Evaluation of the Quality of Academic Programs from the Perspective of Students in the College of Arts and Social Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University

Suliman Zakaria Suliman   Abdalla; Mohammed Ali K.  Al-Belushi; Nawal Ahmed Al-Hooti; Fathiya Abdulla  Al-Rashdi

doi:10.35516/edu.v50i4.6851

Authors

Suliman Zakaria Suliman Abdalla Department of Sociology & Social Sciences, College of Arts & Social Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7995-5675
Mohammed Ali K. Al-Belushi Department of Archaeology, College of Arts & Social Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8855-2541
Nawal Ahmed Al-Hooti Department of Quality, Ministry of Education, Directorate General of Education in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1515-0688
Fathiya Abdulla Al-Rashdi Department of English Language & Literature, College of Arts & Social Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4375-952X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/edu.v50i4.6851

Keywords:

Quality of academic programs, quality assurance, academic accreditation, Sultan Qaboos University

Abstract

Objectives: This study assesses the quality of academic programs in the College of Arts and Social Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University from the students' perspective. It examines variations in perceived program quality among the college's scientific departments.

Methods: The study employs a descriptive survey approach, utilizing a questionnaire with 48 items across five dimensions to gauge the quality of academic program performance from the perspective of first-stage undergraduate students. A five-point Likert scale measures students' attitudes. The study population comprises all first-stage undergraduate students with a minimum of 75 credited hours across various programs, totaling 761 students for the spring semester of 2020. It consists of 336 students.

Results: The overall evaluation of the quality of academic programs in the college, from the students' perspective, was rated as "moderate." It revealed that the quality levels of academic programs in the departments of Media, Arabic Language and Literature, English Language and Literature, and Geography were higher than the remaining departments: History, Information Studies, Tourism, Music, and Musicology. It identified significant differences in response means across all dimensions of academic program quality based on scientific department. No statistically significant differences were found in student responses across quality dimensions when considering the variable of gender.

Conclusions: The study suggests implementing targeted programs in scientific departments to maximize the advantages of academic accreditation and improve academic program quality. It also recommends creating effective monitoring programs to address feedback from accreditation bodies and international evaluators, focusing on identifying strengths, weaknesses, and optimal methods for enhancement.

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