Successful Strategies for Afghan
Faculty Members Studying Abroad
Afghanistan University Linkages with
North American Institutions of Higher
Education: Lessons Learned and the
Way Ahead
January 25-26, 2011
Ball State University-Indianapolis
Center
Indianapolis, In
Presenters
Dr. Yar Ebadi, Dean of College Of Business
Administration, Kansas State University
Dr. Julie Barker Lebo, Educational Consultant
Linkages
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Kabul University, Kabul, Afghanistan
Balkh University, Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan
Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey
Birla Institute of Technology, Pilani, India
Kansas State University, Manhattan, USA
Funding
• Strengthening Higher Education Project,
Ministry of Higher Education, Islamic Republic
of Afghanistan (funded by the World Bank)
Faculty Goals
• A significant number of lecturers at Kabul and
Balkh Universities in the Faculties of Engineering
and Languages and Literature who have only a
bachelor’s degree earn a Master’s degree at a
foreign university
• The lecturers become proficient in English
• The lectures acquire skills in best-practice
teaching methods
• The lecturers become current in their discipline
• The lecturers learn how to conduct academic
research
Successful Outcomes of the Project
• 12 MA graduates
• Continual presence of Kansas State faculty in
Afghanistan
• Curricular revisions
• Assistance with student advising and
placement
• Use of Lab/equipment assistance
• Renewed interest in partners’ countries
Outcomes, cont.
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Academic linkages
Research collaboration
Grant opportunities
Publishing opportunities
Strategies for Selection of Faculty
• English language proficiency
• Academic ability to meet international
standards
• Openness to meeting and working with others
• Ability to be away from their families for at
least three years
• Financial means to be abroad for at least three
years
Strategies, cont.
• Willingness to try new teaching methods
• Flexibility
• Willingness to work hard academically.
Successful Strategies for Faculty While
They are Studying
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On campus housing
Meal plan
Support for health issues
Adequate academic advising
Plug students into existing campus resources
Financial advising regarding monthly budget
Relationships
Support for academic success:
– Understanding a syllabus
– Study skills
– Test prep
Strategies, cont.
– Time management
– Homework
– Writing skills
Strategies for Faculty Members Upon
Return to Afghanistan
• On-going professional development
• Opportunities for professional and academic
advancement
• Utilization of new-found knowledge
• Research capability
• Publishing opportunities
• Capability of participation in professional
organizations
Strategies, cont.
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Grant opportunities
Professional pay scale with merit pay
Enhanced working conditions
Leadership roles within the university and civil
society
• Opportunities for university partnerships and
fellowships
• Business and civil partnerships
Conclusion
• It is important to select the candidates for
study abroad carefully, taking into account
predictors of success
• It is often more convenient and less expensive
for Afghan university teachers to earn
Master’s degrees in other Asian countries
• It is important to diversify the places where
the faculty members receive their degrees.