Oman education: SQU alumni to help graduates get employment

Muscat: In accordance with the practices of international universities, the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) will soon form its first graduates club, offering job opportunities, free courses and training sessions for its previous students, according to an official at Oman’s oldest university.
“The non-profit alumni aims at offering a friendly community to graduates to share their experiences and benefit from exclusive privileges,” he added.
SQU graduates looking for a job matching their academic qualifications, are welcomed to join “Alumni Career Contact Program”, which aims at nominating alumni to vacancies from both public and private sectors, according to the university’s website.
“Moreover, job trainings will be provided for new graduates to help them recognize the reality of the work environment,” the official added.
Planned to start activities in May, the alumni headquarter is planned to be located inside the university’s campus, SQU media department said.
By paying a small amount of money, tens of thousands of SQU graduates can be a members of the alumni for a year.
“Those who want to renew their membership should pay annual fees” the SQU official said. However, the management didn’t yet decide the membership fees.
The Sultan Qaboos University source told the Times of Oman that the alumni plans to declare a ‘Graduates Annual Day’ to celebrate the achievements of Sultan Qaboos University students since 1986.
The upcoming club also offers free online services including, providing transcripts, giving access to courses description and finding classmates. Further services will be included soon.
On its website, the SQU posted a statement on its new alumni section that reads “We have launched Alumni Web Page as a result of the university administrations concern with finding an effective communication channel between university and its alumni, promote a spirit of belonging and to create a remarkable and efficient development of their abilities and skills to meet the requirements of the labor market.”