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; however, a lot of steps still need to be taken, in particular with regard to education. The Academic Mining Education project is a crucial step towards fostering the capacity of 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 Stand: Erstellt von: GIZ-AMEA (AF, KF) Seite 1

2 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 Acting Minister, Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), H.E. Professor Babury Chief of Staff, Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP), Mr. Shafiqullah Shahrani Stand: Erstellt von: GIZ-AMEA (AF, KF) Seite 3

4 Christian Heusermann, German Embassy Hand-Over of Scholarship Awards for Master of Geosciences Program at TU BA Freiberg Stand: Erstellt von: GIZ-AMEA (AF, KF) Seite 4

5 Faculty members of 5 universities and staff of MoMP, recipients of scholarships Stand: Erstellt von: GIZ-AMEA (AF, KF) Seite 5