An Overview of the National Higher Education Strategic Plan

Dr. Fred M. HaywardMinistry of Higher Education

January 25, 2011

Introduction: Key Elements To improve access to higher education. To

double enrollments by 2014 from the 67,000 in 2008 to 135,000, of whom 115,000 would be in public higher education.

To increase the quality of teaching, research, and service to the nation.

To improve the quality of the faculty through PhD and Master’s training for over 1000 faculty as well as in service training to upgrade technical staff.

To rehabilitate the infrastructure -- build additional classrooms, laboratories, computer labs, offices, and other facilities for 50,000 more students in public institutions.

A goal is to hire as many as 1800 additional teaching faculty to accommodate increased access for students and to meet new critical needs while keeping the current average 25:1 student teacher ratio.

To produce quality graduates relevant to the needs of the country.

To encourage research which focuses on key issues and problems facing Afghanistan including its agriculture, business, mining, education and public sectors.

To contribute to growth, national development and the personal well-being of the citizens of Afghanistan.

Total cost: $564 million over five years

Actual and Projected Total Higher Education Enrollments in Public, Private, and Community College 2005-2014

Actual and Projected Enrollment in Higher Education Universities and Institutions in Afghanistan: Public, Private, and Community Colleges 2005-2014

-

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

100,000

110,000

120,000

130,000

140,000

150,000

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Public Universitiesand InstitutesPrivateUniversities

Community Colleges

Total Enrollment

The Strategic Plan builds on: The Constitutional obligation of the state is to

provide quality higher education to its citizens The Afghan National Development Strategy

which sees higher education as one of its eight pillars.

The Ministry of Higher Education’s commitment to develop a high quality higher education system relevant to national needs.

Extensive consultation with universities, government officials, and donors.

The realities of Afghanistan today.

Vision for Higher Education

A high quality public and private higher education system that responds to Afghanistan’s growth and development needs, improves public well-being, respects traditions, incorporates modern scientific knowledge, is well managed, and internationally recognized.

The Mission

To facilitate equitable access to higher education for all who are academically qualified; establish innovative institutions that provide high quality teaching, research, and service; produce graduates who are competitive in a global economy; contribute to economic growth, social development, nation building, and the stability of the country.

Values:

High Quality Tertiary Education Nation Building Ethics & Integrity Equity of opportunity Good Governance, Effectiveness &

Efficiency Institutional Autonomy Public Accountability

Two basic programs:

I. To educate and train skilled graduates to meet the socio-economic development needs of Afghanistan, enhance teaching, research and learning and encourage service to the community and the nation.

II. To lead and manage a coordinated system of higher education comprising universities, institutes, and community colleges dedicated to providing high quality tertiary education.

I.1 Faculty & Staff Development

Increase the number of faculty by 1800 to accommodate the growth of students to 115,000 by 2014. Increase staff by 800.

Faculty professional development: Increase faculty with PhDs from 5.2% (in 2008 the base year) to 20% by 2014 which means training approximately 350 abroad during plan period. To raise the number with Master’s from 31% to 60% which will require training about 700 faculty and sponsored student abroad. Cost $63 million.

Faculty Members by Academic Degree (2008)

Number and Percentage of Faculty Members by Academic Degrees in Public Higher Education Universities and Institutions in Afghanistan

PhD134, 5.2%

Bachelors1646, 64.0%

Master's792, 30.8%

Expand Master’s Programs in Afghanistan from five currently with goal of doubling the number by 2014 at comprehensive research universities.

Improve teaching and learning with emphasis on both. Provide short courses and training.

Encourage faculty exchanges to enhance teaching, learning, and research.

Implement 2009 promotions policies emphasizing merit based decisions and transparency.

Clarify the retirement policy and provide formal mechanisms to keep outstanding faculty beyond age 65.

I.2 Curriculum enhancement and teaching material development

Carry out a national needs assessment re: the curriculum

Reform and broaden curriculum focusing on quality and state-of-the-art standards.

Emphasize problem solving, discussion, and research for students.

Emphasize English and other foreign language instruction.

Promote textbook writing and translation in Dari and Pashtu.

Encourage internships and professional practice for students

I.3 Infrastructure Improvement

Carry out a review of facilities and a needs assessment re: quality, increases in students & faculty

Maintain a moratorium on new higher education public institutions except community colleges.

Rehabilitation of existing facilities. We estimate the cost to be about $28 million over the plan period.

Construction of new classrooms, laboratories, IT facilities, offices, etc. Estimated cost of $142 million

Construction of new dorms and rehabilitation of some existing facilities with goal to accommodate 100% of eligible women students and 30% of students overall. Some cost recovery is envisioned. Cost est. $112 million.

IT infrastructure and Higher Education Management System (HEMIS) to improve data management, coordination, and analysis. To establish system wide networks linking all campuses to the MoHE and the Internet.

I.4 Research and Graduate Instruction

Research Funding will be provided on a competitive basis to encourage faculty research. $5.7 million is sought to 2014. Have funds for next 3 years from World Bank.

The MoHE will set up a research directorate to help raise funds and monitor programs.

Universities are urged to create a culture of research on campus and partnerships with institutions abroad.

Encourage the comprehensive research universities to develop graduate programs.

II.1 Governance: Capacity building and reorganization at

MoHE to oversee and monitor the strategic plan.

Regular meetings between MoHE and higher education institutions.

Have established a donors working group to enhance coordination and cooperation.

Greater financial autonomy for institutions & the ability to establish foundations. Dependent on approval of H. Ed. Law.

II.2 Access, Expansion & Structure

More efficient use of facilities with morning, more evening, and vacation classes.

Community colleges to fill a gap in training of mid-level technical students for positions now mostly filled by foreigners. Provide a two year Associates of Arts Degree (AA) transferable to universities. Build 5 Com. Colleges for 5000 students. Cost $26 million.

Private higher education. Focus on quality assurance and access. Encourage non-profit sector. Require accreditation.

Student services: MoHE will work to improve student services including counseling, mental health, health, and placement. Partial funding from World bank. Additional $1.8 million need to expand to all institutions.

Students with special needs. Provision of services including access.

Access to education. MoHE is committed to gender equity. It will encourage bridging programs for marginalized and underrepresented groups.

II.3 National Admission Exam: Kankor

Staff training to enhance effectiveness. Redesign exam to insure promising

students in the arts and other areas are not disadvantaged.

Assist higher education institutions in making catalogues, information on admission, rules & regulations, graduation requirements, available to student, parents, and the public.

II.4 Quality Assurance & Accreditation

MoHE began a self-assessment process for higher education institutions in 2010 to start the quality improvement process.

Establish the Afghanistan Quality Assurance and Accreditation Agency under umbrella of the MoHE but autonomous. Review all public & private institutions. Await H. Ed. Law.

Work closely with universities & institutes. Authority will rest with a Board of academics

& professionals appointed by the Minister.

II.5 Funding Strategy

Increase funding for higher education. MoHE plans to decentralize major financial

and academic authority in keeping with efforts to improve quality and effectiveness

Facilitate and encourage entrepreneurial higher education including cost-sharing.

Work to reduce non-academic expenditures. Seek to develop a scholarship program for

poor students in context of cost sharing.

II.6 National Research & Education Network

Establish a network linking all higher education institutions, MoHE, and Internet

Develop data collection and analysis systems for Ministry and institutions.

Facilitate expanded access to the Internet for faculty, students, and staff to all campuses.

Establish a digital library available to faculty, staff and students

Provide for user training.

III. What does it mean for you? A high quality strategic plan in place

Progressive, forward looking focused in improved quality, merit recruitment and promotions, more efficient administration.

Positive reception of the Strategic Plan by funders and Kabul Conference. Hopefully will turn into actual funding. Req. $211 m.

Donor response has been slow. Need to encourage their active funding.

Upgraded teaching and learning, research and service important.

Research for development focus. Opportunity for collaboration with universities abroad.

Language requirement for new faculty. English emphasis.

Faculty/staff development funding started. Will need a great deal of cooperation and assistance with outside universities for effective faculty development.

IV. The challenges Funding request total – $560 million World Bank initial funding $20 million is first

tranche. Working on 2nd and 3rd. Donor response to strategic plan positive but little

funding to date. Capacity building started at the MoHE. MoHE will assist campus capacity building. Some faculty resistance (a world-wide tradition)

but generally positive response. Fear of change Fear of competition

Need to create a new kind of campus culture for faculty and students. That will be a major effort in which you can help.

Need a new commitment to national development at the university level.

Implementation at the national level Organization of the process at the MoHE. Higher education law needs approval. Need commitment at every level.

Selling community colleges (2 years, AA and AS degrees). Important to protect U’s.

Need assistance in making the case internationally.

World Bank empirical evidence that no nation develops without a high quality higher education system

Fragility of the current moment Problem of security Corruption Political uncertainty Fence sitters

Building a future based on national and international investments to date.

Faculty & staff can set the example with commitment to change.

International commitments vital. You can help.

Provide needed training here and in Afghanistan Embrace the new young faculty members with

continued mentoring – e.g. U. Mass & Indiana Be a voice for the new order. It can be a bright future.

Things are in place for that to happen. We all need to help make the case.

Help create high ethical standards; if higher education is not about truth we are all in trouble (help bring an end to growth of plagiarism, favoritism, back stabbing).

Be a role model for others. Take advantage of the process of institutional strategic

planning and self-assessments to think about program transformation.

V. Conclusions: You have tremendous opportunities now to help

Afghan higher education. There are major challenges too that will require a

great deal of tact and commitment on your parts You are in positions to influence the future at an

exciting time and have an opportunity to make a major contribution to the transformation of Afghan higher education.

Time is short. I don’t think there will be another opportunity.

Thank you. Are there any questions.