California State University-Northridge, USA

Academic Affiliation and Supervision

Al BuraimiUniversity College has been keen to make a great benefit from the expertise of others. Therefore, we have chosen California State University, Northridge for this affiliation because of its long and famous history regionally and internationally, and to make good use of its successful experiences and deeply – rooted expertise. It also guarantees education quality through supervising and reviewing our programs which ensures high standard and internationally accredited education. Our programs came to the standards of CSUN’s programs and comply with the abilities of an Arab student. Any BUC graduate can complete his study at any other American University.

California State University (CSU) is the largest university stream in the United States. California State University, Northridge (CSUN) – among the largest of the CSU’s 23 campuses – grants approximately 5,000 bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 64 undergraduate and 55 post-graduate majors each academic year. CSUN also ranks second in the U.S. among master’s-level universities that prepare students who earn research doctoral degrees.

With nearly 50 years of experience in developing and managing collaborative international educational partnerships focused on career preparation and with access to the vast resources of the CSU system, CSUN is uniquely positioned to provide international students with exceptional education in a variety of fields and disciplines.

The Tseng College -unique among CSUN's nine colleges in its mission of providing advanced educational opportunities to mid-career professionals both domestic and international – is collaborating with BUC and other campuses in the California State University system to select post-graduate programs that best respond to the distinctive needs of the Middle East region and deliver them in ways that produce an “authentic American University experience” on site.

 In 2003 both CSUN and BUC entered into Memorandum of Understanding for three years, and on April 2007, California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and BUC developed this MOU into Memorandum of Agreement for the period April 1, 2007 through March 31, 2010 with the understanding that Al Buraimi College (University College) intends to offer programs of high academic quality that are designed to prepare those who successfully complete such programs to continue studies at universities in the United States (U.S.) or other countries if they wish to do so.

A s result of the successful implementation of the pervious affiliation between both parties, they agreed to renew the MOA for the period April1, 2010 through March 31, 2015.

This new agreement differs from previous agreements in two essential ways. First, the length of this agreement will be five years rather than three as in the previous agreements. This agreement begins April 1, 2010 and concludes March 31, 2015, subject to the cancellation provisions outlined above. Second, the present agreement, including the six areas of cooperation specified above, will be supplemented by annual working agreements that specify specific projects and goals to be accomplished.

BUC wants its academic standards, teaching strategies, and student learning assessment standards to be such that its students would be well prepared to succeed in advanced study at universities within and outside of Oman. BUC is particularly interested in ensuring that its graduates have had a program of study that will make them competitive for transfer or admission to graduate programs at U.S. and international universities. BUC believes these goals can be achieved if it offers curricula modeled after the strongest programs in a regionally accredited and well-regarded U.S. university such as CSUN.

During the period outlined by this Memorandum of Agreement, California State University, Northridge agrees to work with BUC to achieve the following goals:

1. Provide on-going, generalized conclusive services, which will be outlined below.
2. Provide on-going, faculty-to-faculty consultation to address problems and issues relating to teaching, research, and service.
3. Assist in the development of cutting-edge assessment strategies and practices and to strengthen instructional effectiveness.
4. Assist in the development and refinement of curriculum for new and on-going programs.
5. Initiate faculty, staff and student exchanges and expand working relationships between CSUN and BUC for graduate and continuing professional education programs.
6. Explore options for other collaborations as they present themselves, subject to a separate agreement.

CSUN believes also that BUC is an effective and responsible educational partner in offering quality higher education. Establishing the CSUN Postgraduate center at BUC represents one of the accomplishments of such kind of cooperation.