Adopting student-first strategies to create tomorrow’s leaders
To shape well-rounded graduates with global employability skills, universities must adapt the curriculum in line with evolving trajectories of industry and technology
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With a comprehensive framework for producing successful graduates and curricula informed by industry needs, Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS) in Oman makes a compelling case study on how prioritising student development can enhance a university’s global reputation and success. Founded in 1996, MCBS places students at the heart of its strategy and has a mission of creating regional and international impact.
Mahmoud Abouraia, director of PhD programmes at MCBS, says that the university is a unique place to work and study, with an ethos that helps develop an international outlook among its students. “Since the start, it has been our vision to provide internationally accredited education,” he says.
As a private institution, MCBS has established academic partnerships with international universities such as the University of Missouri-St. Louis in the US to develop programmes in economics, business administration and computer science.
MCBS is looking to forge further collaborations to drive academic excellence. In 2012, it launched its inaugural MBA programme in partnership with Franklin University in the US. This collaboration enables students to pursue dual degrees and transfer credits and facilitates faculty exchange between the institutions. It also maintains affiliate schemes with the University of Jordan and Management and Science University in Malaysia.
The curriculum at MCBS encourages students to develop global perspectives and address societal challenges. Its academic programmes are tailored to the goals outlined in Oman’s Vision 2040 initiative and the evolving needs of industry. The university established the Academy for Professional Development to help students develop skills in AI, digital technology, data analysis and leadership.
Offering courses in Arabic and English, MCBS takes a multipronged approach to curriculum development. “We continuously update our programmes, focusing on what industry and jobs demand from students,” says Abouraia. “The second aspect is international standards. We adopt the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Management Education. We do our best to provide students with the highest quality education.”
MCBS has a nine-point framework for creating innovative and entrepreneurial graduates who can adapt, embrace lifelong learning, think critically and ethically, and communicate effectively. The university strives to ensure that students are technically capable of applying their learning in the real world and become global citizens who value teamwork.
These efforts are paying off, Abouraia says. MCBS graduates are taking on leadership roles across Oman. “Over 90 per cent of my former PhD students are now executives,” he says. Around 60 per cent of master’s degree graduates are now executives in the public and private sectors.
Looking ahead, MCBS hopes to leverage the strength of its alumni network to forge stronger alliances with industry. It will continue adapting its curricula to serve the needs of the 21st-century workplace and attract more students looking for a world-class education.
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