MUSCAT -- Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA), publishers of Oman Daily Observer and its sister Arabic daily, Oman, yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the College of Banking & Financial Studies (CBFS) for the production of a high quality publication commemorating the latter's 30th anniversary as the nation's premier higher learning institution in the banking and financial services sector. Dr Ibrahim bin Ahmed al Kindi, CEO, OEPPA and Dr Ahmed bin Mohsin al Ghassani, Dean, CBFS, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations.
It sets out the terms by which OEPPA will leverage its considerable experience as the Sultanate's leading media organisation to put together a special book chronicling the important role that CBFS has played in developing professionalism within the country's banking and financial sector. The bilingual, coffee-table style publication will document the laudable achievements of the College since its establishment by Royal Decree in 1983. Operating under the supervision of the Central Bank of Oman (CBO), the College has been credited with equipping Omanis with the skills necessary to pursue rewarding careers in the Sultanate's thriving banking and financial services industry. It has played a pivotal role in boosting Omanisation in this key sector, with nationals accounting for well over 90 per cent of jobs in lending institutions operating in the Sultanate.
The 30th anniversary commemorative publication will pay tribute to the College's sterling role in making a qualitative contribution to nation-building through the delivery of highly regarded courses and study programmes that have helped develop the overall caliber of Omani banking industry professionals. Besides, the College continues to be involved in expanding the depth and breadth of professional education in Oman. It has tied up with a number of international providers of academic and professional certification. CBFS is the Gold status holder as a tuition provider for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants of the United Kingdom.
The College also runs academic degree courses in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde for the international MBA programme. An MSC programme in Finance will be launched later this year. For undergraduate studies, the College has a longstanding collaboration with the School of Management of the University of Bradford which is ranked 89 in the global Financial Times ranking for 2014. Two degrees are offered in collaboration with this school: the Accounting and Finance and Business and Management. OEPPA's Business Development Department, which has successfully launched a number of publications, will oversee the compilation, production and publication of CBFS' 30th anniversary book.
© Oman Daily Observer 2014
