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Sultan Qaboos University is the realization of the promise announced by His. Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said during the 10th anniversary of Oman's National Day in 1980. Construction started in 1982, and the first Sultan Qaboos University students were enrolled in 1986. Under the Royal Directives of His Majesty, The University commenced with five colleges, namely Medicine, Engineering, Agriculture, Education, and Science. Furthermore, the College of Arts was established in 1987, following the College of Commerce and Economics developed in1993. The College of Law joined the University in 2006, and finally, the College of Nursing was established in 2008. The campus's design and construction were carried out with great attention to the fulfillment of these objectives, with the overall appearance of the buildings carefully planned to accommodate the physical, intellectual, and spiritual needs of students, faculty, and staff. Set in a valley beneath the stark panorama of the nearby foothills of the Oman Mountains, the University is a tasteful array of buildings designed with arches and courtyards and constructed in white and pink sandstone manner that reflects traditional Omani and Islamic architecture. The University was constructed on an axis in the valley with one end aligned toward Mecca. This axis line starts at the gates of entrance to the University, runs through the Administration Building with its massive Omani doors, and extends uninterrupted through the middle of the academic buildings to the University Mosque at the western end of the campus. With its large dome and minarets, the Mosque is situated on the higher ground of the campus and is visible from many points within and around the University. SQU's vision is to continue its leading national role in higher education and community service and be internationally recognized for innovative research, quality of its graduates, and strategic partnerships. To excel in teaching and learning, research and innovation, and community service by promoting the principles of scientific analysis and creative thinking in a collegial and stimulating environment and to participate in the production, development, and dissemination of knowledge and interact with national and international communities. The plantings include species native to Oman and other Gulf regions that grow and flourish in an arid environment. The landscaping provides shade from the sun, shelter against the wind, and a splendid display of color from flowers and foliage throughout the year. The traditional Islamic separation of the genders is maintained in the architecture of the University. There is separate access to buildings through lower and upper walkways for men and women and separate seating in the classrooms. Altogether, the campus portrays the rich heritage of Oman and Islam while incorporating all modern life efficiencies. The result is an educational and living environment that is both functional and attractive. The ranking is a process or system of classifying international higher education providers such as universities and research centers based on their research and teaching activities. There are many rankings, or rankings systems present internationally. The frameworks under which the different ranking systems measure the performance varies. One ranking system may give more importance to education quality; another may only look at research activity. It is hence essential that results from different ranking systems are viewed and understood separately. It is also important to note that most of the universities participating in the ranking worldwide are privately funded universities and centered around the business of providing higher education and through their research output to feed the industrial sector. But the number of international students is an indicator that is widely used in many ranking schemes. Over the past decade, a new phenomenon has grasped the higher education world. Famous universities of the world and especially from the developed world have enjoyed an unchallenged reputation for quite some time now. With the relatively new shift in the international economic balance towards the east, countries here are investing heavily into universities to enhance education and research. This has led to the creation of extreme worldwide competition. View full university