Nizwa College of Technology, Institutional Quality Audit, May 2011
 
Dr. Omar Houache
 
Dr. Omar Houache received a BSc. from Salford University, UK and MSc. from Leeds University, UK and PhD from Constantine University, Algeria in Chemical Engineering in 1983, 1984 and 1998 respectively. He has worked as a Process Engineer at a Central Utilities as well as a Start-up Engineer and an Ammonia Plant Manager at ASMIDAL Fertilizer Plant Algeria. He also worked as a Senior Training Advisor to Oman Polypropylene.  His main area of work has been in education, in departments of Chemical Engineering and Process Operations & Industrial Maintenance at International Maritime College Oman, Sultan Qaboos University, and Guelma University in Algeria. His research activities are mainly in production of new adsorbents and separation equipment design. He has been active in ABET accreditation and industrial advisory committees. He has also been active in developing curricula, training and teaching materials and educational assessment tools.  He was behind the set up of the Chemical & Process Engineering program at SQU and the creation of many process operations and industrial training programs such as the ones for OPP and Aromatics.  Currently he works as Head of Process Operations and Industrial Maintenance Department at International Maritime College (IMCO), Oman. 
 
Dr. Patsy Paxton
 
Dr Patsy Paxton, a Higher Education Consultant based in New Zealand, has a PhD in Education, and her academic quality expertise includes over 20 years’ experience with academic quality issues in the New Zealand and South African tertiary education sectors. She is the former Director of the South Pacific College of Natural Medicine in Auckland, New Zealand (2011-2019).  From 2007 – 2011 she served as the Senior Researcher on the South African Norway Tertiary Education Development (SANTED) project, based at the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) in South Africa. Here she was responsible for facilitating the development of coherent approaches to curriculum consolidation as well as appropriate articulation pathways between various programmes. Amongst her many responsibilities as the Academic Director at the Auckland University of Technology (1999-2007), she managed the planning and preparation for the University’s NZUAAU comprehensive academic audit in 2001 and 2006. From 1995 – 1999 Patsy was the Academic Manager at the Waikato Institute of Technology. Before emigrating to New Zealand in 1995, she was a full professor in the Vista University (South Africa) Faculty of Education (1986-1995). Her early years (1974-1986) were spent as a senior teacher of the Economic Sciences (Economics, Business Studies, Commerce). She is committed to academic quality audit and quality assurance principles in higher education and has had extensive experience in conducting academic quality reviews and audits. From her own practical experience, Patsy has a deep understanding of the challenges that often arise when quality management theory and policies are applied to institutions’ daily operations.
 
Dr. Terry Fulljames
 
Dr. Terry Fulljames currently serves as an independent consultant in higher education, previously was a Director Academic at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic in Tauranga, New Zealand.  This role provided strategic academic leadership for the institution comprising a large portfolio across four teaching schools, research centre, teaching and learning development centre, library, academic quality and curriculum development. Prior to 2004 I spent 17 years at Unitec, a large Institute of Technology in Auckland where I held several roles - Deputy Registrar Administration, Academic Registrar, Associate Director Planning and Student Affairs, and finally Director Planning. My full career spans some 45 years in educational administration. Prior to 1987 I was employed in the Auckland and Hamilton Education Boards and the Department of Education over which time my career developed through to senior management positions in the latter two organisations. I have been involved in a number of national working parties particularly in areas relating to student services and support, and more latterly moving into academic quality and evaluation.  Academic qualifications include: Doctorate in Education from the University of New England, New South Wales, Australia; Masters in Education Administration from Massey University, New Zealand; plus undergraduate qualifications in management and music. My research interests are primarily in higher education policy, academic quality and strategic planning.