PRESS RELEASE. Saturday, January 31, 2015

Transcription

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

2 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. Stand: Erstellt von: GIZ-AMEA (AF, KF) Seite 2

3 Stand: Erstellt von: GIZ-AMEA (AF, KF) Seite 3

4 Stand: Erstellt von: GIZ-AMEA (AF, KF) Seite 4

5 Stand: Erstellt von: GIZ-AMEA (AF, KF) Seite 5

6 Stand: Erstellt von: GIZ-AMEA (AF, KF) Seite 6

7 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. Stand: Erstellt von: GIZ-AMEA (AF, KF) Seite 7

8 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. Stand: Erstellt von: GIZ-AMEA (AF, KF) Seite 8