New seminar series on "The Struggle for Quality and Transformation in Afghanistan's Higher Education”

Photo: Jalalabad, Afghanistan (c) Fazlullah Akhtar.

A new seminar series on "The Struggle for Quality and Transformation in Afghanistan's Higher Education” has started. The Seminar Series is organized and carried out by The New University in Exile Consortium at The New School for Social Research. The University of Bonn has been a member of the New University in Exile Consortium since 2020.

The 10-week online series takes place every Friday, October 6 - December 15, 2023; 15:00 - 16:30 h (CET) and is accessible to everyone interested. 

Registration at: https://event.newschool.edu/afghanistanhighereducation

Course description

This 10-week seminar will provide a comprehensive analysis of the steps taken to improve quality and drive transformation in Afghanistan’s higher-education sector over the last two decades and before the 2021 takeover of the Taliban. Beginning with the historical context of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and tracing the advancements, setbacks, and changes following the Taliban takeover and U.S. invasion, this course takes a socio-historical approach to examine the past, present, and future of higher education in Afghanistan.

­­Overview

• October 6: Introduction and History of Afghanistan
• October 13: Higher Education in Afghanistan in the Historical Context
• October 20: Education During the War Periods (1978-2001)
• October 27: Recovery of Higher Education After 2001
• November 3: The First National Higher Education Strategic Plan (2010-2014)
• November 10: The Second National Higher Education Strategic Plan (2016-2020)
• November 17: Access to Higher Education
• December 1: Quality in Higher Education
• December 8: Achievements in Gender and Associated Issues in Higher Education 
• December 15: Achievements in Higher Education and Current Status under the Taliban de-facto Regime

Interview with co-organizer of the series

ZEF-colleague Dr Fazlullah Akthar is a co-organizer of the series and explains the background and aims of the seminar series.

Why was the seminar series started now?

The seminar series started to address the changes and developments in Afghanistan's higher education sector over the last two decades (2001-2021). This series aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the steps taken to improve the quality and drive transformation in the higher education system in Afghanistan. The timing of the seminar series is driven by the need to understand and discuss the post-2001 efforts and achievements made to revive higher education in the country, given the significance of recent developments and changes in the country. Unfortunately, the denial of access to higher education for women since the arrival of the de facto regime in Kabul in August 2021 is a concerning and worrisome development that needs to be projected for awareness purposes.

Who are the target audiences?

The target audience for the seminar series includes a wide range of individuals and groups interested in Afghanistan's higher education system, its history, and its most recent transformations. This encompasses academics, policymakers, researchers, students, international organizations, NGOs, and anyone with an interest in the educational landscape of Afghanistan. The series might also attract individuals interested in international cooperation on education and development. Besides, the series provides a comparative analysis of the achievements made in the last two decades concerning the four
decades-long ups and downs within the higher education sector of Afghanistan.

What do you hope to achieve?

The objectives of the seminar series are to:

• Provide a historical overview of the informal and formal educational system in Afghanistan.
• Provide a comprehensive analysis of the steps taken to improve the quality and drive transformation in Afghanistan's higher education sector, especially over the last two decades.
• Highlight the achievements made in terms of governance, policy changes, academic advancement, curricula upgrading, and international competence in higher education.
• Examine the historical progression and decline of higher education in Afghanistan to provide context for understanding the importance of recent efforts by the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
• Foster a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the higher education sector in Afghanistan.
   

Can you tell us how the current situation for higher education is in Afghanistan?

The current situation for higher education in Afghanistan is very disappointing. Hundreds of faculty members and professors were forced to leave the country, living in exile. Besides, the manipulation of the university curricula for political purposes is having detrimental impacts on the quality of education and the prospects of graduates. These are significant challenges that hinder the ability of graduates to compete on both national and international platforms. Another and most crucial challenge faced by higher education in Afghanistan is the denial of women to work and study by the de-facto authorities, which will have dire consequences for Afghanistan and its people in many ways.