Mazoon College , Institutional Standards Assessment, May 2017
 
Dr Andrew Thomas
 
Educational Consultant and most recently Director of University of Sussex International Centre with a focus on student transitional experience and Pathway Programmes, (Foundation, Year 1 and pre-Masters). I oversaw successful validation of programmes and UK Higher Education Review (Embedded Colleges) outcome for 2018 and 2019 with reference to UK Office for Students whilst working across the university and partners to deliver enhanced student teaching learning and good degree outcomes for all students. Prior to this, I spent 17 years in the Gulf growing my teaching and senior leadership experience in Foundation/ Bridging programmes, student services and support, community learning, continuing professional development, employability skills and quality assurance and enhancement activities in UAE, Oman and Bahrain; finishing as Dean of Humanities at Bahrain Polytechnic and chair of institutional quality assurance. I carried out consultancy work with the Bahrain Ministry of Education to improve teaching and learning in state vocational colleges and with employers on the development of employability skills including English and Arabic. I have worked with the OAAA since 2010 on GFPQAs, Institutional Quality Audits and Institutional Standards Assessment as well as delivering training to new reviewers and acting as moderator and appeals panel member. I have an Ed.D in Educational Leadership and Management with a focus on cross-cultural management and leadership in Gulf contexts and have carried out management consultancy and training across the region. I am a Senior Fellow of the HEA with wide international experience of transformational and experiential learning, strategic planning and quality assurance and enhancement. 
 
Dr Ibrahim Al Harthy
 
Dr Ibrahim Al-Harthy is an Assistant Professor in Psychology Department in the College of Education at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) and earned his Master’s and Doctorate degree, Major in Educational Psychology at Kent State University. Currently, he served as the Director of Academic Accreditation and Quality Assurance Unit (AAQAU) and the Deputy Chair of the Accreditation Steering Committee (ASC) of the college between 2013-2016. Dr Al-Harthy has published several research papers in local, regional and international refereed academic journals and has participated in several international conferences around the globe. His research interests focus on memory, metacognition, and motivation. He has reviewed research proposals, conducted several workshops, lectures and presentations inside and outside the university. Dr Al-Harthy is also a member of an international editorial board, different professional organizations and committees inside and outside the university as well.
 
Mr. Jack Connell
 
Mr. Jack Connell’s current higher education endeavors  include  Higher Education Consulting through his LLC, ConnellONE LLC and Education Specialist for Accrediting Commission for Career Colleges and Schools (ACCSC—2013 Educational Specialist of the Year). Regional Director for Workforce Opportunity Services (WOS), a New York based non-profit workforce training/college access program originally developed as a pilot program at Columbia University and now a national/international program. In addition,  to Member of the Board of Trustees for the non-profit The National Teachers College (TNTC—currently seeking authority from the Ohio Board of Regents) and the TNTC Professional Development Institute Educator-in-Residence training programs.Mr. Connell’s former higher education related work include External Reviewer for the Oman Academic Accreditation Authority as well as Director Special Projects/Strategic Initiatives in the Provost’s Office of the University of Akron (Developed materials/wrote Self-Evaluation Report for NCA-HLC Focused Visit & Proposals to Ohio Board of Regents & NCA-HLC for approval of the MSTechEd distance program).Worked on Interim Degree Approval Committee for the Accrediting Commission for Career Colleges and Schools (ACCSC). Held the position of Director of Academic Affairs for Private Institutions for the Ohio Board of Regents;and Director of Tuition Reciprocity Agreements with contiguous states for the State of Ohio. Worked on Ohio Board of Regents Liaison with the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools/Higher Learning Commission- (NCA/HLC), the US Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education (CHEA);In addition to holding the position of Director of the University of Akron (UA)/Akron Public Schools (APS) Collaboration in the College of Education (UA) (University/Public School partnership for enhancing student learning through the development of on-site collaborative activities between School and University Faculty in the Akron Public Schools). Consulting work with the School of Public Policy at Duquesne University (Establishment of a Bachelor’s Degree Program in Conflict Resolution and for implementation of a Pittsburgh-based US Housing and Urban Development project focused on Conflict Resolution training for incarcerated youth in the City of Pittsburgh).Educational achievements include Baccalaureate Degree in Liberal Studies from Antioch University (Yellow Springs, OH); and Master of Arts Degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University (Malibu, CA). A Master of Arts Degree in Higher Education Administration at the University of Akron (integrated within the EdD degree program at UA);PhD Social Science Degree program at Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY) (ABD);Granted a NY State Certificate in Conflict Resolution/Divorce Mediation, and Doctor of Education in Administration Degree program (EdD) at The University of Akron (ABD). 
 
Mr. Shanama Halmuthur Bhatta
 
Shanama Halmuthur Devara Bhatta has been working as a Quality Assurance Consultant at International Maritime College Oman (IMCO) since December 2011.  He has trained IMCO staff in quality assurance activities and established tangible processes and systems that have helped IMCO become strong in its commitment to quality assurance.  He completed IMCO’s Self-Study Portfolio as the Project Coordinator of the Steering Committee and appointed as the Contact Person by IMCO to OAAA for the Stage 1 Quality Audit process.  He is a member of IMCO’s College Council and in January 2014,  IMCO nominated Mr. Shanama as the management representative for obtaining ISO 9001:2008 Certification by Class NK, Japan in order to develop and implement IMCO’s quality management system. He successfullycompleted  the Lead Auditors Course certified by the International Register for Certified Auditors (IRCA) in ISO 9001:2008.Prior to this, he worked for six years (2006-2011) in Al Buraimi University College as the Director of Foundation Programme and Director of Quality Assurance Department besides teaching English Language and Literature to graduate level students as per the syllabi of the California State University Northridge (CSUN) USA.  He was appointed as coordinator to liaise between Al Buraimi College and CSUN. He was a member of the College Council of Al Buraimi College.   As Project Coordinator of the Steering Committee, he completed the Self-Study Portfolio of Al Buraimi College in December 2011 for Stage 1 Audit by OAAA.From 1996 to 2006, he worked in the Ministry of Education, Oman as the Senior Inspector of English in Al Dhahira Region.  In his long standing career in the Ministry, he contributed to the training programmes for Inspectors, Senior Teachers and Teachers; development and implementation of curriculum; assessment and moderation of exams; organizing educational conferences, workshops and fora.  He was involved in classroom observation of teachers and inspectors as well as the recruitment ofteachers .  He worked as Lecturer in English for six years in India before coming to Oman.Mr. Shanama obtained his Masters in English Literature from the University of Mysore, India  and his Bachelor and  B.Ed. Degrees from Bangalore University. He obtained his professional teacher training from the British Council Muscat for the new Basic Education Programme in the Ministry OF Education schools during 1998 and 2000.  He has attended and presented in many national and international conferences, seminars, workshops and conducted many teacher training activities.  He is representing IMCO as a member in the Oman Quality Network for Higher Education (OQNHE). He has been actively involved in the quality assurance and enhancement activities organized by MoHE, OAAA and OQNHE. 
 
Prof. Sioux McKenna
 
Professor Sioux McKenna is Director of the Centre for Postgraduate Studies, responsible for providing support to postgraduate supervisors and scholars across the institution. She is also the doctoral coordinator of a higher education studies programme at Rhodes University in South Africa.  This programme brings together PhD candidates who are researching a wide variety of topics pertaining to higher education.  Sioux also offers support for postgraduate supervisors at her own university and at universities across South Africa.  Sioux is a member of the Higher Education Qualifications Committee Accreditation Committee which is responsible for reviewing all applications for new programmes from both public and private universities in South Africa.  She has also undertaken a number of institutional audits at universities both in South Africa and internationally.  Sioux`s own research interest is in the social inclusion or exclusion of students in higher education. Her own PhD looked at the processes whereby students take on the academic literacy practices of university study or fail to do so.