Page 114 - EW November 2025.pdf Final

Eyewitness Report

in 2018, MEC also entered into an
affiliation agreement with the Breda
University of Applied Sciences,
Netherlands.
Since then, with Dr. Sabahi and
Lefeer at the helm, the college —
which has “never recorded a loss” in
its P&L account — has grown from
strength to strength. Currently MEC,
which offers 18 four-year under-
grad and eight postgrad computer
science, engineering and business
management programmes to 4,500
students on its globally benchmarked
25-acre campus with a built-up area
of 460,000 sq. ft, is among Oman’s
largest private higher education
institutions attracting students from
across the Middle East.
Last year in tacit acknowledg- MEC students: robust experiential learning curriculums. Inset: Dr. Saleh Al Shaabi
ment of its excellent management
capabilities and institution develop- “with modest aspirations”, through of MEC is student-led learning. Our
ment skills, MEC was contracted to rigorous quality control and strong comprehensive curriculum provides
transform the floundering all-women links with industry and reputed co-curricular, extra-curricular and
Jumeira University, established on a HEIs around the world, MEC has soft skills development programmes
15 acre campus in downtown Dubai, developed robust experiential learn- and has faculty and student exchange
into the top women’s computer sci- ing curriculums and degree pro- partnerships with universities in
ence, engineering and business man- grammes. Malaysia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia,
agement university in the Middle “In MEC our focus is on devel- the UK and India. This is a student-
East (see box p.120). oping students’ technical and life centric, progressive, yet culturally
“Right from the start our objec- skills while enabling them to remain rooted HEI,” says Dr. Shaabi who
tive was to develop MEC into a culturally rooted in the best positive supervises academic delivery and
learning environment focused on principles of Islam — Haqq, that administration at MEC.
the holistic well-being of students. means truth or right and Ikhlas, Currently MEC offers its 4,500
Almost a quarter century later, meaning sincerity with good inten- students undergrad and postgrad
although continuous improvement tions and pure heart, and Amanah degree programmes in engineering,
in a fast-changing industry and busi- which translates into trust, hon- science and technology, business
ness environment is our credo, I’m esty, and faithfulness. With strong management and archival studies, of
fairly satisfied that we have built a focus on also encouraging students’ which the computing and electron-
student-centric learning institution co-curricular and extra-curricular ics engineering faculty is the most
providing high quality skills-building activities, our undergrad education popular with an aggregate enrolment
experiential education to our 4,500 model has received excellent social of 1,570 students.
students. Thus far we have graduated media and word-of-mouth publicity “This faculty is MEC’s flagship
15,048 students, and most of them and could prove to be a model for initiative, as the college started
are either well-placed in industry not the UAE and Middle East countries,” its innings as a computer sciences
limited to Oman and the Middle East says Lefeer. teaching institute. Since then, it has
or are successful entrepreneurs,” This optimism is shared by Dr. evolved to offer eight undergrad
says Founder-Chairman Dr. Al Saleh Hamid Nasser Al Shaabi, and four postgraduate programs in
Sabahi. an alum of Tennessee State Univer- cutting-edge engineering disciplines
Founder-Managing Director, sity, USA and University of Wolver- including data science and cyber-
Lefeer Muhammad who trav- hampton. A former government bu- security. The differentiator of our
els the world visiting top-ranked reaucrat (2005-16) with stints in the curriculum and pedagogy is that we
universities “as a student” studying commerce and tourism ministry, Al have optimally blended theory with
their best practices, is also pleased Shaabi was recently appointed Dean hands-on learning in our seven state-
that 23 years after it was promoted of MEC. “A distinguishing feature of-the-art labs. Moreover, our loca-

114 EDUCATIONWORLD NOVEMBER 2025