FEATURES
University supports HE leaders in Afghanistan
A staff member has begun work on a project to support the development of higher education in Afghanistan.
Dr James Howard of the Centre for the Enhancement and Development of Professional Practice (CDEPP) is working as a mentor on the British Council project for the next year, advising Afghan higher education leaders to help them gain the vital management skills required to rebuild their country.
Demand for higher education in Afghanistan is increasing rapidly, having grown from around a hundred students in 2001 to nearly 10,000 today. Despite this, Afghan universities suffer from a chronic lack of funding, infrastructure, and staff.
Consequently, the Afghan government asked the British Council to assist in managing the rapid growth of the sector, and Dr James Howard volunteered as one of eight UK academics to be part of the project that aims to give Afghans a chance to improve their lives, and their country. Dr Howard said : “It is fascinating to work with colleagues from diverse institutions, working on new solutions and strategies to enable leaders and managers to take their universities forward and better support their students.”
The project was threatened when the Taliban attacked the British Council office in Kabul in August, destroying the building and killing twelve security staff. However, Paul Smith, the British Council’s director of Afghanistan was determined that this project should continue. He commented: “I’m very excited that this project is launching now as a prime example of how we can work successfully with the Afghan government, the higher education sector and young leaders. We hope it will strengthen the links between Afghanistan and the UK, and it’s wonderful that the University of Cumbria can be a part of it.”
Students make a difference through their volunteering
Student volunteers gave up their spare time to make a difference to Alzheimer’s sufferers in Carlisle.
The Students’ Union took part in Make a Difference Day (MADD), a national campaign to encourage volunteering. Five students from the university’s Carlisle and Lancaster campuses worked alongside the Alzheimer’s Society for the event, organised by Cumbria Community Service Volunteers (CSV). They spent the day at Beverley House in Harraby, talking to and playing puzzles with a group of nine elderly people who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.
Singing, dancing and relaxation were the highlights of the day, with the clients at Beverley House enjoying the company of the young volunteers. And the volunteers took away a lot of experience from the day too. Volunteer Grace Briody said: “It was a fantastic experience and we spent much of the day taking part in the tailored activities such as picture and recognition games. The facilities available to the clients are fantastic. I especially enjoyed listening to the clients reminisce about the jobs they used to do and the people they knew when they were younger.”
Kati Brown, volunteering facilitator at the Students’ Union said: “It was a very rewarding day and really opened up our eyes to the loneliness and isolation that some people go through on a day-to-day basis. I would certainly encourage others to take part in something like the Make a Difference Day.”
Peter Ward, locality manager for the Alzheimer’s Society is delighted with the outcome and feels that it is a giant step forward for the charity. Peter said: “This is the first time that we have enjoyed the company of the younger generation at Beverley House. It has been fantastic to get the students on board as they offer wide and varied experiences to our clients, including attitude and determination.
“In return, I hope that they were able to learn something and take that away from the volunteering experience. I would like to thank our volunteering co-ordinator Margaret Masson and house manager Katrina Stamper for making this possible.”
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