GCU celebrates successful credit rating of Oman Military Nursing programme

Glasgow Caledonian University and the Oman Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) are celebrating the successful credit rating of the Oman Military Nursing Diploma programme.

This is the first Military Nursing programme to be added to the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) database and marks an exciting point in the academic development of a range of military health professions taught at the Medical City for Military and Security Services in Oman.

Project leader Captain Hilal al Shidhani, who is now a PhD student at Glasgow Caledonian, was instrumental in getting the project off the ground and worked very closely with Tom McAlear, Senior Lecturer and International Lead for Nursing.

Captain Hilal al Shidhani said: "This is a significant achievement as it marks the first nursing programme in the Sultanate of Oman to be included in the Scottish Accreditation and Qualifications Framework.

“We are proud to have collaborated with Glasgow Caledonian University. The Scottish experience was chosen because it is in line with the direction of the Oman Authority for Academic Accreditation and Quality Assurance of Education, which is represented by the General Directorate for the National Qualifications Framework.

“This experience opens up opportunities for greater cooperation in improving our programmes and the academic practices at the Armed Forces Medical Services School."

Dr Saqr Al Busaidi, Assistant Head of the Medical City for Military and Security Services, said this commitment to excellence will open up new qualification paths for their graduates, enhancing their career prospects.

Dr Saqr Al Busaidi added: “This collaboration came as part of the firm belief of the Medical City for Military and Security Services leadership in qualifying its staff to the highest levels of quality in health education to be able to play its pivotal role in providing healthcare.”

School of Health and Life Sciences' Associate Dean International Dr Karen Thomson, Assistant Head for International and Senior Lecturer Dr Gordon Hill, and Head of the Department of Nursing and Community Health Dr Val Ness have also been involved in getting the collaboration off the ground.