Afghanistan unveils major expansion of universities and research programs
Higher Education Council approves new faculties, postgraduate tracks, and foreign lecturers in push to modernize Afghan academia
KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — The Taliban-led Afghan government has unveiled a wide-ranging expansion of universities and research programs, approving new faculties, postgraduate tracks, and foreign hires in a bid to modernize the country’s academic system.
According to Pajhwok Afghan News, the reforms were endorsed at a Higher Education Council meeting chaired by Minister Sheikh Neda Mohammad Nadim and attended by senior officials and university leaders.
The council approved eight master’s and four PhD programs, the creation of five new faculties, and 31 additional departments across public and private institutions.
The new initiatives place particular emphasis on science and technology. Kabul University, Kabul Education University, and the Afghan International Islamic University will host doctoral programs in applied mathematics, software engineering, and artificial intelligence.
Master’s-level programs will be introduced in fields ranging from ecology and water resource management to business administration, criminology, and transportation engineering.
Officials said the reforms are designed to align higher education with Afghanistan’s long-term needs and global academic trends. Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, the Higher Education Ministry has introduced nearly 100 master’s programs and more than 30 doctoral tracks in disciplines including medicine, engineering, agriculture, and computer science.
Minister Nadim stressed that the Higher Education Council serves as the ministry’s top decision-making body, setting standards and priorities for both public and private universities. He added that Afghanistan is bringing in foreign lecturers on high salaries to strengthen academic quality, particularly in technology-driven fields.
Analysts note that the expansion of postgraduate studies and research capacity could help Afghanistan develop critical skills in science and engineering, even as its universities face limited resources and strained international ties.
Officials argue the reforms aim to build self-sufficiency and reduce the loss of talent to institutions abroad.
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