Abstract:
This research analysed the quality assurance in research planning and management of selected HEIs in Oman. It used document analysis of HEIs practices using OAAA Quality Audit reports from 2011 to 2016 through thematic coding and categorising. It aims to identify best practices and gaps in the same areas and report it in a collective and summative manner; and assessed the current situation in the area of research and consultancy based on the inferences and extrapolations. This paper discussed the strategic actions as stated in the quality audit reports and provided recommendations to better plan, implement, and manage research activities. The study revealed that there is a significantly high number of recommendations in colleges especially in the key area of research planning and management, thus indicates that research in colleges may still be underdeveloped. Conversely, universities in Oman have reached a considerable degree of quality in their research activities especially in research planning and management, research funding schemes, professional development and research-teaching nexus
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