Omani students experience life downunder

Published by the Communications and Development Department

Date 20 October 2003

The first ever scholarship students from the Sultanate of Oman have begun their studies at the University of Canterbury.

Muna Al-Rawahi, Safiya Al-Jabry and Mohammed Al-Manthari are part of a group of 20 students from the Gulf state who have come to New Zealand for their tertiary education.

The Omani Government will be investing more than $1 million a year in the students who have been selected on merit and are among the top students in their country.

The three students are currently studying at the English Language Centre and will move on to the Foundation Studies programme next year before beginning their degree courses in 2005.

Muna plans to study speech and language therapy, Safiya is interested in e-commerce and Mohammed wants to study electrical engineering.

Mohammed said about 50,000 Omani students applied for the 100 scholarships worldwide. “I was very proud to have been selected and to come to Christchurch.” None of the students knew much about New Zealand prior to their selection but have settled in well in their new home.

" he people are very friendly and make us very welcome,” said Muna.

The unseasonally cold weather has been some what of a shock but for Muna and Safiya it has at least meant a chance to experience snow for the first time.

With New Zealand their home for the next five years the students hope to explore the country and learn first hand about the Kiwi way of life.

" I hope to learn the rules of rugby while I’m here,” said Safiya. "In Oman we play soccer."

The Omani enrolments are the result of a long-term marketing strategy by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), working closely with the Middle East Education Export Network, to promote New Zealand as a destination for international students. A high level visit to New Zealand last year by the Omani Minister of Higher Education, Dr Yahya bin Mahfoodh Al-Manthri and a return visit from New Zealand’s Minister of Education, Trevor Mallard in May this year, have helped build trust and understanding between the two countries.

Last week the University hosted a visit by a delegation from the Ministry of Higher Education led by the Undersecretary Dr Rawya Al Busaidi. Dr Rawya is in New Zealand for nine days to further develop areas of co-operation and to gain advice on the development of a Strategy for Higher education in Oman. At Canterbury she met the visiting Omani students, toured University Hall and visited the Human Interface Technology (HIT) Lab.

New Zealand’s Senior Trade Commissioner for the Middle East, Gavin Young, said Oman was actively diversifying the countries to which it sends scholarship students, providing exciting and ongoing possibilities for New Zealand.

"Oman is one of the less wealthy Gulf states and, like New Zealand, uses its resources carefully. These students represent the future of Oman and the areas of study represent the needs of the Oman economy, as it replaces expensive expatriate workers with well trained Omanis, under its Omanisation programme. Education of its people is one of the best investments that Oman sees it can make for its future.

" If all goes well this year with the students, the Oman government may look to increase the number of scholarship students next year," said Mr Young. There is a great opportunity for New Zealand to build long term relationships with tomorrow’s Omani leaders, in the same way that the Colombo Plan students from the 1960s, are now in key positions throughout Asia."

For more information contact:
Mr Les Brighton
International Office
University of Canterbury
Christchurch
Ph 03 364 2842
Email les.brighton@cantebury.ac.nz