Omani Officials Visit AUT to Discuss Institutional Recognition and Future Collaboration

On June 11, the American University of Technology (AUT) in Tashkent was honoured to host a high-level delegation from the Sultanate of Oman. The delegation included senior officials from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MoHERI) and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, and was joined by representatives of UzOman, AUT’s principal shareholder and strategic partner.

The visit began with a guided tour of AUT’s campus, followed by a comprehensive presentation of the university’s mission, academic model, and its strategic partnership with Arizona State University (ASU)—ranked the most innovative university in the United States for ten consecutive years.

Central to the meeting was the discussion on the formal registration of AUT on MoHERI’s list of recognized foreign higher education institutions—a critical step to ensure that AUT degrees are officially recognized in Oman and to facilitate future student mobility.

The delegation and AUT leadership also explored the possibility of allocating Omani government scholarships for students to study at AUT. The discussion emphasized the value of AUT’s ASU-powered “3+1” model, which enables undergraduate students to complete three years at AUT and the final year at ASU—either online or in person—earning a globally recognized U.S. bachelor’s degree while benefiting from significantly reduced costs and regional accessibility. A similar pathway is available for graduate students through the “1+1” model, allowing them to complete the first year of their master’s program at AUT and the final year at ASU—again with the flexibility of online or in-person study—culminating in a highly regarded U.S. master’s degree.

Further dialogue focused on broadening academic and institutional exchanges between AUT and higher education institutions in Oman. Key areas of discussion included faculty mobility, collaborative research, joint academic initiatives, student summer camps, and opportunities for digital course delivery aimed at fostering cross-border learning and engagement.

Private-sector representatives from Oman also expressed interest in developing executive training and certificate programs to be delivered at AUT, designed to build specialized competencies for Omani professionals and companies active in the Central Asian region.

Another key agenda item was the integration of Cooperative Education (CoOp) components into AUT’s degree programs. While AUT follows ASU’s curricula and syllabi, the delegation and AUT discussed practical ways to incorporate structured internships and industry engagement—particularly through elective modules and summer sessions—to enhance graduate employability while maintaining full alignment with ASU’s academic standards.

Importantly, the delegation also engaged in direct conversations with a number of AUT students, listening to their academic experiences, aspirations, and reflections on the dynamic, globally connected learning environment at AUT. These informal exchanges were warmly received and provided valuable insight into the student perspective.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to advancing the next steps, including institutional recognition, scholarship frameworks, and deeper academic collaboration—reinforcing a joint vision of building strong educational bridges between Oman and Uzbekistan.