A pool of staff members from Higher College of Technology (HCT) headed by Dr. Huda Salim Al Shuaily, Head of IT Department, visited the Salalah College of Technology (SCT) on December 12, 2019. The purpose of the visit mainly is to monitor all the B. Tech level specializations offered in the IT Department and to make an analysis of the proposals to offer new specializations namely: Information Security (ISec) Specialization in B. Tech level and Software Engineering (SE) Specialization in Advance Diploma level.

The IT Department warmly welcomed the HCT team in the IT building led by Dr. Fatima Al-Shanfari, Head of IT Department with the presence of the respective Head of Sections (HOSs)and Specializations, Mr. G. Baskar, HOS-Database, Mr. Jonathan Peter Glycer Tambaoan, HOS-NIES, Dr. Abhishek Dubey, HOS-Information Systems, and Mr. Zahid Mehmood, HOS-Information Technology. After the formal introduction, the team went to some of the final examination rooms to get feedback from the students.

Afterwards, all proceeded to the BSIT building. A brief deliberation transpired at the staff common room regarding the B. Tech level specializations and the existing resources of the department. Then, the core of the visit immediately followed. The team divided themselves into four groups with the corresponding HOS assigned to assist for the actual and comprehensive inspection for each specialization. The group composition is as follows:

Group 1:

• Mr. Jonathan Peter Glycer Tambaoan
• Dr. Asma Al Marhubi – Networking, team member
• Mr. Kunal Gupta - Information Security, team member

Group 2: Mr. G. Baskar

• Dr. Huda Al Shuaily - Database, team member
• Mr. Mohammed Al Ajmi - Database, team member

Group 3: Dr. Abhishek Dubey

• Dr. Muna Al Rahbi - Information Systems, team member

Group 4: Mr. Zahid Mehmood

• Dr. Eman Said Al Abri - Software Engineering, team member and focal point

During the inspection, the team member for each group thoroughly reviewed the course delivery and assessment plans of all B. Tech level courses through explicit dialogue with the respective HOS. Moreover, the course coordinator for each course was interviewed to provide further relevant details on the courses.

Overall, the visit resulted in productive information sharing between HCT and SCT to have a common course delivery and assessment in all specializations of the IT Department. Moreover, it was a great venue to improve and update the current practices on both sides to better achieve the course outcomes.

The IT Department is hopeful that a visit report will be sent by the team with the strong optimism on the approval to offer both Information Security (ISec) Specialization in B. Tech level and Software Engineering (SE) Specialization in Advance Diploma level since the department has met the minimum requirements on student strengths and resources availability in particular.

The IT Department expresses its gratitude to the HCT team for the fruitful experience and constructive feedback. Moreover, the department would like to acknowledge the college management for their constant support and arrangement for the team’s visit, and the ETC for the technical support. Above all, heartfelt thanks to all the HOSs and section staff members for their hard work, unwavering support and cooperation.