This report was extracted from a much longer report titled “Skills for the 21st century training
in higher education institutions in Oman: Helping students realize their highest potential in relation to the job market”. The project was funded by The Research Council and conducted by
a team of the researchers at Sultan Qaboos University during the period from April 1, 2015 to
March 31, 2018. In line with UNESCO global trends for sustainable development and essential directions in education in the Sultanate of Oman, this project aimed at examining the issues
involved in 21st-century skills’ teaching and learning through the curriculum in the higher
education context. The project addressed the need to ensure that higher education is suitably
adapted to equip students with effective skills, which are regarded key requirements for a successful professional career in the 21st century, and drew attention to the importance of these
skills. It paid particular attention to how critical thinking and problem-solving skills were
integrated in the curricula and taught in Oman’s higher education institutions. The project’s
ultimate goal was to provide information and recommendations for decision makers, educators and students, to identify educational initiatives, approaches, techniques and strategies that
can be used to enhance students’ skills and close the skills gap, and to target teacher professional development and training. Data was drawn from students, teachers and employers using
questionnaires and interviews. The social impacts that resulted from this study refer to raising
awareness among the academic and professional communities in Oman of the importance of
the transparency-level 21st century skills’ teaching, learning, and development. The project
also suggested that explicit and implicit training of critical thinking and problem-solving skills
should be given special importance and value in Oman’s higher education to better facilitate
the attainment of these skills in the context of national and global job markets.