AMEA Press Release 01 02 2015 - DAAD...AMEA supports the higher education sector by assisting Afghan...
Transcript of AMEA Press Release 01 02 2015 - DAAD...AMEA supports the higher education sector by assisting Afghan...
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PRESS RELEASE
Academic Mining Education in Afghanistan:
German Embassy, Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Mines and
Petroleum bid farewell to Afghan Scholars of Mining and Geology
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Kabul – As part of a series of capacity development measures of the new project “Academic Mining
Education in Afghanistan” (AMEA), funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, 15 highly
qualified scholars including university lecturers from Kabul Polytechnic University, Kabul University,
Balkh University, Bamyan University, Sheberghan University as well as staff of the Afghan Ministry
of Mines and Petroleum have received their award certificates to pursue a two year Master degree
in Geoscience at Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg before resuming their previous posts.
Christian Heusermann, Counsellor for Economic Affairs at the German Embassy to Afghanistan, His
Excellency, the Acting Minister of Higher Education (MoHE), Professor Babury and Chief of Staff of
the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP), Mr. Shafiqullah Shahrani, bid farewell to the scholars,
who will start their Master of Geoscience course at Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg,
Faculty of Geosciences, Geoengineering and Mining in the coming months.
The mining sector holds great potential for sustainable economic development as an essential source
of revenue for Afghanistan. “Keeping in mind the importance of this sector, by developing it we can
achieve our goals and make a better economy for the people of Afghanistan” says Shafiqullah
Shaharani of the MoMP. “A lot of steps have already been taken by the Afghan Government in an
effort to make mining a profitable sector but a lot of steps still need to be taken, in particular in
regards to education. The Academic Mining Education project is a very important step towards
having well prepared and well skilled Afghans working in the mining sector”, comments Christian
Heusermann.
AMEA supports the higher education sector by assisting Afghan Universities in their efforts to
improve, modernize and expand their mining related study programs in order to enhance academic
and technical skills of graduates in the various fields of mining and invests significantly in the capacity
development of staff. H.E. Prof. Barbury, acting Minister of the MoHE reiterates, that “Afghanistan
badly needs to improve the human capital, the criteria of the degree of faculty members is one of the
important issues. Regarding this project, we agreed on the clear agenda to really enhance and raise
the capacity of our faculty members through post-graduate studies, through short term trainings and
other interventions.”
TU Bergakademie Freiberg is one of the eldest natural resources universities worldwide that looks
back on a 250 year long tradition in the field of mining. Being a University of Resources, the
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university focuses comprehensively on securing the supply of natural resources along the entire
added value chain. It covers the spectrum from the exploration for new deposits, the low impact,
environmentally sound extraction of the raw materials as well as the development of alternative
energy technologies and efficient materials right up to the recycling process.
After obtaining their Master degree, the scholars are expected to return to Afghanistan for research
and teaching at Afghan universities or work in the private and public administration sectors. “The
new mining law has been published but law needs implementation. His Excellency, the President of
Afghanistan is keenly looking into this sector. That’s why you have to study very seriously on these
issues because we all need you and your experience and I promise you that your seats are reserved
from now” are last words of encouragement by Shafiqullah Shaharani of the MoMP.
All scholars were selected by an independent committee of representatives of TU Bergakademie
Freiberg and DAAD based on their technical expertise, personal motivation and language skills.
As part of the Afghan-German Cooperation, AMEA is being implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft
für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)
through the MoHE and in close collaboration with the MoMP. The program is assisting respective
partner universities, particularly Kabul Polytechnic University, Kabul University and Balkh University,
in modernizing existing study programs such as geology and other mining related fields, introducing
also new subjects related to public administration, law and economical sciences. A strong emphasis
is placed on practical training as well as national and international academic exchange. The capacity
development measures enhance the relevance of mining related academic education adapting it to
the needs of the private sector and administrative bodies thus making the country less dependent on
foreign expertise. Employment prospects for young Afghan mining professionals are furthermore
improved within academia, the private sector as well as Ministries and line departments.
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Citations
Christian Heusermann, Economic Counselor s, German Embassy
A lot of steps have already been taken by the Afghan Government in an effort to make mining a
profitable sector but a lot of steps still need to be taken, in particular in regards to education.
The Academic Mining Education project is a very important step towards having well prepared and
well skilled Afghans working in the mining sector.
What is equally important is that we here today have scholars from all different parts of Afghanistan
(Bamyan, Jawzjan, Balkh, Kabul) who represent the whole broad array of well skilled afghan scholars
involved in the mining sector, not only recent graduates but also professors, people from
administration and politics.
I am sure that you will come back with a lot of new experiences not only work wise but also on a
personal level and enjoy your stay at one of the best universities in mining and come back to
Afghanistan and contribute to making the mining sector a growing, prosperous sector to support the
Afghan economy and the Afghan development in general.
H.E. Prof. Barbury, Acting Minister (MoHE)
I am very pleased to see that another cohort of our young generation, young faculty members, and
young candidates are ready to take very serious responsibility to enhance their capacities and
upgrade their skill levels.
We believe that Afghanistan badly needs to improve the human capital. We are not doing well
despite our efforts during these last 13 years, especially during these last five years. The criteria of
the degree of faculty members is one of the important issues.
Despite of all our achievements some measures seem to be orphaned, one of them is mining. When
we realize the great needs from the community side and try to align it with our resources we see that
it is a neglected area.
We are working to finalize our second five-year national higher education strategic plan. Afghanistan
needs to badly raise the capacities in these orphaned areas.
We believe in such multi-stakeholder venture which is why we collaborate with the MoMP as well.
Regarding this project, we agreed on the clear agenda to really enhance and raise the capacity of our
faculty members through post-graduate studies, through short term trainings and other
interventions.
We really rely on you. The only incentive that motivates us to work for this country under a lot of
pressure is you because I believe in the future and I believe in you.
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You need to select those areas for your thesis that are relevant to Afghanistan and the crucial needs
of Afghanistan.
Shafiqullah Shaharani, Chief of Staff (MoMP)
Our country has vast and huge mineral reserves which needs your expertise. Keeping in mind the
importance of this sector, by developing this sector we can achieve our goals and make a better
economy for the people of Afghanistan.
We have always been a committed partner of the MoHE and do appreciate the collaboration on
behalf of the Ministry.
The new mining law has been published but law needs implementation. We are expecting you to
come back and implement this law. That’s the reason we are all encouraging you to come back with
full hands so that we can utilize your experiences, your knowledge, to help this sector to stand on his
feet.
His Excellency, the President of Afghanistan is keenly looking into this sector. That’s why you have to
study very seriously on these issues because we all need you and your experience and I promise you
that your seats are reserved from now.