The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has accredited the BSc (Hons) in Health, Safety and Environmental Management at the International College of Engineering and Management (ICEM) in Muscat, Oman
It is now the Middle East’s first college to offer an IOSH-accredited programme. This recognises that the qualification provided by the college meets the standards of excellence set by IOSH, which is the chartered body for safety and health professionals.
The four-year course ensures that students gain in-depth knowledge of safety and health management systems in a variety of industries. Subjects covered by the course include fire and safety inspection and safety in oil and gas fields, as well as national and international legislation relating to occupational safety and health.
Students are trained to a level appropriate for those who will eventually hold senior positions within an organisation.
Neelesh Sogani, Chair, IOSH’s Oman branch, said the accreditation was an important step forward for safety and health in the Gulf. “As per the recent projection, Oman needs approximately 35,000 HSE professionals. The college is helping to produce the future generations of safety and health professionals, whose responsibility it will be to develop safe and healthy systems of work to protect millions of employees both in Oman and beyond.
“The accreditation of the course is recognition of the excellence on offer. Such a close working relationship between IOSH and the college can only strengthen the drive towards safe and healthy workplaces.
He added that occupational safety and health is increasingly becoming a priority for businesses. They are recognising that safety and health is an investment, not a cost; that it drives business performance.
Affan K Al Akhzami, managing director and CEO of ICEM, said, “ICEM is proud to become the first college in the Middle East to offer a programme accredited by IOSH, which is a distinguished organisation. Students graduating from our course will now have the added benefit of a truly internationally-recognised qualification to add to their degree certificate.
“ICEM graduates are already in high demand from industry and having an IOSH accreditation for their degree will increase the employment options available to our graduates.”
