Bachelor’s in Public Administration Degree Program

 Afghan professors “GO PUBLIC!” at international conference

Confronting Afghanistan’s tremendous development challenges require the sustained efforts of a highly qualified public sector workforce. Given the Afghan government’s critical need for trained employees, the USAID funded Higher Education Project (HEP) has begun working with Afghan universities to launch Bachelor’s degree programs in Public Administration which will prepare future national and local level public servants.

To support the degree design process, 13 Afghan professors participated in the Network of Institutes and Schools of Public Administration for Central and Eastern Europe (NISPAcee) Annual Conference held in Varna, Bulgaria May 19-22, 2011. The Afghan delegation, composed of 2 representatives from each of 5 Afghan universities: Kabul, Herat, Balkh, Nangarhar, Kandahar and 3 Ministry of Higher Education representatives, joined an international contingent of professors and public service practitioners representing more than 30 countries including most of the emerging democracies of the former Soviet bloc.  

The NISPAcee conference’s general sessions concentrated on the theme, “Public Administration of the Future” while working group papers, presentations, and discussions focused on specific content areas: Local Government, e-Government, Civil Service, PA Reform, Internationalization and Networking of PA Studies, Fiscal Policy, Public Policy Analysis Development Issues.

In addition to conference sessions, Afghan participants had private meetings with:

• European Association for Public Administration Accreditation (EAPAA) Secretary-general, Dr.Theo van der Krogt, about designing structures into BPA programs that will support future accreditation.
• Varna Free University Rector Dr. Anna Nedyalkova and her administrative team hosts of the 2011 NISPAcee Conference welcomed us to sent Afghan students to attend (scholarships available) any of the degree programs at their internationally accredited institution. They also suggested student and faculty exchanges and joint research. We were joined in the meeting by a VFU doctoral candidate who is completing his dissertation on PA Reform in Afghanistan.
• NISPAcee Steering Committee offered to facilitate bi-lateral exchanges and possible joint research & papers. They encouraged each university to become an Associate Member providing them access to events and publications. NISPAcee also indicted they would help mentor professors in developing papers to present at next year’s NISPAcee Conference in Macedonia.

Conference organizers and participants overwhelmingly supported the 2 women and 11 men from Afghanistan with offers of bi-lateral professional exchanges, individual mentoring, and joint research opportunities. With access to the network of expertise and experience of over 300 participants, the Afghan professors aim to establish public administration as a dynamic field of study and research throughout Afghanistan.

Afghan professors meet with Rector Anna Nedyalkova and her administrative team at Varna Free University host of the 2011 NISPAcee Conference in Bulgaria.

NISPAcee 2011 Conference’s opening session featured numerous female leaders in public administration including American Society for PA Executive Director and President, Varna Free  University Rector, NISPAcee President, Bulgarian Deputy Minister of Defense, and Spokesperson for the resident of the National Assembly of Bulgaria who is also a woman. 

Afghan professors took advantage of networking opportunities. Here Chancellor Hossaini of Herat (center) exchanges ideas with Keynote Speaker Geert Bouckaert, Director of the Public Management Institute, Belgium. Joining in the conversation were (left to right) Prof.Kabir (Kandarhar), Rashiq (MOHE), and Kandarhar Vice-Chancellor Barakarzai (far right).