The Sultanate of Oman believes that the agriculture sector is the future of the nation and its renaissance. The Sultanate, represented by all the concerned authorities, has been keen to develop agricultural science to meet the requirements of sustainable development and to meet the challenges of the third millennium, which seeks to educating Omani people capable of contributing effectively to the renaissance and development of the country. The Royal Decree No. 43/96 sets the framework for practicing veterinary medicine in the Sultanate of Oman and the establishment of private veterinary clinics. Also, the recent assessment of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries on the required number of Omani veterinarians within 20 years shows that Oman is in need of over 1200 veterinarians to work at several clinical centers and farms. The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Decision No. 12/84 describes the rules and specifications required to establish private veterinary clinics and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Decision No. 41/97 further describes the conditions of the veterinary profession and its assistant veterinary work. Hence the goal of the veterinary medicine program is to graduate Omani veterinarians in agreement with several trends influencing the direction of veterinary practice and research in the Sultanate of Oman.

Criteria to study Veterinary Medicine

The conditions for admission to the program, the student must have of the following:

• General Education Diploma or high school diploma. All of them are general certificates in the same specialization, and do not need to be equivalent to the Ministry of Education.
• Certificate issued from outside the Sultanate (need to be equivalent to the Ministry of Education in the Sultanate).
• Certificate issued from within the Sultanate and under the supervision of others other than the Ministry of Education (need to be equivalent from the Ministry of Education).
• High school percentage of 70% or above. Also, Obtaining 75% or above in the following subjects: English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

The student must pass part of the foundation program (mathematics, computer, and learning skills) as a general requirement for all students before starting the program.

Degree Designation on student’s transcript:
Following graduation students will receive Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM).

Study Mode: Full-time

Proposed time to start the program: 1/9/2019

Expected date of first graduation: 1/9/ 2023

The duration of study in the program is determined by two basic factors:

First: The Omani Qualifications Framework recommendations are calculated in five consecutive years.

Second: The instructions for granting a bachelor's degree indicate:

• The shortest period for obtaining a bachelor's degree is nine semesters.
• The maximum period for obtaining a bachelor's degree is seven years without counting the foundation year.

Language of instruction: English
Program length: 158 CR hours 
Degree Length: 5 years

Accreditation, Affiliation with other universities or supervision of MOHE

• The program has been validated and the date of validation event:  3/ 1/2018
• The Validation panel’s decision: Approved.
• The program approved by external reviewers
• Finally, the program has been approved by Ministry of Higher Education

Teaching and Assessment

• Proposed Tuition Fees for Veterinary Medicine Program will be calculated according to the tuition fees applicable and calculated at the credit hours at (80) Omani Riyals per hour.
• Number of students expected to be admitted to the program in the first year (30) students per class. The student number may be raised according to the need of Oman and other Gulf states for veterinarians.
• Revenues of projects and specialized programs expected from the veterinarians graduated from the program, as experts, creators, producers and implementers of programs that generate income for the university, depending on the need of the community and the number of veterinarians proposed.
• Training Courses: Three clinical training courses (18 CR) are proposed in the study plan as rotation to give the students enough clinical experience before graduation.
• Clinical Courses: These courses are compulsory for the students to graduate and the student will not be given the degree without studying these courses.
• Duration of study of each clinical course will be for a full semester after the student has finished studying all courses for the first and second year.
• Assessment methods: The program evaluation mechanism is based on four strategies:
  • The content of the course submitted at the end of each semester and the instructor's assessment portfolio.
  • Evaluation of instructor and decision by students, which is at the end of each semester and each academic year.
  • Report of the Committee of plans and curriculum which is the end of each semester.
  • Report of an external committee submitted at the end of each academic year.

Degree: Bachelor in Veterinary Medicine

Duration of Certificate:

• Five academic years divided into (10) semesters. The details of the study period, the study load, and the study plan are presented in Table (10).
• The College Regulation states that the duration of the study and the academic load are as follows:
• The academic year consists of two semesters: Fall and Spring Semesters.
• The College may introduce courses in the summer semester. A‘Sharqiyah University do not regard summer semester for the purposes of warning or postponement of the study.
• The duration of the study to obtain a bachelor's degree in an ordinary burden is ten semesters, or five years of study.
• The period of time spent by the student in the study is not allowed to obtain a bachelor's degree in one specialization for ten years of study (without counting the foundation year), except for the student moving to another specialization which is treated as the new student.
• A‘Sharqiyah University warning system for a GPA of less than (2) applies to all students regardless of the college and specialization. The student will be given an academic warning in the event that he/ she receives a cumulative average of less than 2, then a second warning will be given if he/ she cannot get out of the first warning. A final warning will be given and the student will be dismissed if he/ she cannot raise the cumulative average to 2 or more after the final warning.
• The duration of one semester is (17) weeks, including examinations, and the summer semester will be (8) weeks, including exams.
• The minimum number of credit hours for a registered student to obtain a bachelor's degree is (12) credit hours per semester.
• The maximum load for the student in the college is (18) credit hours per semester.
• In the summer semester the maximum amount of the student's academic burden is (9) credit hours.

Field of study:

(According to Oman Standard Classification of Education Framework OSCEF) Issued by Oman Academic Accreditation Authority: Narrow Field of Oman Standard Classification of Education Oman Accreditation Council Detailed Field No 061101 Veterinary studies. Courses in Narrow Field 0611 Veterinary Studies develop skills in:

• Administering anesthetics to animals
• Administering and prescribing medications and treatments to animals
• Applying medical and surgical procedures to animals
• Advising clients about the care of animals
• Assisting with treating and caring for animals.
• Diagnosing and treating animals as a result of evaluating and interpreting clinical observations and tests.
• Observing, monitoring and reporting changes in an animal’s condition.

Entry Criteria

Program design according to the international professional standard:

The scope of veterinary medicine is large and important to the economy of the country especially in agriculture countries. Animals have been an important part in the life of humans since the dawn of civilization. Animals have always been of value to human life, whether providing food, transportation, clothing, and for luxury way of life as pets. The importance of animals to human society resulted in a growing interest in their function and their interactions with people. Since the health of animals is similar to the health of human, it needs medical care. Veterinarians are those people responsible to take care of animal health.

Thus, this program is established to:

• Be the first veterinary program in the sultanate of Oman.
• Follow the international rules of university programs.
• Follow the Omani Academic Accreditation Authority(OSCED), which was developed with the framework of the international standards.
• The number of credit hours and the teaching load of the faculty member and the student's academic burden correspond to the Oman Qualifications Framework (OQF)&Oman Academic Accreditation Authority (OAAA)..
• The Program outputs correspond to the requirement of Omani Qualifications Framework (OQF).
• The requirements for admission to the program are in line with the requirements of the Oman Qualifications Framework (OQF).

Accreditation, Affiliation with other universities or supervision of MoHE

Circular evaluation of the program/minor:

First: Internal Evaluation:

1. Assessment of instructor at the end of each semester.
2. Evaluation of the instructor responsible for the material after the end of each semester
3. The Department Chairperson of the program will discuss and analyses these evaluations with the program's instructors and then prepare a report entitled "Program Review and Development Report", which is presented at the end of each academic year.
4. The Dean takes this report into account in the preparation of the Dean's Report, which is discussed and approved at the level of the College's Board of Directors and ultimately at the level of the University Academic Board

Second: External Evaluation: It will be done through the use of experts and specialists to develop the program periodically.

Third: Evaluation of the Ministry of Higher Education and Accreditation Authority in the Sultanate: through the reports of the accreditation body in the Sultanate - Follow-up of the Ministry of Higher Education to these reports.

Professional Benchmarking:

The following Veterinary Medicine Program is regarded as the first program in Oman universities. A list of other similar programs in well-known accredited universities has been benchmarked. These universities include:

1. College of Veterinary Medicine/ Kansas State University, USA.
2. College of Veterinary Medicine/ Oklahoma University, USA.
3. College of Veterinary Medicine/ University of Queensland, Australia.
4. College of Veterinary Medicine/ Jordan University of Science & Technology, Jordan.
5. King Faisal University/ Saudi Arabia. 

Graduate Attributes

• Knowledge of a discipline
• Commitment to national development and Omani ethical values
• Innovative spirit
• Global insight
• Adaptability to changing environments.

CAREERS
Brief survey of the market need of the program:

A. Need for labor market:

According to the report of Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries (Appendex-3), the assessment of the required number of Omani veterinarians within 20 years is estimated of 1217 veterinarians in whom the ministry needs 680 veterinarians at present time. Presently, only 15 Omani veterinarians are working in the ministry while others are coming from different nationalities, mainly from Sudan, Egypt, Iraq, India and European counties. For example, Oman needs 180 veterinarians to run governorate veterinary clinics, 70 for vaccination campaigns, 112 for quarantine, 50 for laboratory work, 59 for abattoirs, 9 for livestock markets, 9 for fish markets, 15 at Royal Court clinics, 4 at Oman Equestrian Federation, 4 at Oman Camel Federation, 20 at pharmaceutical companies, 44 at private veterinary clinics, 20 for livestock projects, 20 at private farms and 47 for administration duties. These figures clearly show that Oman is in need of Omani veterinarians graduated from an Omani University.

A’Sharqiyah University’s vision and mission support the goals outlined in the Sultanate’s Vision 2020 to diversify the economy by reducing dependence on oil, grow “In Country Value” (ICV) and maximize the potential of Oman’s geographic location to reach both established and emerging markets. In line with Oman’s Vision 2020, our education strategy remains focused on long term sustainable development of the Omani economy. Veterinary Medicine has a strong potential for generating new employment opportunities for the young generation. To the best of our knowledge, there is not a single university in Oman which is offering this highly job oriented program. The graduates from this program can get any job related to animal health and human public health in controlling zoonotic diseases. For this reason and because of the need for Omani veterinarians, The Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries requests from the Ministry of Higher Education to establish a veterinary program in any university of Oman. MOHE gave the green light to A‘Sharqiyah University to submit a program proposal.

B.Areas of Work: Graduates can work in the following locations:

• Veterinary hospitals & clinics at the Ministry of Agriculture& Fisheries
• Royal Court Veterinary Hospital and clinics.
• Meat inspection at slaughterhouses, Ministry of Municipality and Water Resources
• Governmental and private dairy farms and poultry farms
• Private veterinary drug companies and manufactures.
• Private Veterinary Pharmacy and sale medical veterinary products.
• Private Veterinary Clinics & diagnostic laboratory of animal diseases.
• Research institutions such as TRC.
• Working as veterinarians in other Arab Gulf States.
• Continue their higher education to work as academic faculty members at different universities & institutions.

• ·       General Education Diploma not less than 70%.
• ·       Attainment of Grade not less than (70%) in: English and Biology
• ·       Attainment of Grade not less than 65% in Chemistry or Physics.
•    The student must pass the general foundation program (English, math, IT, and study skills)

According to the report of Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, the assessment of the required number of Omani veterinarians within 20 years is estimated of 1217 veterinarians in whom the ministry needs 680 veterinarians at present time. Presently, only 15 Omani veterinarians are working in the ministry while others are coming from different nationalities, mainly from Sudan, Egypt, Iraq, India and European counties. For example, Oman needs 180 veterinarians to run governorate veterinary clinics, 70 for vaccination campaigns, 112 for quarantine, 50 for laboratory work, 59 for abattoirs, 9 for livestock markets, 9 for fish markets, 15 at Royal Court clinics, 4 at Oman Equestrian Federation, 4 at Oman Camel Federation, 20 at pharmaceutical companies, 44 at private veterinary clinics, 20 for livestock projects, 20 at private farms and 47 for administration duties. These figures clearly show that Oman is in need of Omani veterinarians graduated from an Omani University.