Wellington: The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, represented by its Cultural Attaché in Australia, has signed two cooperation agreements with New Zealand's University of Otago and University of Auckland to support Omani students wishing to pursue studies in healthcare specialisations.
The first agreement with the University of Otago aims to enhance academic cooperation through the exchange of expertise and facilitate admission procedures for Omani students in health and medical programs. The agreement stipulates the allocation of 20 seats annually for scholarship students, provided they meet the academic admission requirements, contributing to raising the efficiency of academic qualification according to the highest international standards.
The second agreement with the University of Auckland focuses on supporting Omani students in the Bachelor of Human Medicine programme. Under this agreement, the Ministry will annually provide the university with a list of nominated students, while the university will allocate 5 study seats each year for qualified students who meet admission criteria.
Dr. Hamad Khalfan Al Nu’amani, Cultural Attaché at the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Australia, stated that New Zealand universities rank among the world's best in medical and health education, offering diverse academic programs and continuously updating curricula to align with the healthcare sector's evolving requirements and challenges. He noted that the outstanding performance of Omani graduates from New Zealand universities across various health specializations reflects the quality of education and the completeness of the academic experience.
These signings come as part of the Ministry's series of initiatives to strengthen international partnerships and provide quality educational opportunities for Omani students, in line with national development aspirations and enhancing human resource readiness in vital sectors.