Drexel's English Language Center (ELC) is currently hosting the first cohort of 26 students through a newly established multi-year agreement with the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman – Cultural Division. These Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) scholarship recipients represent the top 10% of Omani students who graduated from high schools with the highest overall GPA. They will be at the ELC during the 2023-2024 academic year to improve their English and to receive support as they apply for admission to selective colleges and universities in the U.S.

The ELC is one of only four intensive English programs (IEPs) in the U.S. to host these scholarship recipients. Planning for this new special program, ELC Admissions Process Support (ELCAPS), began in August 2022 and necessitated the collaboration of numerous departments on campus. ELCAPS complements Drexel’s strategic plan, Drexel 2030, by increasing internationalization of the campus through this global partnership with the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman and by building community engagement into the offerings. Drexel is one of 131 approved U.S. institutions of higher education approved by the MOHE to which these participants with STEM and ESAM (education, social science, arts and management) majors may apply for undergraduate admission. This first cohort met with a Drexel International Admissions representative, met with a LeBow College of Business representative and took a tour of the College of Engineering research facilities. Consequently, many of them decided to apply to undergraduate programs here.

The ELCAPS students also participate in extracurricular activities designed to help them practice their English and acculturate to life on the campus of a U.S. institute of higher education. As part of the college and university selection process, field trips to other school campuses are built into the program. Drexel community members wishing to learn more about the program and interact with the students during an event may contact the ELC at elc@drexel.edu.