The most important impact is in the increase in transparency of the admission process, The system has given students the confident that they are fairly placed in the program that best suits them and also based on merits, this was clearly shown in the drastic dropped in the number of appeal case immediately after the system was implemented, the number of appeal dropped from 3000 in 2006/2007 (before implementation of HEAC) to 214 in 2007/2008 to 48 in 2008/2009 and 12 in 2009/2010.
Next is the reduction in the number of dropped out from HEIs. This is because in the previous system, HEIs depended on the total average of examination marks.
Subject Examination mark
Student A Student B
Physics 75 91
Chemistry 80 85
Biology 80 85
History 96 75
Arabic 80 80
English 70 80
Fine Arts 98 70
Islamic Study 95 80
Total 744 736
Average of examination marks 82.7 81.8
HEAC’s weighted (calculated) average=
((Average of all examination marks)*40%) +
((Average of program requirements examination marks)*60%) 77.8 85.9
If 2 students, A and B studied the same subjects and they are eligible to apply to an engineering program which requires good command of math, physics and chemistry. Suppose that the cutoff mark of this program in HEI was 82.0. Student A is accepted in this program but student B is not because the HEI considers their average examination marks only, although student A’s marks in Math, Physics, Chemistry and English may be less than student B. This case had lead to the following:
Lecturers’ difficulty to cope with both types of students present in the same classroom.
Substantial number of failures and drop outs of students weak in math, physics and chemistry .
students repeating certain courses and thus wasting resources.
Student’s weighted average (student’s score):
With the new system, student’s acceptance is based on student’s weighted average (score). If we take an example, the weighted average of student A is 77.8 while that of student B is 85.9. Suppose that the cutoff of this program in HEI was 83.0, in this case the system gives offer for student B but not for student A. This case will lead to the following:
Students will be of almost the same level of abilities and this will improve the teaching-learning process.
Small number of failures and drop outs.
Less wastage of resources
Moreover, the 10th grade students are now aware of what type of subjects can they select to study in order to join suitable programs in HEI. Furthermore the system cares for students under welfare scheme and low-income students. They are given scholarships from government to study in private HEIs inside Oman and thus helping such students to get higher education and at the same time helps HEIs financially, and this acts towards good quality of education.
In addition the system gives training in how to use some of the electronic facilities like how to register through the HEAC electronic system and submit electronic application to study in HEIs, also how to use website and other IT facilities. Furthermore, the system trains the trainers from MOE schools on how to use IT to access the Website, how to get the e-application and fill it electronically, how to set the login and password and how to download the electronic student guide book, how to fill their preferences of programs electronically. Then these trainers train the 12 grades students in these IT activities and hence this experience will be transferred and utilized in the students University learning activities.
The most important lesson learned is to think through the process and get all stakeholders like the HEIs, admission and relevant organization that were involved to participate in the design process. Most importantly, it is the input from the user and consideration from their prospective.
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