Royal Academy of Management and Education Ministry launch Zad initiative for promising Omani leaders

Oman’s Royal Academy of Management and Ministry of Education have launched a program to prepare students for the demands of studying abroad. The Zad Initiative will support students before and during their transition to international higher education.

The initiative focuses on practical capabilities, judgment and self-awareness, helping students navigate unfamiliar academic and social environments. It also emphasizes their connection to Omani identity and values as they represent the Sultanate overseas.

Zad is open to students sponsored by government entities, scholarship recipients and students funding their own studies. Royal Academy President Ali bin Qassim Al Lawati said the initiative reflects Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s directives on investing in young people as a national resource and a foundation for Oman’s future.

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Studying abroad is far more than an academic undertaking. It is a formative experience that calls for personal maturity, leadership readiness and cultural awareness.

“Studying abroad is far more than an academic undertaking. It is a formative experience that calls for personal maturity, leadership readiness and cultural awareness,” Al Lawati said. He described Zad as an integrated development experience designed to help students make informed decisions, adapt to changing global environments and engage confidently with new academic and cultural settings.

Ministry of Education Undersecretary Abdullah bin Ali Al-Shibli said the program goes beyond academic preparation by offering knowledge, leadership capabilities and practical life skills. “Studying abroad is both an honour and a responsibility, and represents a valued national trust,” he said, adding that Omani students carry the country’s name and identity with them.

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Studying abroad is both an honour and a responsibility, and represents a valued national trust.