Oman’s general foundation programs: Focus on general education principles and standards

Contemporary research in education has placed the growing emphasis on general education principles and standards intended for empowering students and developing them as personalities with the related discussions set in different socio-cultural and geographical contexts. This paper explores how principles and standards of general education are integrated and implemented to support students’ development and enhancement of their skills in the context of the foundation program at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman. In more detail, utilizing personal views and perceptions of the programs’ administrators (department heads, program coordinators and course leaders) involved in constructing and offering the English language foundation program courses, this paper explores how principles and standards of general education are integrated and implemented to support students’ development and academic growth. A qualitative research paradigm is used to provide detailed descriptions, discuss experiences, achievements, challenges, and inform future decisions. The results demonstrate that the English language foundation program courses have good potential for building solid basis for students’ skills and knowledge development, however, more efforts that include revisions in curriculum and teaching practices are required to develop students into educated, responsible and productive citizens for their own advantage and the benefit of the community.