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This project, initiated by NIMA with World Bank funding, aims to provide management, accounting, and ICT education to Afghan youth, fostering country infrastructure and preventing radicalization. Agile methods were applied with JyU's assistance for curriculum development, teacher training, and infrastructure setup involving computer labs. The focus was on technical skills parallel to Finnish ICT education standards, paving the way for sustainable employment prospects and societal growth in Afghanistan.
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Comparing Afghanistan to EU PekkaMakkonen Lecturer of information systems University of Jyväskylä (JyU) FINLAND
NIMA • NIMA (National institute of management and administration) in Kabul • Established in 2007 • Got funds from WB (World Bank) • For young people who like to learn business or ICT, but who can not become students at universities • Three schools • Management (300 students) • Accounting (300 students) • ICT (200 students)
Educational development • Generally, it is needed because mid-class without problems is important for welfare and the smooth development of countries • Important, because it will stop joining extreme groups • Young people have hope • Infrastructure of the country can be improved • In the ICT sector Afghanistan can follow the Indian way • It requires more peaceful environment
NIMA as a project (1/2) • NIMA project was started on August 2009 under World Bank funding • There are firms like Maxwell Stamp Plc (MSP), which are focus on development projects in developing countries • NIMA project was led by MSP (JyU was a subcontractor) • JyU provided ICT school management and accreditation • The accreditation means that Afghans can get certificates from both countries after completing educational program • The client was the Afghan ministry of education
NIMA as a project (2/2) • Agile methods were applied • The representatives of the client • The director of NIMA was from the ministry • He was available all the time for different kind of approvals and negotiations • Teacher training program • The idea was that these trainees would take over teaching at NIMA after the project • World Bank was reviewing • Check points at NIMA
First phase of NIMA project • Curriculum development • Focus on technical skills • Based on the India scenario • Programming fundamentals(C++, Java) • Operating systems • Networks • Databases • (SQL, Oracle) • Web engineering (JavaScript, JavaApplets, PHP, MySQL, ASP.NET, VB.NET) • Project skills • In Finland ICT curriculums are many-sided • Because of the needs of the society and business • At JyU we have three lanes after basic studies • Systems development • Digital media • E-commerce
First infrastructure development activities at NIMA • At the beginning (August, 2009) four computers for the staff • In September and October all the classes were on a chalkboard basis • In November four lab were started • No LAN or Internet was available • We needed to download required software on DVDs first, where Internet was available • From DVDs we installed software on the single computers • We utilized open-source software
Semester 2 (September 2009-January 2010) • Semester 1 was given by NIMA itself earlier in 2009 • E-commerce and web site building • We used Notepad and web browser since late November • Operating systems • Course exercises on paper basis • C++ programming • Free environment Bloodshed C++ was in use since late November • Database fundamentals • SQL queries on the paper • Swine flue closed the school in Afghanistan from Nov 1. to Nov. 21 • NO vaccination program in Afghanistan for that • Problems also included some corruption between students and teachers
Semester 3 • Java programming –course • For exercises Java Development Kit • Command-prompt based • PHP and MySQL –course • Wampserver • Enabled testing server-based web-applications locally • Computer and network maintenance –course • Management information systems –course • We develop plans for the LAN, Internet connections, library and placement (after semester 4)
Semester 4 • VB.NET –course • ASP.NET –course • Advanced course on datebases • Oracle and database administration • Project management After that semester placement in other words practical training
References • Faculty of IT at the University of Jyväskylä • https://www.jyu.fi/it/en • About Finland • http://www.tieke.fi/in_english/ • About Afghanistan • http://www.acsa.org.af/introduction.htm