09 July 2003
Study Launched for Building an American University in Afghanistan
(Trade and Development Agency funds feasibility study) (620)
U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Robert Finn and Afghanistan's Minister
of Higher Education Sharief Fayez signed a grant agreement on July 8
that they hope will promote the establishment of an American
University in Afghanistan.
With the support of a $553,475 grant from the U.S. Trade and
Development Agency (USTDA), the ministry will study the feasibility of
constructing an American University of Afghanistan (AUA) similar to
the American Universities in Lebanon, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates,
Spain and eight other nations.
"The Ministry sees the AUA project as a means to address a number of
strategic issues and a benchmark against which other higher education
institutions in Afghanistan can be measured," according a USTDA press
release July 8.
The Coordinating Council for International Universities (CCIU), a
non-profit organization that promotes the creation and strengthening
of American Universities abroad, is expected to assist Afghanistan's
Ministry of Higher Education in this project.
Following is the text of USTDA's July 8 press release:
(begin text)
U.S. Trade and Development Agency
Current Press Release, July 8, 2003
USTDA AWARDS HIGHER EDUCATION GRANT IN AFGHANISTAN
For Immediate Release
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN -- (July 8, 2003) Earlier today, the U.S. Trade and
Development Agency awarded a $553,475 grant to the Ministry of Higher
Education of Afghanistan to fund a feasibility study on a proposed
American University in Afghanistan (AUA) project. The grant was
conferred in a signing ceremony held at the Ministry of Higher
Education. United States Ambassador to Afghanistan Robert Finn signed
the grant agreement on behalf of the U.S. Government. His Excellency
Sharief Fayez, Minister of Higher Education of Afghanistan, signed the
grant agreement on behalf of the Transitional Islamic State of
Afghanistan.
The project proposes the creation of an American-style, private,
coeducational university in Afghanistan. If established, the
university would follow in the tradition of similar universities
worldwide that are members of the Association of American
International Colleges and Universities (AAICU). AAICU members are
legal entities, and accredited for degree purposes, in both the host
country and in the United States. The AUA, like other similar
institutions, would be founded on the principle of
self-sustainability. As such, tuition and fees would be structured to
cover most expenses.
The Ministry of Higher Education of Afghanistan has direct
responsibility for managing Afghanistan's public universities and
developing strategies for the reconstruction of the country's higher
education sector as a whole. The Ministry sees the AUA project as a
means to address a number of strategic issues and a benchmark against
which other higher education institutions in Afghanistan can be
measured.
The Ministry has requested that the Coordinating Council for
International Universities (CCIU) develop the AUA project. CCIU is a
non-profit organization established in 1996 to serve as an advisory
and management group to promote the creation and strengthening of
strong American-style universities abroad. CCIU will conduct the
USTDA-funded study, which will examine the economic, regulatory, and
social aspects of the project, and develop an implementation plan.
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency advances economic development
and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income
countries. The agency funds various forms of technical assistance,
feasibility studies, training, orientation visits and business
workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and
a fair and open trading environment. USTDA's strategic use of foreign
assistance funds to support sound investment policy and
decision-making in host countries creates an enabling environment for
trade, investment and sustainable economic development. In carrying
out its mission, USTDA gives emphasis to economic sectors that may
benefit from U.S. exports of goods and services.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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