Dhofar University

Dhofar University (DU) is a private, not-for-profit institution of higher education in Salalah, Sultanate of Oman, established by Ministerial Decree No. 5/2004, issued in January 2004. It has a Board of Trustees that represents its highest policy making body.

DU formally commenced its operations in September 2004 on the premises of the National College for Science and Technology, which was then officially incorporated into DU. Students enrolled at that college, were following the curriculum of Yarmouk University in Jordan. These students were allowed to continue their studies under the umbrella of Dhofar University; their program of study became known as the Yarmouk University Program (YUP) in order to distinguish it from the new curriculum known as Dhofar University Program (DUP). The YUP was phased out in 2007.

Since its inception, DU has received academic and administrative support from AUB which will oversee its academic programs until the year 2010 to ensure quality standards and help DU build its own administrative human resources.

The role of AUB covers three functions:

(a) management of DU through secondment of senior staff,
(b) design of academic programs and systems and procedures, and
(c) monitoring quality assurance.

DU is a young university where campus life is brimming with social and cultural events that reflect the rich heritage of Oman and that of Dhofar (art exhibits, performances, poetry readings, environmental awareness presentations, etc). Its student enrollment has grown steadily from 1347 students (at YUP and DUP combined) in 2004, to 4222 students in 2013.