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Department of Information Systems, CEPS, Sultan Qaboos University3

Table of Contents

Dean’s Message, College of Economics and Political Science.........................5

HOD’s Message, Department of Information Systems......................................6

1. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................8

2. PROGRAM VISION, MISSION, AND OBJECTIVES....................................9

3. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION........................................................................10 3.1 Program Title.....................................................................................10

3.2 Certificate..........................................................................................10

3.3 Language of Instruction....................................................................10

3.4 Program Structure.............................................................................10

3.5 Entrance Requirements....................................................................12

3.6 Program Administration....................................................................12

3.7 Graduation Requirements.................................................................12

3.8 Curriculum........................................................................................13

3.9 Information Systems Career Paths...................................................15

3.10 Study Plan........................................................................................16

4. Department Faculty and Staff members.....................................................19

5. Profile of Department Faculty Members.....................................................21

6. Profile of Department Staff Members.........................................................45

Department of Information Systems, CEPS, Sultan Qaboos University5

Dean’s Message, College of Economics and

Political Science

Welcome to the College of Economics and Political Science (CEPS). CEPS offers three postgraduate programs. In addition to a very

successful Master in Business Administration (MBA) program, and Master in International Relations and Security Studies, we are very pleased to offer a new program: Master of Science in Information Systems (M.Sc.).

In the fast changing world of today, everyone recognizes the importance of Information technologies and their impact on organizations, businesses and our lives. The M.Sc. in Information Systems program at CEPS will prepare you for managerial and technical careers in the field of information systems.

The skills to manage and bring change through information technologies are in high demand in the market. Our M.Sc. in Information Systems program will give the skills and knowledge to lead Oman to digital society. It will equip you with both in depth technical knowledge and broad business perspective. The rapid growth of Oman’s economy is opening new doors of opportunities for you. This program will help you in meeting your career goals as well as will help you in serving Oman in a better way.

The program has followed the Association of Machinery’s (ACM) guidelines for graduate programs in Information Systems to meet international standards and considering the requirements of the local job market. We have a highly dedicated faculty, who are expert in their fields, and are active in research. We also have excellent library and computing facilities.

I wish you all the success in the program.

Dr. Saeed Al-Muharrami

Department of Information Systems, CEPS, Sultan Qaboos University Department of Information Systems, CEPS, Sultan Qaboos University6 7

Welcome to the Department of Information Systems (IS) at Sultan Qaboos University.

The Information Systems professionals working in the industry, with technical experience and business wisdom, are key elements of success for most IT projects. A major concern is that there are not enough of these IS professionals worldwide in general and Oman in particular to cope with growing demands. This program aims to fill this gap. The program will prepare IS professionals and leaders who are able to meet current and future challenges in providing IS/IT solutions to organizations in Oman.

Information technologies are drivers for growth in many of today’s biggest economies, and, for knowledge-based organizations, information systems are the keystones upon which their success depends. Information systems have been described as the link between business and information technology. Typically, major organizations own a wide range of information systems, for example transaction processing systems, office automated systems, decision support systems, knowledge management systems, and strategic information systems.

The M.Sc. in Information Systems program has been designed to address these needs. It is based on foundations in business with strong IS/IT technical skills and experience required to compete in today›s information-based society. Further, the program aims to prepare students for challenging careers and enrich their knowledge by enabling them to become managers, entrepreneurs and IS/IT specialists.

HOD’s Message, Department of Information

Systems

This document provides details of M.Sc. in Information Systems program that is offered by the Department of Information Systems in the College of Economics and Political Science. The program is based on the Association of Computer Machinery (ACM) guidelines for graduate programs in Information Systems, and fulfills SQU’s postgraduate academic regulations.

The program offered over two years full-time and three years for part-time students on the basis of twenty four credit hours of course work and a master thesis. The program has received very positive comments from external referees and is well supported by industry, business and government organizations in Oman.

We look forward to you enrolling in our program and we stand ready to provide you with the best quality education to meet your career expectations.

Dr. Ali Hamad Al-Badi


1.INTRODUCTION

Technology is transforming today’s businesses, and information has become the lifeblood of modern organizations. High powered computer

and communications technologies have vastly increased the efficiency and effectiveness of organizations, allowing industry and commerce to provide innovative services and products. As the need for information expands, the demand for information systems professionals grows also – Oman is not an exception in this regard.

‘Information systems’ is a dynamic field; over the last four decades, it has grown at an amazing rate. Many organizations in the Sultanate use computers and information systems to support their day to day management of business and mission critical activities. As technology, systems and ideas develop and evolve organizations continuously face new challenges requiring trained professionals to ensure they use technology effectively and efficiently.

The M.Sc. in Information Systems program is to fill this gap by preparing professionals with the business and IS/IT managerial skills they need to be able to lead organizations in the effective designing and managing information systems. Some of the key features of the program are:• The proposed program is based on the Association of Computer Machinery

(ACM) guideline for Graduate programs in Information Systems and is different than all other programs currently offered in the Sultanate of Oman.

• The program has been designed keeping in view current and future needs of IS/IT professionals in Oman.

• Informal surveys of the industry and business in Oman have shown a great need for such a program.

• The Department has a highly qualified faculty with research and consulting experience in Information Systems.

• The department has excellent computing and library facilities.

2.PROGRAM VISION, MISSION, AND OBJECTIVES

VisionTo be recognized as a leading Information Systems Program in the region

meeting international standards for excellence in IS education.

MissionTo provide students with in-depth knowledge of how to develop and manage

state of the art information systems, use information technology for business advantage, and engage in lifelong learning.

Objectives The main objectives of the M.Sc. program in Information Systems are to

help students meet their long-range needs as maturing professionals as well as immediate need upon entering the profession. The M.Sc. program in Information Systems shall:1. Meet the growing demand in society for high-level information systems skills.2. Produce graduates with broad knowledge in Information Systems, yet

focused knowledge in different areas of IS with an ability to identify problems

and design optimal solutions.3. Produce graduates capable of working in multidisciplinary environment.4. Provide focused knowledge that emphasize responsibility and foster

community.5. Provide graduates with knowledge and skill base from which they can

proceed to advanced studies in IS and other business-related fields.6. Enable graduates to appreciate and engage in life-long learning.

OutcomeStudents graduating from M.Sc. program in Information Systems should

be prepared to provide leadership in the information systems field. Upon successful completion of the program, the graduate shall have the following skills, knowledge and values:


1. Demonstrate sound knowledge in IT/IS management2. Understand the link between organizations, IT/IS and the society, in the

context of cultural values of Oman3. Apply professional attitude including creativity and ethical analysis in IS

practices4. Identify appropriate IS/IT practices within a professional, legal and ethical

framework5. Evaluate systems in terms of general quality attributes and possible trade-

offs presented within the given problem6. Manage one’s own learning and development including time management

and organizational skills7. Develop leadership, critical thinking, and negotiation skills8. Communicate effectively (orally and in writing) their understanding of the IS/

IT concepts in a work environment

3. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

3.1 Program TitleThe title of the program is: Master of Science in Information Systems.

3.2 CertificateThe program will award M.Sc. in Information Systems degree certificate.

3.3 Language of InstructionThe program will be presented in English.

3.4 Program StructureThe M.Sc. in Information Systems program is expected to be completed

within two years of full time and three years of part-time study. All degree requirements must be completed within the specified period. Further details are provided in the Postgraduate Academic Regulations. Figure 1 provides an overview of the structure of the program.

M.Sc. in Information Systems program admission requirements

Bridging Courses: Business Foundation- ACCT5111 Principles of Accounting- MNGT5511 Fundamentals of Management- MRKT5611 Principles of Marketing

Bridging Courses: IS Foundation- INFS4421 Business Data Communication and Networking - INFS3410 Fundamentals of business Programming- INFS5110 Database Management Systems

SQU Postgraduate admission requirements

Electives Courses (IS Electives)- INFS6111 Advanced Database Management Systems - INFS6112 Data Warehousing and Data Mining - INFS6211 Knowledge Management and Business Intelligence - INFS6513 Information Security and Risk Management - INFS6311 E-Business Development and management

- INFS6813 Selected Topics in Information Systems - INFS6510 IT Infrastructure - INFS6512 Mobile Business and Ubiquitous Computing- INFS6312 Web Development and Services- INFS6611 Information Systems Audit and Control

M.Sc. in IS

(Course Work and Thesis)Core= 5 courses (15 CR)Electives= 3 courses (09 CR)Thesis = (0 CR)

Required Courses (IS CORE)- INFS6410 Information Systems Policy and Strategy- INFS6451 Information Technology Project Management- INFS6710 Information Systems Analysis, Modeling and Design- INFS6511 Information Systems Security- INFS6712 Research Method in Information Systems- INFS7002 Thesis in Information Systems

Figure 1: Structure of the M.Sc. in Information Systems program


3.5 Entrance RequirementsThe applicant for the M.Sc. in Information Systems program should hold

a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution of higher education. The applicant must meet the general requirements of Sultan Qaboos University as provided in the Postgraduate Academic Regulations. Students with Bachelor’s in Business, Information Systems, Computer Science or Computer Engineering may be exempted from relevant bridging courses.

The program is advertised in Jan/ Feb for admission to Fall session, and is open for Omani and foreign nationals satisfying the admission requirements of SQU.

Each applicant will be evaluated based on his/her qualifications and experience. Applicants will be granted exemptions from bridging courses based on their educational qualifications and background. Information Systems Department will decide on admission and exemptions on a case-by case basis.

Once the students’ satisfy the general requirements for admission to a Graduate program, they will be eligible to start the M.Sc. in Information Systems program that will consists of a total of 24 credit hour of coursework and a Thesis.

A limited number of full or partial scholarships may be available to qualified (full-time and part-time) students according to SQU Postgraduate scholarship regulations.

3.6 Program Administration The program will follow the University Postgraduate Academic Regulations

(Fall 2008 2nd edition). It will be managed by the Department of Information systems in the College of Economics and Political Science in coordination with the College Postgraduate Studies committee and the office of the Assistant Dean for Postgraduate Studies and Research.

3.7 Graduation Requirements: In order to graduate, participants in this program must meet all of the following

requirements:

• Attend classes regularly• Complete the theoretical and practical requirements of the program in terms

of credit hours and the thesis defense. • Meet all the requirements of the assessment systems in the University

Postgraduate Academic Regulations, including projects, assignments,

reports and examinations. • Meet the general graduation requirements as listed in the Postgraduate

Academic Regulations.

3.8 Curriculum The curriculum will consist of compulsory 5 courses followed by the student

choosing 3 courses out of a pool of 10 courses depending on the area they would like to specialize. This will be followed by research leading to a thesis. All courses are 3 credit hours.

The general structure of the Master of Science in Information Systems curriculum has the following features: A. Bridging courses

• Business Foundation Courses • Information Systems Foundation Courses

B. Information Systems Core Courses (IS core)C. Information Systems Elective Courses (IS Electives) D. Career Paths

A. Bridging coursesBased on the applicant’s educational background, a student may be

required to take all or some of the following Business foundation and/or IS foundation bridging courses. The department will evaluate each candidate for suitability to the program. Based on the content of similar courses and/or interview, department will decide on exemptions from the Business foundation and/or IS foundation bridging courses. A student may take a maximum of 4 bridging courses.


Business Foundation Bridging Courses

1 ACCT 5111 Principles of Accounting

2 MRKT 5611 Principles of Marketing

3 MNGT 5511 Fundamentals of Management

Information Systems Foundation Bridging Courses

1 INFS 4421 Business Data Communication and Networking

2 INFS 3410 Fundamentals of Business Programming

3 INFS 5110 Database Management System

Masters by course work and Thesis (Total 24 Credit hours of courses and Thesis)After completing bridging courses (if required), student will complete the

following 5 Information Systems core courses.

B. Information Systems Core Courses (15 credit hours)

1 INFS 6410 Information Systems Policy and Strategy (3 Credits)

2 INFS 6451 Information Technology Project Management (3 Credits)

3 INFS 6710 Information Systems Analysis, Modeling and Design (3 Credits)

4 INFS 6511 Information Systems Security (3 Credits)

5 INFS 6712 Research Methods in Information Systems (3 Credits)

6 INFS 7002 Thesis in Information Systems (0 Credits)

C. Information Systems Electives (IS Electives) (9 credit hours)After completing core course, students will be required to take any 3 elective

courses.

1 INFS 6111 Advanced Database Management Systems (Credits 3)

2 INFS 6112 Data Warehousing and Data Mining (Credits 3)

3 INFS 6211 Knowledge Management and Business Intelligence (Credits 3)

4 INFS 6311 E-Business Development and Management (Credits 3)

5 INFS 6312 Web Development and Services (Credits 3)

6 INFS 6510 IT Infrastructure (Credits 3)

7 INFS 6512 Mobile Business and Ubiquitous Computing (Credits 3)

8 INFS 6513 Information Security and Risk Management (Credits 3)

9 INFS 6611 Information Systems Audit and Control (Credits 3)

10 INFS 6813 Selected Topics in Information Systems (Credits 3)

Thesis

For details about Thesis requirements, please refer to SQU Postgraduate

Academic Regulations (PAR) 2008 (2nd Edition).

3.9 Information Systems Career Paths

Not all the students are the same; they have different interests and career

goals. Thus the career path component of the program accounts for these

individuals and suggests several courses to be geared towards the students’

specific needs. A specific career path can be designed by selecting a number

of courses from IS electives that are geared towards a streamline. Some of the

current main career streams based on the electives to be offered are as follows:


Database, Knowledge Management and Business Intelligence

• INFS 6111 Advanced Database Management System

• INFS 6112 Data Warehousing and Data Mining

• INFS 6211 Knowledge Management and Business Intelligence

• INFS 6813 Selected Topics in Information Systems

Information Systems Management

• INFS 6510 IT Infrastructure

• INFS 6611 Information Systems Audit and Control


E-Business Development and Management

• INFS 6311 E-Business Development and Management

• INFS 6312 Web Development and Services

• INFS 6512 Mobile Business and Ubiquitous Computing


Mobile, Networking and Security

• INFS 6510 IT Infrastructure

• INFS 6512 Mobile Business and Ubiquitous Computing

• INFS 6513 Information Systems Security and Risk Management


3.10 Study Plan

The M.Sc. in Information Systems program at the Sultan Qaboos University

is a flexible program that allows students to choose specialized courses

depending on their background, needs and interests within an IS domain.

The courses for the program have to be selected from the list of courses as

mentioned in Figure 1 and section 3.8 of the program structure.

Degree and Study Plan Coursework and Thesis – Full TimeCredits Required 24 CreditsCore Courses 15 CreditsElective Courses 09 CreditsThesis 00 Credits

Semester 1

1 Information Systems Policy and Strategy INFS 6410 (3CR)

2 IS Analysis, Modeling & Design INFS 6710 (3CR)

3 Information Technology Project Management INFS 6451 (3CR)

Semester 2

1 Information Systems Security INFS 6511 (3CR)

2 Research Methods in Information Systems INFS 6712 (3CR)

3 Select specialized elective course INFS XXXX (3CR)

Semester 3



3 Thesis INFS 7002 (0CR)

Semester 4



Degree and Study Plan Coursework and Thesis – Part TimeCredits Required 24 CreditsCore Courses 15 CreditsElective Courses 09 CreditsThesis 00 Credits

Semester 1

1 Information Systems Policy and Strategy INFS 6410 (3CR)

2 IS Analysis, Modeling & Design INFS 6710 (3CR)

Semester 2

1 Information Technology Project Management INFS 6451 (3CR)

2 Information Systems Security INFS 6511 (3CR)

Semester 3

1 Research Methods in Information System INFS 6712 (3CR)


Semester 4



Semester 5


Semester 6


4. Department Faculty and Support Staff members

Faculty Members• Dr. Ali Al Badi, HOD • Dr. Rafi Ashrafi, M.Sc. Program Chair• Dr. Kamla Al Busaidi• Dr. Saqib Ali• Dr. Hafedh Al Shihi• Dr. Jamil Al Shaqsi• Dr. Khamis Al Gharbi• Dr. Mohammed Al Fairoz• Dr. Syed Jaffar Naqvi• Dr. Taiseera Al Balushi• Dr. Yosuf Al Hinai• Dr. Zahran Al Salti

Support Staff• Abdul Rahman Al Huthili (Department Coordinator)• Ishaq Humaid Al Qassabi (Lab Administrator)

Profile of Department Faculty Members


Associate Professor and Head of the Department (HoD)

Department of Information Systems

College of Economics and Political Science

Sultan Qaboos University

Room 2010, CEPS

T: +968 2414 1858, E: [email protected]

Dr. Ali Al Badi

QualificationsB.Tec. Diploma in General Engineering from Newcastle Upon Tyne, College of

Arts and Technology, UK

B.Sc. in Computer Science, University of Reading, UK

M.Sc. in Computer Science, Florida Institute of Technology, U.S.A

Ph.D. in Computing Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK

Post Doc. School of Computing Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich,

UK

BioDr. Ali Al-Badi is an Associate Professor of Information Systems/Computer

Science at Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. He received

his education in Oman, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UK and USA. Ali has more

than 20 years of practical and academic experience in Information Technology.

After graduation, from Reading University, UK, he worked in the Center for

Information Systems (CIS), Sultan Qaboos University. He has held different

positions in the Center, where he gained most of his practical experience

working on and overseeing different IT projects. From Sep, 2007 – March

2011 Ali held the CIS Director›s position, sharing his time between managing

the Center and performing his academic duties. Currently Ali is the HOD of

the Information Systems Department at College of Economics and Political

Science. Furthermore, Ali contributed to 15 different IT focused committees

both at the University and national level. Furthermore, Dr. Ali has also been

active in research. He has published 67 journal and conference papers, and

he is a member in several international conferences program and scientific

committees.

Research Specialization- Cloud Computing

- Social Media and Social Intelligence

- Web Usability, Accessibility and Web Technology

- User interface Design & Human Computer Interaction

- Information Systems & Portal Development

- Information Technology Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity

Courses Taught- Independent Study (Social Media) (INFS 4473)

- Special Topics in Information Systems (Open Source Software Model and

Methodology) (INFS 4481)

- Senior Project -Information Systems (INFS 4471)

- Web Applications Development - I (INFS3412)

- Web Applications Development – II (INFS 4432)

- Introduction to Computers in Business (INFS 1411)

- Introduction to Computers at College of Law (in Arabic)

- Computer Programming at College of Education -2008 (TECH 3222)

- Foundations of Information Technology (INFS 3413)


Associate Professor and Chair (M.Sc. Information Systems Program)Department of Information SystemsCollege of Economics and Political ScienceSultan Qaboos UniversityRoom 2007, CEPS T: +968 2414 1835, E: [email protected]

Dr. Rafi Ashrafi

QualificationsM.Sc. Applied Mathematics (University of Sind, Pakistan)M.Sc. Computer Science (University of Bradford, UK)Ph.D. IT Project Management (University of Bradford, UK)

Membership of Professional Associations/Professional QualificationsFellow of the British Computer Society (FBCS)Chartered Information Technology Professional (CITP), UK Chartered Engineer (C.Eng), UK Project Management Professional (PMP), USA Member ISACA, USA European Engineer (Eur Ing) FEANI, FranceCIW E-Commerce Professional, Master CIW Designer

BioDr. Ashrafi has over 30 years of teaching, research and consulting experience

in academia and industry in the UK, Middle East and Canada. Dr. Ashrafi was a Project Manager (at EDS and Alcatel) and Consultant in IT Project Management in Canada. He was also a Researcher and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Calgary, where he taught graduate courses in the Haskyn School of Business

and Schulich School of Engineering. Dr. Ashrafi has published over 50 research papers in International journals and conference proceedings. He is a member of the editorial Board of the International Journal of IT Project Management and a reviewer for the International Journal of Project Management and Journal of Electronic Commerce Research.

Research Specialization- Strategic value of Information Technology in organizations - Electronic Business Adoption in Oman and GCC countries- Information Communication Technology adoption in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Oman- Information Technology Disaster and Recovery - Information Systems/Information Technology Auditing and Control- Information Systems Security Management- Information Systems Management

Courses Taught- Introduction to Information Systems (INFS 2412)- Electronic Business Strategy, Architecture and Design (INFS 4417)- Business Data Communications and Networking (INFS 4421)- Strategic Information Systems (INFS 4461)- Electronic Commerce Technology (INFS 4462)- Information Systems Project Management (INFS 4492)- Information Technology Audit and Control (INFS 4493)- Management information Systems (INFS 6411 – MBA)- Information Technology Project Management (INFS 6451 – MBA)- Special Topics in Information Systems (INFS 6813 – MBA)- Information Systems Strategy and Policy (INFS 6410 – M.Sc.) - Information Technology Project Management (INFS 6451 – M.Sc)- Information Systems Audit and Control (INFS 6611 – M.Sc)


Associate Professor




Room 2012, CEPS


Dr. Kamla Ali Al Busaidi

QualificationsB.Sc. Information Systems (Sultan Qaboos University, Oman)

M.Sc. Information Systems Management (Duquesne University, USA)

Ph.D. Management of Information Systems (Claremont Graduate University, USA)

Membership of Professional Associations/Professional QualificationsAssociation for Information Systems (AIS)

BioDr. Kamla Ali Al-Busaidi is an associate professor in the information systems

department at Sultan Qaboos University. She got her PhD from Claremont

Graduate University in the USA in 2005. Some of her research Interests are

knowledge management systems, e-learning and acceptance of information

systems. She has several publications in forms of conference articles, journal

articles and book chapters. She also served as a session chair, organizing

member and/or a reviewer for several local, regional and international

conferences, and as a reviewer for several international journals.

Research Specialization- Knowledge Management Systems

- Electronic Learning

- Information Systems Acceptance

- Decision Support Systems

- Information Systems Deployment in the Middle East

- ICT Investments and Knowledge Economy.

Courses Taught- Introduction to Computers in Business (INFS 1411)

- Introduction to Information Systems (INFS 2412)

- Database Management I (INFS4416)

- Decision Support Systems (INFS4441)

- Knowledge-Based Information Systems (INFS4451)

- Special Topics in Information Systems (INFS4481)

- Management Information Systems (INFS 6411 – MBA)

- Database Management II(INFS4419)


Associate Professor




Room 2011, CEPS


Dr. Saqib Ali

QualificationsB.Sc. (Mathematics) (Punjab University, Pakistan)

B. Engineering (Computer Software) (SYICT Shenyang, P.R. China)

M.Sc. Information Systems (La Trobe, Melbourne, Australia)

Ph.D. Computer Science (La Trobe, Melbourne, Australia)

Membership of Professional Associations/Professional QualificationsMember of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (MIEEE), USA

Member of Association for Computing Machinery (MACM)

Member, Informing Science Institute, USA

BioDr. Saqib Ali is a business, IT implementation and execution professional,

with strong skills in business analysis, Software development, management

and implementation, developed through higher education and useful work

experience. Strong understanding of developing business strategies, business

process integration and their alignment with IT, along with innovative practices

to gain or sustain a competitive advantage. Dr. Saqib has also been active in

teaching and R&D (Research and Development), he successfully able to attract

two external (TRC), one strategic (HMTF) and three internal research grants

while working at SQU. He has published several journals, conference papers,

technical reports and edited two books on Business Information Systems.

He received Teaching Excellence Award for the academic year 2011 / 2012

from SQU. He has been invited to serve in many international conferences,

journals program committees. Currently Dr. Saqib is working with Department

of Information Systems at Sultan Qaboos University as an Associate Professor.

Research Specialization- Information Systems Security

- Pervasive Computing

- Industrial Informatics

- B2B (Business to Business) Communication

- Business Processes and Automation

- Information Technology Audit and Control

Courses Taught- Management Information Systems (INFS 2412)

- Web Applications Development I (INFS 3412)

- Business Data Communications and Networking (INFS 4421)

- Java Programming in Business Applications (INFS 4422)

- Information Systems Security (INFS 4425)

- Web Applications Development II (INFS 4432)

- Senior Project Information Systems (INFS 4471)

- Special Topics in Information Systems (INFS 4481)

- Wireless Internet and Mobile Business (INFS 4491)

- Independent Study in Information Systems (INFS 6471 - MBA)

- Electronic Commerce from Managerial Perspective (INFS 6461 – MBA)

- Information Systems Security (INFS 6511 – M.Sc.)


Assistant Professor




Room 2006, CEPS


Dr. Hafedh Al Shihi


M.Sc. Computer and Information Systems (University of Detroit, USA)

Ph.D. E-Government (Victoria University, Australia)

Membership of Professional Associations/Professional QualificationsMember of the Association of Information Systems (AIS)

Special Interest Group on Electronic Government (SIGeGov)

BioHafedh AlShihi is an Assistant Professor at the College of Commerce and

Economics in Sultan Qaboos University. He is a member of the Association

of Information Systems (AIS) and the Special Interest Group on Electronic

Government (SIGeGov). He is also a Research Associate in the Center for

International Corporate Governance Research at Victoria University, Australia.

He has several publications on e-government adoption and dissemination

and has attended several local and international conferences. He has been

selected to be in the reviewing committee of several international conferences

and journals such as the Journal of Information Technology for Development

and the International We-B (Working for E-Buisness) Conference in Australia.

He has supervised several undergraduate, masters and PhD students in their

research quest, several of which has been accepted in international conferences

and received national and international recognition. Currently, he is teaching

introductory and major Information Systems (IS) courses to undergraduate

students and supervising the Information Systems Group of IS majored students

(www.isg-zone.com).

Research Specialization- Electronic Government & Electronic Commerce

- Mobile Government and Mobile Commerce

- Research Process in Information Systems

- Technology/Innovation Adoption and Dissemination

- Communication Skills

Courses Taught- Introduction to Computers for Business (INFS 1411)


- Web Applications Development I (INFS3412)

- Business Software Development I (INFS3419)

- Wireless Internet and Mobile Business (INFS4491)


Assistant Professor




Room 2015, CEPS

T: +968 2414 2848 E: [email protected]

Dr. Jamil Al Shaqsi


M.Sc. Applied Information Technology (Monash University, Australia)

Ph.D. Computing Sciences (University of East Anglia, UK)

Membership of Professional Associations/Professional QualificationsThe Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET)

Machine Learning Ensemble Methods and Applications of ICMLA

Intelligent Data Engineering and Automated Learning (IDEAL)

IEEE World Congress on Computational Intelligence (IJCNN)

BioHas over 8 years of teaching and research experience in academia in

Oman and UK. Dr. Jamil won the first prize in regional competition organized

by the Institute of Engineering and Technology in the United Kingdom in 2010.

His research interests include Data Mining and Machine Learning. He conducts

researches on machine learning ensemble methods for data mining (clustering).

He proposed a novel 3-Staged clustering algorithm and an ensemble clustering

algorithm in the area of data mining. In addition, he proposed a new similarity

measure to calculate the similarity between data samples in a given dataset.

He was part of the Mathematics and Algorithms (MAG) research group as at

the University of Each Anglia. Has given master level-labs and seminars in the

School of Compute Science at UEA. A member of the Institute of Engineering

and Technology (IET) in the UK. The head of Omantel Innovation Committee,

2012 and 2013. A Member of the Judge Panel of the ROP Traffic Competition,

2013. Also, has published and presented papers in many local and international

conferences.

Research Specialization- Machine Learning

- Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining.

- Clustering Techniques and Algorithms.

- Clustering Ensembles.

- Mining DNA micro-array data for clustering cancers

Courses Taught - Introduction to Computer in Business (INFS 1411)

- Introduction to Management Information Systems (INFS 2412)

- Business Software Development I (INFS 3419)

- Business Software Development II (INFS 4418)


Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean for

Undergraduate Studies / Acting HoD (BCOM)




Room 2046, CEPS


Dr. Khamis Al Gharbi

QualificationsB.Sc. Economics (University of Miami, USA)

M.Sc, Data Processing (Florida Institute of Technology, USA)

Ph.D. Information Systems (Demontfort University, UK)

BioI am currently working in the capacity of Assistant Dean for Undergraduate

Studies. Previously, I worked in various positions, including Assistant professor

of Information Systems, Computer Center Deputy Director, and Administrative

Director. I obtained my Bachelor,s degree from University of Miami, USA,

Master,s from Florida Institute of Technology, USA, and Doctorate from De

Montfort University, UK. I have worked for more than 20 years in different

positions including technical, administrative, and academic and research.

Research Specialization- Intranet and Knowledge Management

- Software Engineering

- Information Systems/Information Technology Outsourcing

- Electronic Government

- Electronic Business/ Electronic Commerce and Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Courses Taught - Introduction to Computers for Business (INFS 1411)

- Computer Packages (COMP 1200)


- Systems Analysis and Design(INFS 3415)

- Electronic Business Strategy, Architecture and Design (INFS 4417)

- Information Systems Project Management (INFS 4492)


Assistant Professor




Room 2016-B, CEPS


Dr. Mohamed Al Fairuz


M.Sc. Information Technology (Queensland University of Technology, Australia)

Ph.D. Computing Science (University of Glasgow, UK)

Membership of Professional Associations/Professional QualificationsCertified Application Security Professional (CASP, 2012)

Linux Professional Institute Certificate -1 (LPIC-1, 2012)

Novell Certified Linux Administrator (NCLA, 2012)

Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP, 2001)

BioDr. Mohamed Al Faiurz received his MSc degree in Information Technology

(Web Applications) from Queensland University of Technology, Australia in

2003. He was awarded Ph.D. degree in Computing Science in 2011, from

University of Glasgow, UK. He is currently an assistant professor in the college

of Economics and Political Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman.

Dr. Mohamed Al Fairuz research spans technical and policy issues

of web applications development, including security, usability, scalability,

maintainability, and acceptability. Currently, he is interested in enabling multi-

channel authentication mechanisms on web-applications. The main area of

focus is online banking but the same methods and tools are often applied to

other web-applications as well. He is also currently working on forming an

e-assessing solution that would greatly enhance the assessments delivered to

students in the universities. Prior to joining Sultan Qaboos University, Al Fairuz

worked at the Y2K task force and the High Committee for National Day.

Research Specialization- Online Security

- Web Application Usability, Acceptability and Scalability

- Web authentication mechanisms

- Technology Acceptance

Courses Taught - Introduction to Computers in Business (INFS 1411)


- Web Applications Development – I (INFS 3412)

- Web Applications Development – II (INFS 4432)


Assistant Professor




Room 2008, CEPS


Dr. Syed Jafar Naqvi

QualificationsB.Sc. (University of Karachi)

M.Sc. Computer Science (Texas State University, USA)

Ph.D. Information Technology (University of Birmingham, UK)

Membership of Professional Associations/Professional QualificationsMember, International Association of Engineers (IAENG)

Member, Informing Science Institute, USA

Member, Alimony Association, University of Birmingham

BioDr. Naqvi has over 25 years of teaching and research experience in

academia and industry in the USA, Europe and the Middle East. Before joining

SQU he served as a faculty member in many prestigious universities including

the University of Maryland, University of Kentucky, East Texas State University,

University of Petroleum and Minerals Dhahran, Saudi Arabia and also served

as a researcher Member of Technical Staff (MTS) in Bell Labs, Naperville,

Illinois, USA. Dr. Naqvi has published over 31 research papers in national and

international journals and conference proceedings. He is full member of IAENG

and Informing Science institute USA.

Research Specialization- Mobile Technology Services

- Mobile Government

- Electronic Government

- Distance Learning

- Electronic Learning and Mobile Learning

Courses Taught- Introduction to Computers (INFS 1411)


- Management information Systems (INFS 6411 - MBA)

- Computer Hardware and Software (INFS 3300)

- Business Software Development II (INFS 4418)

- Web Applications Development I (INFS 3412)

- Business Data Communications and Networking (INFS 4421)

- Database Management II (INFS 4419)


Assistant Professor




Room 2013, CEPS


Dr. Taiseera Hazeem Al Balushi


M.Sc. Computer and Information Systems (University of Detroit, USA)

Ph.D. Software Quality (University of Manchester, UK)

Membership of Professional Associations/Professional QualificationsBritish Computer Society (BCS)

Association for Information Systems (AIS)

BioDr. Taiseera is an Assistant Professor at the College of Economics and

Political Science, Information Systems Department. Her main research interests involve the integration of quality concerns into software systems development projects by the application of the widely recognized standards such as ISO, IEEE, etc. Dr. Taiseera is active in the area of teaching and she received Best Teacher Award for the academic year 2012 / 2013. She is also active in the area of research as she managed to complete successfully two SQU internal grants and one grant from The Research Council. Dr. Taiseera managed to accomplish a number of industry related project with the undergraduate students such as (Royal Oman Police) ROP emergency application and Ministry of Manpower mobile application.

Research Specialization- Software Engineering

- Requirements Engineering

- Software Quality

- Ontologies

- Quality Metrics

- Business Process Modelling

Courses Taught- Introduction to Computers in Business (INFS 1411)


- Systems Analysis and Design (INFS 3415)

- Special Topics in Information Systems (INFS 4481)

- Information Systems Analysis, Modelling and Design (INFS 6710 – M.Sc.)


Assistant Professor and Dean of Student Affairs




Room 2014, CEPS


Dr. Yousef Al Hinai

QualificationsB.Sc. Information Systems (Sultan Qaboos University, Oman), M.Sc. Information Technology (Rochester Institute of Technology, USA) Ph.D. Information Systems (University of Melbourne, Australia)

Membership of Professional Associations/Professional QualificationsMember of the editorial and scientific committees of many national and international conferences and journals

BioYousuf S. AlHinai is an Assistant Professor of Information Systems at the

College of Commerce and Economics, Sultan Qaboos University. He completed his PhD in Information Systems from The University of Melbourne, Australia. Dr. AlHinai is experienced in both teaching and research. He has a number of published and under-review conference and journal research papers. He continues to work with a recognized network of scholars and researchers in different countries.

Research Specialization- Social Media & Social Networking- Cultural Issues in Information Systems- Mobile Commerce/Mobile Business- Technology Adoption and Diffusion

Courses Taught- Introduction to Computers in Business (INFS 1411)- Web Development I (INFS 3412)- Special Topics in Information Systems (Research in Information Systems)(INFS 4481)

Assistant Professor




Room 2016-F, CEPS


Dr. Zahran Salim Hamdan Al Salti

QualificationsB.Sc. Computer Science (Oklahoma State University, USA) M.Sc. Business Information Technology (Strathclyde University, UK) Ph.D. Information Systems (Brunel University, UK)

BioDr. Zahran Al-Salti has more than 15 years of academic and industry

experience. Prior to coming to SQU in 2004, he spent five years with the Ministry of Higher Education, Oman at different technical and managerial positions. He served as a director of postgraduate studies at the directorate general of scholarships. Dr. Al-Salti has published several papers in international journals and conference proceedings.

Research Specialization- Information Systems Outsourcing/ Offshoring - Social Media for Business - Knowledge Management- Strategic Information Systems- Electronic Government- Information Technology Entrepreneurship

Courses Taught - Advanced Information Systems (INFS 4414)- Special Topics in Information Systems – Information Systems Outsourcing (INFS 4481)- Introduction to Management Information Systems (INFS 2412)- Introduction to Computers in Business (INFS 1411)

Profile of Department Support Staff Members


Coordinator




Room 2009, CEPS


Abdulrahman Al Huthili

QualificationsB.Sc. (Majan College, Sultanate of Oman)

Technician (Lab Administrator)




Room 2005, CEPS


Isehaq Humaid Al Qassabi

QualificationsB.Sc. Information Technology, College of Applied Sciences, Sohar, Sultanate of Oman

Training and CertificationsDaleel Pertorleum Company, IT Division (July 2007)College of Applied Sciences - Sohar, IT Support (July 2009)LPIC – 1: Linux Professional Institute Certification, Linux Professional Institute (2012)CCNA: Cisco Certified Network Associate, Cisco Systems, Inc.

EnquiriesFor further information or enquiries please contact:


Head of the Department Dr. Ali Al-Badi(T: +968 2414 1858 F: +968 2441 4043 E: [email protected])

M.Sc. Program Chair Dr. Rafi Ashrafi (T: +968 2414 1835 F: +968 2441 4043 E: [email protected])

Department CoordinatorAbdulrahman Al Huthili (T: +968 2414 1867 F: +968 2441 4043 E: [email protected])Web: http://www.squ.edu.om/ceps

Address: Sultan Qaboos University P.O. Box 20, Postal Code 123Al Khoudh, Muscat, Sultanate of OmanContact number: +968 2414 4043Fax number: +968 2441 4043 Web: http://www.squ.edu.om/ps

Assistant Dean Office for Postgraduate Studies and Research (ADPSR)

Assistant DeanDr. Shahid Mahamoud Al Balushi (T: +968 2414 1840 F: +968 2441 3977 E: [email protected])


Business Administration Program OfficerMs. Badiaa Mrini(T: +968 2414 2972 F: +968 2441 3977 E: [email protected])

ADPSR CoordinatorEbtihal Badar Abdullah Al Maharmi(T: +968 2414 1804 F: +968 2441 3977 E: [email protected])

Deanship for Postgraduate Studies

Department of Admissions and StatisticsEmail: [email protected]

Department of Academic AffairsEmail: [email protected]

Department of Scholarships and International StudentsEmail: [email protected] of [email protected]

Address: Sultan Qaboos University P.O. Box 17, Postal Code 123Al Khoudh, Muscat, Sultanate of OmanContact number: +968 2414 5901Fax number: +968 24413122 Web: http://www.squ.edu.om/ps

DisclaimerThe information provided in this document is solely intended for Sultan Qaboos University M.Sc. students, Faculty and Staff only. While the Department of the Information Systems strives to make the information on this handbook as timely and accurate as possible, the department makes no claims, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of this handbook, and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in the contents of this handbook.

Design: Graphics Dept. CET Sultan Qaboos University Printing Press, Muscat - Sultanate of Oman 2015

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