Minister of Scholarships & Academic Qualifications and Mr Hilal Al Azki, Director of Postgraduate Studies.
Dr. Zakia Mohammed Abubakar (seated), the SUZA Vice Chancellor inaugurates the restoration of OAFP by pressing a button
The Oman Academic Fellowship Programme is now restored after the recession period of about four years, which was brought about by the situation that was beyond control. Seven years has elapsed since the inception of OAFP in early February, 2013. Reimposition has now been made possible following the discussion between the Zanzibar Ministry of Education and Vocational Training and the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Higher Education for the mutual interests of these two countries which have maintained brotherly relationship existed since long time.
For many years the Sultanate of Oman has been extending a special support to the Zanzibar government in capacity building especially for needed human resources in different areas of development. It was reported that before its recession, the first phase of the OAFP was intended to support the training of 24 individuals from SUZA and other government institutions; however, due to concrete situation that prevailed during the implementation period, a total of 18 individuals from SUZA and other institutions were supported within the country and abroad.
Dr. Zakia Abubakar, sincerely valued the contribution of the Sultanate of Oman through the Oman Academic Fellowship Programme to the State University of Zanzibar and Zanzibar at large informing that almost all those who benefited from this programme managed to complete their trainings successfully and some of them have been employed by her institution (SUZA), thus increased a number of qualified academic staff needed.
Following the re-establishment of the programme in which its window is now open the second phase intends to support training for 20 individuals per year, of which 8 are for Bachelors, 8 for Masters and the rest (4) will be for PhDs.
Lastly, Mr Hilal Al Azki, Director of Postgraduate Studies in the Ministry of Higher Education of the Sultanate of Oman gave comprehensive information on how the programme will work out, then the Higher Education Admission Centre (HEAC) electronic page for registration was officially opened and the link to enter was mentioned to be https://apps.heac.gov.om/StudentTza/faces/TZALogin.jspx.