INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF THE HUMANITIES, WITH SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO ENGLISH MAJORS IN THE CITIES OF MUSCAT, SALALAH AND SOHAR: VISION 2040 AND BEYOND

This project will investigate the place and role of the humanities (languages, social sciences and creative arts) in Oman's present and future educational vision in order to align academic programs with rapidly changing professional contexts and the sustainable development of Oman?s economy. This pilot study will focus on 3 specific cities, Muscat, Salalah and Sohar, enabling a nation-wide study in the future. It will focus on Oman Vision 2040, an ongoing national project which aims at creating an educated and skilled society ?capable of coping with the tremendous international changes and challenges? (Oman Vision 2040) to investigate the extent to which the humanities, particularly the English Majors, can contribute to this national vision. Given the absence of such a sustained and scientifically documented study in Oman, it is critical to record and analyze stakeholders? attitudes to English Major programs and their role in nation building. This project will, first, study the perceptions of the humanities by various stakeholders, particularly secondary and tertiary teachers and students, educational policy makers, and employers. It will then investigate ways in which humanities programs in Omani public and private colleges and universities can be better aligned with the national project of creating ?an empowered, knowledge-based society...of creative individuals...driven, in all directions, by a strong Omani identity? (Oman Vision 2040). Based on quantitative and qualitative analysis, this project will focus on student perceptions of majors, the current state of the humanities, and its potential to offer professional opportunities. Finally, this project will recommend strategies and key performance indicators (KPIs) that current and future programs can implement to ensure an effective transition from the classroom to a challenging global market. The findings of this project will benefit students, educators, employers and policymakers by providing data on the current state of humanities education in Oman, analyzing stakeholder perceptions and recommending ways in which the humanities could be re-framed to align with the changing needs of students, the community and the nation.