1 st Winter Summit at the Anatolian Summit (WISAS), Erzurum, Turkey February 23 – 26, 2012

1. 1st Winter Summit at the Anatolian Summit (WISAS), Erzurum, TurkeyFebruary 23 – 26, 2012 Presented by: Ahmad Tariq Kamal Rector, Khurasan Institute of Higher Education (KIHE), Jalalabad, Afghanistan Date: February 24, 2012

2. Abstract: • Unprecedented changes are transforming the lives of people in the developed countries and most developing ones. Globalization together with new information technology and the innovative processes they foment are driving a revolution in every aspect ranging from domestic affairs and living patterns to nations’ international engagements. The rapid flow of capital today relies on information, knowledge and communication in global markets. Knowledge is essential to globalization because globalization increases demand for education, more essentially in developing countries like Afghanistan. Global changes in general, bring with them numerous demands. Some of those demands in the arena of education are internationalization of higher education and forging academic partnerships. Effectively addressing these demands will require world communities, more specifically, academic institutions to work together and constructively shape the mind sets of younger generations by teaching them the principles of tolerance, co-existence and mutual understanding. • The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on how global changes have affected the higher education sector, specifically in Afghanistan and what is that international academic institutions can do to mitigate the effects of global changes and address their demands. The prospects of a prosperous world depend on how willing international institutions are to forge partnerships and cooperate with each other. It also depends on how institutions willing to work together are making efforts to translate words into deeds and make sure the promises made are the promises kept.

3. Collaboration for Survival

4. Understanding the Effects of Global Changes on Higher Education • Effects of Global Changes on Afghanistan – Has Afghanistan Benefited • Developments in Higher Education in Afghanistan Since 2001 • Globalization and Internationalization • Global Efforts towards Internationalization • Opportunities, Challenges and Risks in Internationalization • Recommendations • Likely Outcomes from Close Collaboration between Academic Institutions • The End

5. "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it solely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one corner of the earth all one's lifetime." Mark Twain –

6. Comprehending the changes is a difficult task because of the scope and complexity • 21st century academic changes are extensive – they affect larger populations • Institutions affected by international trends always • With the rise of English, importance of global context modified • ICT ensured universal instantaneous contact • Universities, knowledge, academics & students are intimately linked to global knowledge economy

7. International students mobility on the rise • Universities coming closer because of English and internet • International conferences like WISAS and others – breaking barriers • Universities no longer operate in a vacuum or national context • These changes have led to:

8. Generally, developments have revolutionized the world • Most countries have benefited • Quality of life has improved • Agriculture, mining, transportation, industry, commerce, telecommunications, IT, etc., have improved • Afghanistan didn’t benefit because of wars and instabilities • World was revolutionizing when Afghanistan was suffering

9. New public and private universities established • Currently, Afghanistan has 26 public and 55 private HE institutions • American University of Afghanistan, Iran’s Islamic Azad University and others like KIHE provide western style modern education • School and university enrollment and number of teachers have drastically increased

13. Currently, bachelor’s degrees are offered in: Management, Finance, Administration, IT, Law and PoliticalScience, Medicine, Economics, Journalism, Civil Engineering, Literature, etc. • Institutions have faculty from Pakistan, India, the US, Europe and other different parts of the globe • The approximate number of foreign faculty in Afghanistan is 750 – 800

14. Institutions are now forging academic partnerships with other international institutions • KIHE affiliated with DIU and IUC, is an ESRUC member, signed a memorandum of agreement with the Ataturk University and established its Office of International Affairs (OIA) • Presence of foreign faculty and the forging of academic partnerships, an indication of Afghanistan opening its borders for international collaboration

16. Addressing the Demands of Globalization

18. Globalization: Broad economic, technological and scientific trends that affect higher education • Internationalization: Policies and programs undertaken to deal with globalization • Internationalization includes: sending students to study abroad, setting up branch campuses and engaging in inter-institutional partnerships

19. Each local, national and regional context is unique – several broad trends can be identified globally • Mobility of people, programs and institutions • Rising collaborative research, evolving curricula and approaches to teaching and learning • The mobility of students has increased exponentially in the last decade • UNESCO estimates 2.8 million international students in 2007 • An increase of 53% over 1.8 million figure in 2000 • By 2025, the number will rise to 7.2 million – an increase of 188 percent • These developments call for further collaboration

21. International mobility has become a central issue in HE • Plays a vital role in internationalization policies in HE • Affects a wide range of other policies and practices in HE • Programs like Erasmus, Fulbright and others have been largely successful

22. Internationalization has reached the national agenda in a wide range of countries • Qatar, Singapore and the UAE have taken dramatic steps to promote internationalization • These countries have taken the following bold steps: 1. Recruiting foreign universities to establish local campuses 2. Expanding access to local student population 3. Financing higher education institutions Other countries, like the UK, US, Australia and Canada have adjusted visa and immigration requirements to attract foreign students These countries have been motivated by improved international profile and financial gains

23. Turkey too, is opening its borders now for international students • Turkey is playing an important role in organizing conferences and festivals like (Bogazici, WISAS, etc.) • These efforts are an indication of Turkey’s willingness to internationalize

24. International students and their families contributed nearly $ 15.5 billion to the US economy in 2007 – 2008 • The world’s international students represent an $ 80 billion industry • Some countries are now hosting hundreds of thousands of international students from around the world

26. Educational, political and cultural motivations have also become relevant • Countries pursuing agendas on capacity building • Agendas include cooperative activities in partnership with the developing world • Bologna process is drawing more than 40 countries into a European Higher Education Area (EHEA) • EHEA will achieve a common, Europe-wide framework of understanding around HE and lifelong learning • EHEA will include intelligibility of degrees and qualifications and high level of quality, attractiveness and competitiveness

27. Similarly, the US Fulbright program introduced in 1946, operates in over 155 countries and provides 8,000 grants annually to undertake graduate study, advanced research, university learning and classroom teaching • So far, 302,000 individuals have participated in this program contributing to the process of mutual understanding between the US and the participating nations • Average no. of Fulbright scholarships for Afghan students is 30 – 35.

28. Some see internationalization as an opportunity for study and research no longer limited by national boundaries, others see it as an assault on national culture – It is both. • With 2.8 million students, countless scholars and universities moving around globally, there is a pressing need for international cooperation and agreements • At stake are issues of competitiveness and relevance, requiring new kinds of strategic thinking and acting with regard to international dimension

29. Healthier consequence of globalization on HE to function internationally has been the necessity for effective systems of accountability, shared benchmarks and standards for ethics and quality • Students & scholars with foreign credentials can no longer be penalized • Benchmarks and standards are needed to evaluate unfamiliar qualifications

30. Universities in developed nations should establish partnerships with institutions in developing countries like Afghanistan to offer academic programs, develop research projects and collaborate in a variety of ways • As centers of education, universities must adopt expanded missions to improve contacts • Educational exchange and scholarship programs like, Fulbright, Erasmus, & Nuffic, etc. have brought people closer and should continue with more emphasis on scholarships for developing countries • Establishment of university branch campuses in another host country should be encouraged • IT and communication innovations required for capacity building across borders and must continue • Systems of accountability, shared benchmarks and standards of quality and ethics should be established • Visa restrictions – a major obstacle and should be eased • Internationalization should be promoted as a matter of national policy

31. More scientific advances created by more scientists • Developed and up-dated academic curriculums • More rapid economic development • A more skilled labor force • More educated citizens to create stable democracies • Improved international understanding

32. Thank you all!