AMEA Press Release 01 02 2015 - DAAD...AMEA supports the higher education sector by assisting Afghan Universities in their efforts to improve, modernize and expand their mining related

Stand: 31.01.2015 Erstellt von: GIZ-AMEA (AF, KF) Seite 1

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


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.






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.


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.

Documents

AMEA Press Release 01 02 2015 - DAAD...AMEA supports the higher education sector by assisting Afghan Universities in their efforts to improve, modernize and expand their mining related