International Students’ Sponsorships at University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS), Rustaq, Oman: A Case Study

The flow of knowledge resources among nations is interconnected with global political, economic and cultural relationships. One major component of academic interaction is the international exchange at the level of higher education. This paper outlines the existence of international students within the Omani Program for Cultural and Scientific Cooperation (OPCSC) at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences-AL-rustaq, College of Education and explores the merits of the program. Through group interview with nine international students, the study found that the currently enrolled students are from African states solely and were informed about OPCSC by word of mouth disseminated by the International Istiqama Organization, which liaisons between studying opportunities offered by the Ministry of Higher Education and willing international students, and through Omani delegates as well as friends. Therefore, this paper recommends branding the OPCSC and subjecting it to systematic policies and procedures, on the one hand, as well as diversification of international students’ portfolio in order to raise the quality of higher education in Oman.